AM I A WRITER?

Anyone thinking of writing a novel should first reflect on whether he/she has what it takes. It's not easy, it's not quick. It takes time, hard work, dedication. Here are some things to think about:

Do I have a compelling story to tell?
Do I have a lot of time to devote to this?
Am I willing to work hard?
Am I willing to keep at it even when it gets difficult?
Am I willing to keep an open mind and learn along the way?

If you are thinking of writing more than one novel, I think it's helpful to take stock of your possible writing career. Are you the sort of person who is meant to be a writer? Consider these questions:

Do I have a solid education?
Do I have significant life experience?
Is it easy for me to express myself?
Do I have something to say to the world?
Do I know I can write well?

It is certainly true that being highly educated is NOT a prerequisite to being a writer. However, in today's world, education is more important than ever. The main issue, in my opinion, is being familiar with the world around you, or at least that portion of it that you wish to write about. The more you know, the more you (hopefully) understand, the more insight you may have, the more you will have to say about your topic that will be (potentially) interesting to your readers. Wisdom is just as important, if not more, than formal education. The value of an education is also evident in how well you can write. Education helps you develop your critical thinking skills, and your skills at expressing yourself clearly in writing.

In the early stages of becoming a writer, I think it's helpful to spend time reflecting on your unique perspective on the world.

Why do you want to become a writer?
What kind of writer do you want to be?
What kind of messages do you want to share with the world?
What type of style do you plan to strive for in your writing?
Can you imagine what your published novels will look like?
What sort of stories will they contain?
How will they read?
What sort of language, tone, complexity, depth?
What is unique about you?

Such reflection will help you establish your sense of self as a writer, your voice, your style, your message, your purpose. In my opinion, it is not a waste of time to daydream about such things. In becoming a writer you must shift your self-concept to embrace the notion that you ARE a writer. What sort of writer are you? Can you write a wish list with the titles and brief descriptions of a dozen novels you'd like to write in the coming years?

In addition, think about your prior writing experiences throughout your life. Usually, though not always, people who seek to become writers have had positive experiences in school or other contexts where they received feedback from others informing them that they could write well. Deep down, do you know you have what it takes?

These questions are certainly not the only ones you'll ask yourself, but they suggest some major areas for reflection. The time spent reflecting on why you want to write, and what you want to write, and what you hope to accomplish by writing it, is not a waste of time. Writing is ulimtately a job, in some sense a job like any other, and the more you know about what you are doing, and why, the product you are producing, the consumer for whom you are producing it, and how all the pieces fit together, the better the quality of your work.

Just something to think about!