Don’t Try to Be a Writer — Just Write

Remember: the process should be fun

Wake Up and Write is a regular advice column from Moms Don’t Have Time to Write. Today, we have J. Michael Straczynski — film, television, and comedy writer, as well as the author of Together We Will Go— who shared writing advice on the podcast Moms Don’t Have Time to Read Books, hosted by Zibby Owens.

“Don’t try to be a writer. Just write.”

“Very often, and this happens to every writer, myself included, we’re not quite sure what writing is or how it’s supposed to sound. Creative writing teachers will tell you the writing should sound a certain way, but writing is just talking on the page in your own natural voice.

It’s paring back all the other stuff that you think it’s supposed to be. It should be natural. It should be fun. It should be easy. There’s trying to write, and there’s writing. When it becomes effortless and easy and transparent and translucent and you’re just speaking in your own natural voice, the process becomes luminous and joyful and no longer homework.

I would say go for the joy of it. Don’t worry about how you’re saying it. Just say it. You can always edit it later.”

Listen to the episode:

https://zibbyowens.com/transcript/j-michael-straczynski-together-we-will-go

Buy the book:

https://bookshop.org/books/together-we-will-go-9781982142582/9781982142582