Starting to Write
How do most people start to write? Is it a conscious decision on the part of an individual to start writing? In the Philippines, do they write and think that they want to win a Palanca?
I am not a professional nor an established writer. I just like to write, jot down my thoughts, share my opinions and the web just makes all of these activities more convenient. I have won a few “small contests,” have had some works published in magazines and newpapers. I have been writing for myself though since the late seventies and I guess, that is a long time.
What do you need to start writing? More than immense talent, you need:
1. An incident to spark it: Some thing, some incident must get you started. It may be those “What I did last summer” essays in school. Or your mother forcing you to keep a journal during your trips. You may be inspired by a friend or by an established writer that you say to yourself, “I want to write.”
2. A desire to sustain it: You must have it in you to find the means to continue writing. You must set a schedule, write regularly, jot down your ideas. You can join contests or keep a blog. In my case, writing about an assigned topic, with a deadline, does not sound appealing. I work best in situations where I can choose the things to write about and when. It is a side activity that keeps me sane even as my main activities drive me crazy.
3. An appreciation of life to nurture or grow it: Writers, whether professional or non-professional, multi-awarded or not, are observant people. They appreciate facts and information that come their way. They are generally excited about the things that they see, feel, taste, and experience. The world is just filled with situations that we find noteworthy. It can be a curse — constantly noting things down in your head or on paper — but even a curse can be enjoyed when you realize that not everybody is cursed equally.
So, are you thinking of starting to write? Ditch those feelings of not being talented enough or not finding the time — a spark, a desire, an appreciation of things around you — those are what you need in your very own writer’s starter kit. Grab a pen or tap on your computer keyboard and start writing today.