It’s hard and lonely - and Oprah’s unlikely to be involved

People have funny ideas about creative writing.

Either, they believe anyone capable of stringing two words together can put together a 90 000-word novel.  (“She writes really good proposals / sales documents /memorandums”.) If they just put their mind to it.

“If only we had the time you do.” (Spoken with a rueful sigh.)

Or: “Old Jimbo’s retiring in September. He’s going to write his book.
That’ll keep him busy for October, but what he’ll do from November I’m just not sure.”

And why is it that people can’t see that writing is a creative art form on the same basis as painting, sculpture or music? They believe it’s some kind of mysterious process. If you just sit for a while, an entire piece of literature will float into your brain and wait there patiently for you to put your mind to writing it down.

“Oh, but can you teach writing?” Duh. Can you teach piano?

Sure, some people have more natural talent than others. And some writers can be self-taught. If they read enough, they might absorb the narrative skills to give them an intuitive edge. Just as some people might teach themselves to use water-colours. Or they pick away at House of the Rising Sun long enough to play passable guitar.

If they practise long enough, they will improve. They learn as they go along. They play scales. They spend their weekends sketching. They scribble away in a journal. They make a few early attempts, which remain in a desk drawer.  Which doesn’t mean you can’t help them along with a few creative skills.

Singers learn to control their breath. Artists learn about perspective. Writers learn to play with point of view, or how to avoid exposition.

Writing is an art form like any other. You may be blessed with talent. You may teach yourself everything you know through reading and practice. But it’s neither an easy way to pass your time when you’ve nothing else to do with your life, nor is it a mystical gift from the gods.

In my experience teaching writing courses, these are the most common reasons people become discouraged and give up. They think we’ll give them The Secret, then send them on their way. They’ll spend a few pleasant hours day-dreaming onto a page … and voila.

Writing trainers can help with techniques. We can provide creative exercises designed to take writing to a different level. We can give the narrative skills, and share our own mistakes and vulnerabilities so you don’t have to go through the grind of making your own.

We can also give encouragement and feedback that keep you going when it seems it may never get anywhere.

But don’t devalue the process. It’s still going to be a hard and lonely process in which Oprah is unlikely to be involved.
• We run face-to-face and correspondence writing courses - see www.allaboutwritingcourses.com for range and dates