Debunking the Myths of Writing

You read it so it must be true... not so fast my friends.

Photo by Lionel Gustave on Unsplash

I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving. I had the most chill Thanksgiving ever, just staying home with my husband and teenage daughter and our Havanese, Rose. We usually get together with friends, but our friends were traveling this year, and we decided to keep following our star, and so instead of turkey with all the fixings, my husband made ribs on the grill, with butternut squash on the side, and bakery goodies for dessert — and it was perfect.

Let’s switch gears and talk about writing myths. I get so tired of hearing from my students that they “have” to do something. No, they don’t. Just, do you. So, for your reading pleasure I am going to break down the myths and say what works, what doesn’t, and why.

Let’s start with the obvious one — the myth I hear the most often.

MYTH: Writing one page a day equals 352 pages, or a book a year.

Let’s stop right there.

Debunking the Myth: Do you have kids? Yes, then give yourself a little grace. You have enough pressure on you to well, caretake. Here is another question: Do you caretake for anyone but yourself? That means a partner, a parent, a friend in need? Ok. Give yourself more grace. You get it. Why should you put insane amounts of expectations on yourself.

I think you should write when you feel passionate about writing something. I have heard the term Volcano writer used by Ann Hood (on my podcast actually, LISTEN TO IT/WATCH HERE), and I agree. I write when it bubbles up. Now that doesn’t mean that in between I am not thinking about my writing. I am. I believe you need to look at your work, think about it, even let it percolate when you are on vacation and then address it. If it’s a question of getting your butt in the chair, that is different and I address ways to attack writer’s block in my book, WRITING THAT GETS NOTICED. Here’s one of my favorite ones:

Change the Form: Can’t seem to get started? Write your essay in a poem or letter. Or, try a different font. I change my font from Times New Roman to Garamond or Comic Sans when I’m stuck.

Why it Works: Changing your mode or format of writing breaks up organized, systematic, analytical thinking through a concept called neuroplasticity that encourages your brain to make new connections.

MYTH: As a writer you need to be doing constant self-promotion

Debunking the Myth: I disagree with that completely. In fact, I used a vacation photo above, to show that when I unplug, I unplug completely, and you, should, too. It’s really good for your brain as I wrote in this piece for Quartz, I’m Taking a Social Media Break for My Sanity… And So Should You . This is especially important during the fraught holiday times (I admit this time of year drives me nuts, and I have to give myself a break from the constant “noise” of shopping and going out). Taking just a few minutes to relax and recharge is so important. Besides, the social media algorithm is not what it used to be, so you can sprinkle yourself around. The one recommendation I can make is to grab your handle when a new site comes up, so at least you have it and not someone else. Here’s mine on BlueSky, which is the new place everyone is migrating to.

MYTH: You need to share everything about your life and be completely transparent.

Debunking the Myth: No. You do not need to blow up your life for a byline! Decide what you can reveal that gives your story its gravitas, and anything that is too provocative but that doesn’t move the story forward can go. Case in point: a student of mine wrote about a guy who catfished her for HuffPost Personal. She didn’t give every single salacious detail, just the ones that were pertinent to the story.

Sentences sprinkled throughout told her story, such as.

“I might have been just a little cocky.”

“What I needed more than a boyfriend was a steady job. I was powering through on a manufactured cloud of positive thinking instead of facing the pain of both a failed marriage and my sudden job loss.”

“I’m still left questioning what led me to be so easily snookered. I ignored the inkling that things weren’t adding up. I chalk it up to being out of practice when it came to dating and to a wet, heavy coat of fog hanging over my entire life during those days.”

While the situation was that she was taken for a ride by a scammer, the underlying story (and the emotional impact) was about making an embarrassing mistake and figuring it out along the way. So that’s what each sentence drove the reader towards understanding, with the end result that instead of feeling lascivious toward her, it activated the reader’s empathy.

MYTH: Writers are either talented or they are not. They can’t be taught to write.

Debunking the Myth: Wow. This is so not true. You can learn how to build your craft, as long as you are learning from a) a good book b) an informative webinar c) A skilled teacher and learning how to apply what you are learning. The key is in the applications which is why I do short writing exercises with my students who take small group Zoom classes with me and end up being published (I’m sold out for January and March, but if you email me at freelancewritingdirect@gmail.com I’ll put you on a list for upcoming ones).

Yes, a writer can be skilled, and not have as much experience, but learning craft and tips, tricks and strategies is why I have the podcast Freelance Writing Direct (with over 115 episodes), and why I teach and share and distill my knowledge on both sides of the publishing wall in my book WRITING THAT GETS NOTICED.

And by the way, even though I’m an editor and writing teacher I’m constantly spending money trying to improve my craft, by either signing up for webinars, or taking courses or going on weekend or other retreats, even if they are virtual. I even stop in on other teacher’s sessions when I’m speaking (or keynoting) at conferences.

MYTH: You need to create “beautiful” writing

Debunking the Myth: You just need to write. You don’t need to write fancy, or have a huge vocabulary, or use erudite language. As I put it in this post, Forget about Beautiful Writing, flowery language alone, without any depth or conflict to the story just won’t cut it..

Don’t get me wrong: language is still important. But, you still need to choose interesting words; ones that break through the noise. We have all heard the word “happy”. But, in your writing try using a different word, such as perhaps, elated. The first word is so usual that our eyes glaze over and we move ahead. The second word might catch our attention and compel us to read more.

MYTH: You are not a writer until you have had your work published

Debunking the Myth: I can’t tell you how many of my students ask me this question. I teach people at all levels, but beginners find themselves flummoxed when it comes to how to identify themselves. I want to tell you this: if you write your stories, or other people’s stories you are a writer. Whether you have gotten paid or even acknowledged, if you write, you are a writer, though maybe not a professional one.

So believe in yourself, and the world will, too. Just keep learning and finding places to apply your knowledge and build your craft.

I hope that I can continue to inspire you and be your literary fairy godmother, like I am for my students. So go forth and write!

Also, please share and like this post. You can like the post by clicking on the heart. That’s the way I know that you are enjoying what I’m sharing. ❤️