What Every Writer Needs
by Beth Mende Conny
Copyright 2001-2008 Beth Mende Conny, WriteDirections.com.
All rights reserved in all media.
The content of this article may be forwarded in full without special permission provided it is used for not-for-profit purposes and full attribution and copyright notice are given. For all other purposes, contact Beth Mende Conny Beth@WriteDirections.com.
I've been writing ever since I first learned to form letters on a page. I went "pro" some
20 years ago and have learned much about my craft and self in the process. I know, for
example, that I must have certain things in my life if I am to succeed. Let me share
some of them with you.
A reason to write
I write because I have to, because the urge is almost physical in nature. I see a couple
fighting in the supermarket, geese flying overhead as I walk, my daughter's smile when
she opens a new box of crayons and my heart and mind jump to attention. Together, they
hatch a plan and before I know it, I'm at the keyboard.
With great purpose, I type away, even when I don't always know where I am going. I trust
the urge. Experience has shown that with time, I will understand why I am writing a
particular piece and what audience it is to reach.
A buddy
Writing may be a solitary profession, but I have never gone it alone. I have had comrades
in arms.
Not all of my buddies are writers; however, each is a creative soul who
dares to craft a life that fits and flatters. We meet by phone and
e-mail, and in person when time allows, to share successes and failures,
strengths and insecurities. It is this sharing that makes me feel brave
and able to proceed, even if with shaky knees.
A handy notebook
Just as I never leave home without my keys, I never leave without a notebook. It is my
catcher's mitt, and in it go all the ideas that fly by on a given day.
These ideas come at all hours and, often, in the most inconvenient of places (e.g., the
dentist's chair while getting my teeth cleaned, the supermarket while squeezing cantaloupes).
Once upon a time, I ignored their arrival. I know better now. From these musings have
come great works, new directions, keen insights; a solid body of work.
A favorite pen
Pens, like people, vary. Some are long and thin, others short and stubby; some glide,
others plod. I always choose the gliders.
I need a pen that can keep up with the pace of my thoughts, or at least do its best. I
also need a pen whose company I enjoy. That's why I almost always go for colored
inks—bright reds, hot pinks, and deep purples. Their brightness cheers me and makes
the writing more fun.
A flashlight
Sometimes I wake in the middle of the night because a writing idea demands immediate
attention. Obnoxious creature that it may be, I acknowledge it nonetheless. It is the
only way I can get back to sleep. If not, it will keep nudging me, or, worse, I will
toss and turn, trying to think up ways to remember it in the morning.
I hate, however, having to turn on my lamp to make an entry in my trusty notebook. The light
is too bright and wakes my husband as well. Too, I've found that these nighttime interlopers
prefer darkness. It makes it easier for them to be seen, heard and understood.
And so, I reach for a small flashlight. The beam is a warm, soft yellow that gently shoves
a bit of the darkness away. I take my notes (using my favorite pen, of course) and then
turn off the light, able to return to sleep quickly and easily.
Chocolate
I don't need fame or fortune, but I do need chocolate. To me, it's oxygen, and I've been
breathing it since childhood.
Often, when I write, I have some form of chocolate at my side—candy bars, malt balls,
cookies, cake. I break each into small pieces so the interruptions are at a minimum. My
fingers only have to leave the keyboard for a second or two to pop a morsel in my mouth
and I'm back on task.
Chocolate may not be fuel for thought (and may do little for the waistline), but it
fuels me. It makes every cell in my body smile and forget, if only for a brief moment,
that there are deadlines to meet and dreams to straddle.
Beth Mende Conny is the founder and president of WriteDirections.com. She has published more than four dozen books and collections, and helps individuals and businesses bring their projects to publication. She can be contacted at Beth@WriteDirections.com.
Copyright 2001-2008 Beth Mende Conny.
All rights reserved in all media.
The content of this article may be forwarded in full without special permission provided it is used for not-for-profit purposes and full attribution and copyright notice are given. For all other purposes, contact Beth Mende Conny Beth@WriteDirections.com.
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