The Right Way of Doing Things

Fiera Smith
Jul 24, 2017 · 3 min read

I am a writer, somewhat of an author on good days. Yet there is a silent, underlying obsession with proving myself as a writer to others. I won’t deny it. And whether other writers decide to admit it or not, this is one commonality that I think we all live with. As humans, our need to be ever-reaching, important, valued in what we do by others is natural. Specifically, a creative, who’s brain functions at the equivalent of having hundreds of tabs open at any given time.

That desire for others to become just as akin to our work as we are, lurks in the shadows of our subconscious. Right there with grammar rules, learning the mechanics behind marketing ourselves, and, well, the boogeyman. (Boogeyman and Gremlins; two things that haunted my childhood as an 80’s kid.) We continually obsess if people will “get” us. If we went too far-or not far enough. Is our work different? Are we thorough with our drafts? Lastly, can we sell?

Well, you don’t become a writer for the money, that’s for sure. You do it because of the burning elements of passion, a little confidence, and a dash of wanting everyone around you to shut up and listen. Poets have it worse. Ah, cue the dramatics. And I am one of them. We are the keyboard mafia. Avoiders of “le mot juste”, the exact “right way of doing things.” Weaving in and out the lanes of grammar and technique. We’re the rebellious cousin of fiction who comes to the family reunion persuading cousins to get homemade tattoos in the bathroom with nothing but safety pin width needles, black ink and alcohol, all whilst blasting death metal. We are scrappy, lingua franca descriptivists. Never home before the streetlights come on; too busy eviscerating the gory old, veiny-circulating fingers off of literary theory. I digress.


We live in a world where everything and everyone can be so critical. If by chance you doubt this, check out any comment section on any Yahoo article. Any digital platform, or take a trip to Walmart. Cynicism is downloaded at time of gestation for most of us, and becomes vapid the second we log into our social accounts. But, don’t blame social media entirely. Check out sites such as Goodreads, which should be a reader/writer haven. Instead it (Truly I believe that the people who comment horrifyingly rude reviews on books should be locked in a room of first drafts, but that’s only my opinion.) Seriously, though.

It is important as a writer to ignore reviews. Seriously. Take that time to revisit why you began writing. What were your interests then? Strike the curiosity in learning different subject matters. Philosophy, check out Publius Syrus, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Seneca. Learn and develop a new skill. Study playwriting, fiction, or even fine tune your communication by listening to specific podcasts on public speaking, storytelling, or improv. In doing these things, you dive back into the love of learning, desire of reading and discovering that will ensure new ideas. Additionally, even if ideas aren’t bred, the simple distraction of expanding your working knowledge will take the pressure off of having to come up with literary next greatest thing. Be easy on yourself, and don’t stop learning.

Whenever I feel overwhelmed with striving to become an ‘accomplished’ writer, I do the things listed above, but I also I think about the ‘why’. ‘Why’ my perspective shifter. I write for me, I fight for the life of my story. I reject the pollution of cynicism, and self-inflicted obsession, and resonate on this reminder: It is more important to focus on your writing journey, in your time and space, than aiming to compare to anyone else’s works of writing. Write everyday, about any and everything. Leave no topic unturned, no genre unscathed. “Don’t get it perfect, get it written.”

Get it totally wrong, but get it down. Then draft, draft, draft. Remember, writing is a marathon- not a sprint. Hone your skills and your voice in this time, because like any fine wine or whiskey, the greatness damn sure doesn’t happen overnight. Grow a unique awareness and sound that falls on paper gently and honestly, and it will be heard.

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