Writing Is A Word Game

Well, derp; of course it is. Yet, with the same sort of irony that infects the concept of any game, some people take it way too seriously and forget how to enjoy it. A competitive nature can help a game, but it can just as easily ruin it for yourself or others when you can't be bothered to look like you're having fun or pitch a fit and place blame... All that not-good stuff.

It's trying enough for creatives to always put their best foot forward, to save their personal grievances for inspiration or private conversations, but there are aspects of writing that we often feel is a requirement to be a successful writer. We try to emulate famous writers, only the reason for the way they live comes down to the fact that their popularity is a necessity for their protection. For the new writers, the little guys, people whose every word isn't mainstream, we need to put more blood in the water. Emulating success without having it does not fool people into giving it to us. We more often have to earn it through displays of humility, confidence, honesty rather than ego, arrogance and overexposure...  It's no exact measure but it still has to be an organic process unique to our own journey. As I've addressed before, one of the worst things you can do is turn against people on your platforms, trying to shame them into supporting you. You're more likely to get unfollowed for that. I'm straying just a bit but ultimately, we put undue pressure on ourselves and forget to integrate the game, the joy, of writing.

No, it's not the Game of Thrones or some other be-all-end-all idea. I really want you, as a writer, to stop being so serious for a moment. It doesn't matter how serious you take your story. For now, consider it a comedy. One thing I find odd is that, despite how easy technology makes it to pop open documents and type and delete at the near-speed of your thoughts, that people get so married to their one big project. They'll insist they can't possibly focus on more than one story at a time.

Guess what? I'm not asking you to start anew. You can just as well take your current project for any exercise. In fact, I learned that the Young Writers prompts, while not a fit for my story, were unexpectedly inspirational. In fact, my stubborn ass went in, fully expecting to decide it was a lame way to procrastinate, but instead, I often found myself more intimately in a character's head, more aware of their nature and their motivation, even their fears over what could happen to knock those dearly held beliefs off axis. 

Don't throw away opportunities to procrastinate, play, or simply enjoy your work. As a writer, I know you very likely have an impressive work ethic and you've got your head in making it the best damn story you can. Of all the people who might ask you to prove that, I'm one less because I know you're likely very serious—sometimes to the detriment of all that impressive effort. I also know that you're going to be sure of a lot of things as an excuse not to try them, possibly because you have better things to do. While you're not wrong, you also know what the onset of a writer's block feels and tastes like and these are the moments where what you need to do is feed the muse, not force them into grueling labor.

I won't pretend to know your muse, but where mine is concerned, there's not a damn thing you can force her to do. Since, like the mythological counterpart, gods and muses and magical beings of all sorts tend to be fans of trickery and deception and too flawed to trust, the same could be said of our own inclinations and inspirations. We sometimes need to trick ourselves with treats and incentives. In fact, you've probably long ago made the connection that mythologies are largely just colorful representations of more modern psychological concepts like our own ego, id and superego, analogies for the intricacies of human nature. No, I don't REALLY entertain an actual muse, but she is a good analogy for what occurs in the throes of inspiration. Stephen King insists his muse is male (mythological muses are always female) but of course it is. The muse is an intimate reflection of your identity. If a woman told me her muse is male, I'd just as well think she is trying to tell me she is more comfortable with ideas largely considered masculine. Oh dear god, don't let this lead to some fucking off-the-wall transmusism... Gendered muses aren't really an important concept, any more than your family would be okay with you sending a cutout of yourself instead of showing up for a holiday dinner. Your muse is yours and not a substitute for showing up in life.

This is what I get for late night blogging. I'm playing games with my own topics again. Nevertheless, rather than go off the rails over and over, I'll just assert once more—if your discipline is a roadblock in your goals, you need to ease up on the way you're looking at it. I might think of some prompts to add to a later post, but for now, at least take away the possibility that whatever doubts attract you to posts like this are sign enough that you're likely looking for a break or different approach.

Treating writing like it's fun is a very short stage. There will be plenty about it where you do crack down to get it right. Don't think every part of it has to be hard edges. Writers are often people with lots of fun unfinished drafts, but that's where the writer differs from the author. The author does trudge through what it takes to publish, to take risks, to finish. But don't forget that your stories could really start to lack character if you're unable to give a shit about them.

Why not apply that to any job? I can't recall ever enjoying a job less through refinement, skill and promotion. Sure, some people get bitter, jaded and hateful, but in truth, it doesn't make you a better person to stick with jobs you hate. It rather denotes a lack of courage when you don't make time to find something else. Even in a shitty economy, there are actually sacrifices you can make for what you really want. Yes, it may mean that life will suck for a while, but if you're really determined to reach for a life that will make you happy, then it's certainly better than being endlessly uncomfortable in your bubble of fear.

We live in a time where you can hate your job but sneak onto your phone and look for other jobs. The only thing stopping you from looking is your own doubts.

Games may not all be fun, but the games worth playing always have higher stakes.They also yield better rewards if you break through.

Or as in the Game of Thrones, you either win or you die. Lucky for you, writing isn't quite that high stake.