Acquiring The Proper Writer's Mindset

Philippines
September 25, 2012 2:28am CST
This is a post about how to achieve the proper writer's mindset, feel free to add your own. these are the techniques I use. Being a writer is my dream job. Let's face it, like all jobs out there, there are days when you'll totally hate it and days when you'll swear you love it so much! There have been days when I swore off writing and just gave up. But when I did, I gained nothing out of it. So I reflected on this and realized that anyone can write but it takes a special person to be a writer. A writer needs to acquire three things to succeed. This article is what you’d call the proper writer's mindset. Here are the three things you’ll need: 1. Attitude Having a positive attitude translates into everything you do in your daily life. And this is especially true for writers when they write. Writing is an avenue for writers to express their feelings. Any negativity they feel during that time will bleed through their copy. Remember: Have a POSITIVE ATTITUDE always! :D 2. Focus In order to achieve your goals, you will need FOCUS. FOCUS is the ability to see with the end in mind and just following the route needed to complete your task. Successful people are those individuals who know how to harness proper focusing techniques. To achieve it you need to create an outline that you can adhere to. If you follow your step goals correctly, you should be able to complete everything easily. 3. Willingness to learn This is probably the hardest of the three to achieve because it is a direct result of using proper focus and having a positive attitude. There will be times when you encounter a subject that goes against your beliefs. Normally, we already have a prejudice towards it and choose to either ignore it or do it halfheartedly. You have to convince your mind that you need to do it to get paid and you want to do it because it's a subject you want to learn about. Once you've addressed both the need and want, things should easily fall into place. These three are what I use to acquire a proper mindset whenever I write. What about you?
2 people like this
4 responses
mor
@stringer321 (5644)
• Kiryat Ata, Israel
25 Sep 12
I think, a writer also needs to have some creativity. Writing is most of the time, an art. When writing a story, the writer needs some ideas to describe the situation in a way that will make the reader want to keep reading, maybe to have a clear picture almost feel like he is in the story... So, if the writer doesn't know where to start from, he can take a walk, maybe look at pictures, maybe make some sketches and get the ideas from them. I sometimes make a sketch by just typing some random letters, add random vowels between them, take out some words and try to make a story or find a meaning to the words. Sometimes I get an interesting angle from one word and I relate to the text that I want to write from this word. Take for example some random letters : "ypbvhjn"... I can add vowels and make words like: yup,above,hi,Jane ... Someone can make a story with those words. I could use some of those words even in my post here : I could tell you that in my opinion, creativity and the love for creating is 'above' all of what you said (It is very important but not the most). I could start my respond with 'hi'... :) Imagination exercise like those can help in my opinion. Maybe others won't find them helpful...
mor
@stringer321 (5644)
• Kiryat Ata, Israel
25 Sep 12
How come this discussion is under "make extra money" ? Is writing done just for making money ? This is wrong, in my opinion. Writing is supposed to come from love, the desire to express ourselves, not thinking about how much money can come out of it. The text has it's own will and personality, it's a creation, it's like a baby. Babies are not made for extra money...Think about it. This is mostly an art, not a business. Some times, writing is a business and there are rules of how to write a good text that will earn more money, some of the rules you just wrote yourself. I think Mylot is a mix of both...
gwydion
@gwydion (8)
•
25 Sep 12
I agree with what you are saying. And I think it goes back to the traditional definition of writing as a craft. In all crafts you have to hone your skills. You have to apply yourself and you have to learn continually. I write articles and I write books (both eBooks and physical books) I also write poetry. All of this stems from a love of words, what they mean, where they come from and how they can be used. But writing is also work and you have to apply yourself in any job or task. That means sitting down and writing every day, even if you do not feel like it. That's why I like sites like these. I can start off writing in an easy way every morning with a cup of coffee. Then I write articles until lunchtime, write book content until teatime and write contents for various sites I am associated with until early evening. After that I either relax or I do research for the following day's tasks (which, I also find strangely relaxing). But it's all about keeping going, writing every day and refining and developing my skills.
Devilova
@Devilova (5392)
• Indonesia
25 Sep 12
Did you use any resources or it just pop up in your mind? What you usually write? Experiences of your life or just a fictions? For me, its hard to create something. I prefer to give a respon to something, more like to give a comment or somekind like that. Any tips for me?
celticeagle
@celticeagle (168591)
• Boise, Idaho
25 Sep 12
I think these are all good items to keep in mind. When I was reading and learning about writing the main factor in all of it was WRITING. Write in a journal, write for fun, write for practice, any reason to just write. Get it down on paper and experience the way it sounds, flows and articulates what you are trying to say. Journaling, for me, has been the number one thing that has helped me. It has shown me emotion, tone, and structure all in one area. Keep all that you mentioned in mind but write it too.
Sukeena1961
@Sukeena1961 (343)
• United States
25 Sep 12
I was always told to write about what you know. I think that maybe true to a point if someone is just starting out, but I think a person needs to broaden their horizons and open themselves up to new experiences. A writer also needs a creative mind and like you said he/she needs a positive attitude, focus and a willingness to learn. I've heard people say that anybody can write a book and they were going to write one, but never did. Writing is not as easy as it looks. Writing takes a lot of discipline, concentration and creativity. When I want to write and don't feel motivated, this may sound funny, but) I put the music to Halloween in the cd player and put it on repeat. I love the movie Halloween and just love that music and when I play it, it inspires me and I'm able to come up with ideas. You're right, you have to be in the right mindset to write.