Andrea Beca's Blog
Posted by Andrea Beca
When I tell people that I'm a writer, they often want to know (a) how I get my ideas, and (b) how I battle writer's block before anything else. In a nutshell, I get asked the question, "How do you just be a writer?" quite frequently. Without delving into the business of writing (which is an immense and complicated world in its own right), there are five things I believe are absolutely integral to being a writer. I don't claim that this list is definitive in any way, but at the very least, it will get you writing, and writing regularly, which, as a matter of fact, is the very first step!
1. Write Everyday
It probably seems like a no-brainer, but every writer should write every single day. Now, this doesn't mean that you have to churn out a short stort story every 24 hours, by any means. What you do need to do, though, is keep your creativity flowing, and keep your writing muscles flexing. Think of writing as you would any other job - if you were a mechanic and you only worked on cars every two months, you would most likely forget how to do some things and start to feel "rusty" (no pun intended). The same goes for being a writer. If you want to hone your skills and refine your style, you need to practice. Check out my article, How to Write Everyday, for tips on how to keep the writer in you working hard!
2. Keep a Writing Notebook
We've all done it - had that brilliant moment right before bed where you miraculously plot out your entire short story or play in your head. It's so perfect, everything is accounted for, it's going to be amazing, and...sure, you'll remember it in the morning; no need to write anything down! Lo and behold, the next morning, you're drawing a complete blank - no story, no amazing plot, no perfect one-liner. As a writer, you need to learn to have a writing notebook with you at all times, and more importantly, you need to use it. Why? Keeping a writer's notebook will not only help you remember all of the brilliant thoughts that occur to you throughout the day, but it will also help you to write everyday. The question becomes, then, why wouldn't you keep a writing notebook?
3. Know When to Take a Break
While it is important to write everyday, you don't want to stress yourself out by trying to work on a single piece of writing over and over again if it just isn't flowing. It's important to know when to step away from a project momentarily, in order to allow yourself some breathing room to brainstorm its structure, purpose, and direction. Once you've had some time away from your work, you will also be able to approach it with a fresh set of eyes; it may take you only a moment to realize what's been missing all along!
4. Learn to Embrace Life's Hardships
Life is a tricky thing - the good times are always matched with stress and sadness. What is important to remember, however, is that everyone's life has its rough patches, and often those hardships are easy to identify with. The easier it is for others to relate to your work, the larger your audience will be, so make sure that as hard as it is, you record the difficult times in your life to use in your work later on. Also keep in mind, though, that you don't want to dive into life's hardships too soon after they happen - don't work with anything painful until you are sure that you have dealt with it emotionally, and are ready to put it out into the public eye.
5. Network With Other Writers
Finally, it's very helpful as a writer to develop a network of trusted colleagues and friends with whom you can connect regularly, share your work, and learn from. Having other writers to talk to will clue you in to publishing or public reading opportunities, allow you to discuss your common stresses and problems and provide one another with solutions, and will serve as an excellent sounding board for your budding ideas or already-written stories. Once you begin writing regularly, you will naturally meet other writers, but if you're just starting out, it may be helpful to join a network, such as the Alberta Playwright's Network. Another way to develop a social circle of writers is to start a writers' workshopping group, a group of writers who meet regularly to read and critique one another's work.
Happy writing!
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Posted by Andrea Beca
It's (painfully) ironic that the starting point of your career as a writer is the point at which you need the most support and guidance, and yet it's also the point at which you have not yet had time to develop a network of writers whom you trust and respect.
As an emerging playwright and writer, I find it not only inspiring, but also relieving to learn that other writers, whose work I greatly admire, struggle at times with their craft. It's encouraging to know that they, too, had to start somewhere, and that they, too, often need to write and rewrite their work many times over before they are satisfied.
I had the pleasure of interviewing a number of playwrights from different places and at varying points in their careers about their writing process. Each of them has a different approach to writing a play and all of them have struggled at one point or another with their work. I hope that in reading the following Playwright Profiles, you, too, can glean some knowledge, encouragement, and inspiration about the craft of playwriting!
Playwright Profile - Ellen Chorley
Playwright Profile - Chris Craddock
Playwright Profile - Brendan Gall
Playwright Profile - Karen Hines (Editor's Choice)
Playwright Profile - Nicole Moeller
Playwright Profile - Michael Scholar Jr. (Editor's Choice)
Playwright Profile - Barry Smith (Editor's Choice)
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