Writing Without a Net
You've got to brave to be a writer
I had a typo in the last post I wrote here. It was in the first word of the first line. A glaring mistake.
I read that piece probably 50 times, spell-checked, tweaked sentences, and I missed it. Until just after it went live. It took me hours to fall asleep that night because I kept thinking about it.
It was a sloppy, error, particularly for a professional. They rankle me. The things I miss, or could have done better. It’s embarrassing to share your mistakes with the world.
Yet, writers are exposed. You’ve got to be brave.
Working Without a Net
A good editor will make your work better. It’s a privilege to have one at the publishing house or magazine to catch the mistakes and offer ideas about how to improve the piece. When I hear about a writer who won’t take notes or consider edits, I know they won’t be long for the profession.
Given the choice, I prefer to work with a professional editor. I don’t have one here and that is one reason why I avoided writing this kind of column. Why, it makes me nervous every time I release one.
I’m working without a net.
And you know, I‘m bound to fall. Because, human.
By the way, spell-check, Grammarly and AI tools are not adequate replacements for an editor. Not even close.
So the ideas here are raw, straight from experience, steeped in my mood, written around my publishing deadlines, and a teenager who runs in asking for the keys.
And yes, sometimes a sentence might be poorly written, or a word gets missed, and typos. You already know about that. But I don’t know any writer, even writers who wrote books I don’t like, who sat down to write bad stuff.
We are all working to do something that readers find meaningful.
But to become a better writer, you’ve got to write more, try different things, experiment with ideas and voice and pacing and tone and tension and it feels like I can do that here.
Knowing you are out there, holds me to a higher standard.
And this is the place where I can be free to write what I want. To give words to ideas.
There Will Be Errors and Criticism
Isn’t that what you do? As a writer? One who might one day want to publish for others to read. Give words to ideas.
The most important thing you can do to become a better writer is to write, and read. But there comes a time, you’ve got to release the writing for others to read. I don’t think this is ever. Easy. Not ever. But it is what it means to be a professional.
Be Brave. Write Anyway.
Writing takes guts. Courage. Practice. Intention. Time. It takes so much crazy time. It takes optimism, and belief and resilience. It takes sensitivity and compassion. And we make mistakes. And take some hits, So many rejections. And then we go again.
And in time, we become a little braver. We become a little more focused. A little more committed. We adopt a little more of the eff-you attitude, and at the same time appreciate the people and practices that help us improve and we keep writing.
If we want it bad enough, we will always keep writing.
And that’s why I’m writing here. To get better. To keep at it. And hopefully to help others who want to write and publish too. So many have helped me.
We talk about the business here too. How to set up shop. How to find markets and agents and publish your work.
But, if we don’t have the mindset that helps you get the writing done first, none of the rest matters.
Writing is a risk. But to not do it, seems harder yet. So here I am, on this page, exploring ideas. Writing without a net.
Thanks for being here. It makes all the difference.
—p
What’s in the Desk?
On the Simp;y Write w/Polly podcast, we discuss writing craft and crafting a writer’s life and we talk about our favorite pens, trinkets, and tools writers like to have around when they write in the What’s in the Desk segment.
So, what’s in my desk today?
A beanie. It is so cold here, so I” ‘m wearing my green beanie to work.
What’s in your desk—or on your desk? What do you like to have around when you write? Drop me a comment or note or shoot me a pic and I will include it in an upcoming newsletter.
Cheers to You!
Thank you, thank you to the new paid subscribers who joined us this week. That support helps me have the time to do the work here and on the podcast.
Aside from a boost to the bottom line, your subscription fees are so appreciated. I’m glad you find value in the work and I’m grateful for you.
If you like what you read here, please consider sharing with a friend, recommending and liking the posts, and becoming a paid subscriber. Thank you to those who have.
Alright. It’s time to get to work.
Sit down and simply write.
-p
"One day I will find the right words, and they will be simple."
--Jack Kerouac