Resourcing The Writer
The writer needs resources, certainly; but how much, and of what kind?
This blog is in two sections; the second one will be posted soon.
This first section discusses resourcing the writer as a person, and the second looks at the practical resources that enable the writer of today to communicate what they have created.
Resources you need before you start:
One: Motivation: This may be in the form of an internal longing to express oneself, or an outward reason that is pushing you along, but I count this as a resource because without it – even if you have every writing tool imaginable – you are not even likely to get off the starting block. Quite simply, you must want to write, for your own personal reasons or passions; or because there is something you strongly believe needs to be said.
Two: Mental and emotional fortitude: Writing requires energy. Your mind, especially, as well as your heart (except for the most mundane items) are involved to some degree. They have to be. Try writing for a few hours and see if you don’t feel drained, especially if you aren’t used to it. If you have the first resource though – motivation – you will find ways to use your mental and emotional strength to achieve your desire.
Three: Ideas. If you have the first two, you are well on the way to having this one, because the imagination thrives on ideas, and if you have the desire to write, you will find things to write about.
Four: Belief in your talent to write. I have written this one last, because so many people won’t try writing because they are convinced they lack the talent. While I certainly believe that some people are better at expressing themselves than others, talent – like a muscle – can be developed. If you don’t believe you can write, even if you want to do so, you will struggle with writing until you either work your way through to belief, or otherwise learn to ignore the anxiety over your perceived inability.
These three lead on to the more pragmatic issues of place, time and equipment. It is surprising how little people can have of these, and yet they manage to write. ‘Where there’s a will, there’s a way’ is an old saying, and so true.
I am often amazed at stories I’ve read of people who manage to write in conditions that are very difficult. Busy mothers have written stories at the kitchen table with their children playing noisily around them. Prisoners have written stories using soap on their walls because they have nothing else to use; then memorised what they’ve written and started on a new section. Some disabled people are today writing stories with the help of technology – but that hardly makes it easy.
If you have the first four resources, you will find ways to use what you have so that you can write.
Note for my American readers: The word ‘resourcing appears to be acceptable in UK English dictionaries, and the Free Online dictionary, but not always in USA dictionaries. It is a noun which means, according to the Macmillan dictionary: the work of finding and providing the material, money or people needed for a particular project.
