historys

Some writers complain that writing is arduous work requiring long hours and little pay, which is often true especially for freelance fiction writers. Today, everyone wants to be a writer and with word processors and computers it is easy to put thoughts down, but it is not always effortless to be published unless one self-publishes or uses a vanity press.

Neverthe less, writing although demanding, is not life threatening. Yes, it is a lonely occupation as the writer sits alone at the keyboard and pours forth his/her ideas. Many more occupations or vocations are more dangerous than sitting before a monitor and looking at the screen as letters, words, sentences, paragraphs, and composition unfold before the writer’s eyes. The most dangerous effects are eye strain, muscle fatigue, and carpal. Sometimes, back strain is an occupational hazard due to poor posture or poor equipment, it’s not like the military where digging a trench under fire can be common.

Writing, on the other hand, is fulfilling in some way. Some write for money, some for recognition, some for enjoyment, and others to leave a legacy, usually a book that will outlive them or be passed on to their progeny. Most write because the like to express themselves in a way that is unique and satisfying. In any case, the writer feels some need that must be satisfied.

Writing as a career does have it hazards. If it is needed to provide revenue to maintain life, it can be frustrating. Writers who are salaried find that the pay is low and usually insufficient although over time it may rise if the writer stays long enough with the employer be it a newspaper, a magazine, a trade, or other organizations that uses the services of a writer. Freelancers probably are more thwarted in their attempts to earn a satsifying income. Their earnings usually fluctuate greatly of a year.

Even so, all writers need to be fulfilled and satisfied by what they do whether they are salaried, freelance, or writing for personal gratification. They must feel that the writing life is a good life!

Charles O. Goulet had a BA in history and a BEd in English literature. Several of his historical novels have been published and are available at Amazon.com. Amazon.ca, Barnes and Noble, and many other bookstores.

His website is: http://www.telusplanet.net/public/go1c
His blog is:http://go1c.blogspot.com

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All writers should use a plan whether written or reflected. This includes the initial idea, the content or main points, and the conclusion whether it is an article, a short story, a chapter, or a complete novel.

Let us look at the article. This starts with main idea that is engendered in the title. Then the content is considered: the main points that will make up the article. All that is left to do now is to fill in the details of each line of reasoning. Leave it for a few days before editing, revising, and rewriting. The article is done.

Similarly, the short story starts with the intent and then the character who has a desire or want that is stymied by some obstacle. As the character attempts to overcome the obstacle, more complications occur until defeat seems the only possibility, but defeat is turned into success or disaster, success if the short story is a comedy and disaster if it is a tragedy.

The chapter of a novel follows a similar plan, but it is not as complete as the short story, since the tale or narrative must go on. The chapter is like one event in the short story with its aspiration, its impediment, its complication, and its achievement or downfall.

Even the novel follows a similar development. Novels can emphasize plot or character but in either case, the protagonist meets an antagonist that can be another human, an belief, or nature that encumber and frustrated him or her. The effort to overcome increases the difficulty rather than alleviate it, resulting in further complexity until a solution is found or the protagonist is overwhelmed.

Basically, all writing follows a similar scheme. Thus, only the details are different for each composition, be it an article, a short story, a chapter, or a novel.

Charles O. Goulet has a BA in history and a BEd in English literature. He has written several historical novels that are available at Amazon.com, Amazon.ca, Barnes and Noble, and many other bookstores.

His website is http://www.telusplanet.net/public/go1c
His blogsite is http://go1c.blogspot.com

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Every writer knows that the urge to write is not always present. As a result, the dedicated writer writes anyway. Professional writers face the task without think too much about the actual activity. They have established the habit, so they sit down and put their thought to paper whether they are relevant to the project or not. They know that they can rewrite, revise, edit, and improve. They know that the first draft is not or need be the last.

The writer forces him or herself to write, usually at a prescribed time and in a set place. Most successful writers have an office, a place set aside for writing, and so they go to that place to write. Seldom do such writer’s experience what is know as writer’s block which is a state of mind that can be changed with a conscious effort.

And interesting thing about writingputting thoughts to paperis that the very act clarifies one’s thinking, and fosters more thoughts. The simple act of putting thought into words, sentences, and paragraphs causes the mind to sift, to correlate, to organize, and intensify thinking. From a blank mind to one teeming with ideas is the usual process that occurs as one writes.

Thus one sees that writing is related to mood, which changes from one moment to the next. During the day, one experiences many moods from joy to sadness, from calm to anger, from activity to idleness, while state of mind tends to be less volatile. Since mood is so capricious, it is only a matter of time until the urge to write takes over, and writing becomes a joy rather than a chore.

So what is difficult writing can be excellent and worthwhile. Often, after reviewing earlier writing, it is difficult to know what was arduous and what was effortless. Often the burdensome is the finest.

Charles O. Goulet has a BA in history and BEd in English literature. He has several historical novels published and available from Amazon.com, Amazon.ca, Barnes and Noble and many other bookstores.
His website is http://www.telusplanet.net/public/go1c. His blog is http://go1c.blogspot.com

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