Why do so many of us think writing should be quick and easy? Maybe because we were the “naturals” — the one or two kids in our elementary school class of 30 who loved writing and did it quickly and well and got high praise for it. We got used to that praise. Of course writing a novel takes light years more thinking and rewriting and edit…
Why do so many of us think writing should be quick and easy? Maybe because we were the “naturals” — the one or two kids in our elementary school class of 30 who loved writing and did it quickly and well and got high praise for it. We got used to that praise. Of course writing a novel takes light years more thinking and rewriting and editing than a fifth grade essay on My Summer Vacation. But our still-plastic brains took away a message of “I’m great at this. It’s easy! It’s fun! Everyone loves what I produce!” And good: That led us to be writers. But bad: we think it should be easy.
Why do so many of us think writing should be quick and easy? Maybe because we were the “naturals” — the one or two kids in our elementary school class of 30 who loved writing and did it quickly and well and got high praise for it. We got used to that praise. Of course writing a novel takes light years more thinking and rewriting and editing than a fifth grade essay on My Summer Vacation. But our still-plastic brains took away a message of “I’m great at this. It’s easy! It’s fun! Everyone loves what I produce!” And good: That led us to be writers. But bad: we think it should be easy.