Having Fun Is The Key To A Satisfying Writing Session.

Becoming A Writer

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Having Fun Is The Key To A Satisfying Writing Session.

Episode 16 of Becoming A Writer podcast.

Rubina G Gomes

May 24, 2024

Transcript

Hello, my writer friends! Rubina here. For our sixteenth conversation, we are going to talk about how having fun is the key to a satisfying writing session.

One of the limiting beliefs I had when I started my writing journey was that if I had fun writing, I was not taking the job seriously or creating works worthy of respect and readership.

This made me question every sentence I wrote. Sometimes, I doubted myself even before I could write something. I was constantly worried if I was writing the right thing, if the readers would like what I wrote, and if I would succeed.

All this stress was making me work against the true nature of writing.

When it comes to writing, like any other creative work, you can't be strict. You have to be child-like. This is because writing is child-like in nature and needs to be treated that way. Just like a child has fun playing, colouring, and experiencing the world around her, a writer must have fun in their craft.

The emotional whipping I was giving myself was not motivating me to continue writing my novel; instead, it gave me a reason to give up.

Writing is all about exploration and experimentation. To do so, you must love what you're doing and have fun.

When a child draws a scenery, she follows her instincts. She is not worried about the result. She is immersed in giving shape and colour to the image in her mind. That is precisely what any writer must do.

No matter at what stage of the writing journey you are, do it for the love of the craft. Forget about the result. If you truly pour yourself into your writing, you will get the results and/or lessons you deserve.

Don't make it a life-or-death situation as I did. When I let myself enjoy my writing, I realised there's always more to look forward to.

All creative work is serious; after all, you are creating something that didn't exist before - it's your unique take on that piece of art. But that doesn't mean you have to be all tight and constipated and Hitler-like about it.

Loosen up and have fun with your writing.

Writing, be it a profession or a hobby, should be fun. The moment it becomes a duty, chore, or another checkbox on the to-do list, you suck all the joy out of it. Just like a child immerses herself in her play and loses track of time and life around her, you should have the same experience with your writing as much as you can.

To ensure you are having fun with your writing, don't force it to happen at a certain time or in a certain way. I am at my lowest when on my periods. So, no matter how much I want to, and no matter how much it pricks me that I am wasting my menstruation time watching Netflix, I can't get myself to write. Over the years, when I forced myself to write during this time, I always wrote trash. So, the best I can do for myself is live through these 5 to 7 days and hope for a more productive next couple of weeks. And surprisingly, I do manage to make up for the lost time.

I also don't restrict my writing when it's in the flow. I don't have a word count or time limit when it comes to writing. I write as long as and as much as my writer soul wants to write. Some days, it's just a 30-minute session; sometimes, I am on a roll for up to 3 hours. As long as I write, I am happy with myself.

I never judge what I write, especially while I am writing it. The ego loves to comment as I am writing. It took me some time, but now that ego is just background noise. It grows loud to faint to loud again from time to time, but I do my best not to listen to it. I only listen to it when my writer soul agrees with it. Then, I re-read my work and re-write it wherever necessary. Other than that, I leave the judging to the rest of the world.

Having fun with my writing means that I don't behave too seriously about it. I have a lifelong commitment to a writer's life. That's what I take seriously. Writing is a noble profession, but I don't think of myself too nobly and tickle my ego. I am just a simple human on a mission to serve my fellow humans through my words. The moment I start thinking that I am above my writing and above others is when my downfall will begin.

And to have fun in my writing life, I have to keep the love alive. I try to keep my love for writing alive by not over-working myself. I try not to over-book my days with tasks. I ensure I get a full night's rest and stay hydrated throughout the day. I catch up with the cousins of writing – reading books, listening to songs, and watching movies and shows. When I sit down to write, I make sure I have everything I need within arm's reach. And I keep reminding myself why I fell in love with writing and the dream of becoming a writer in the first place.

Well, that's it for today. Next time we meet, we'll talk about why comparison is the thief of your writing joy.

Until then, keep writing, my friend.