Written By: James M. Weir
Edited By: Angelia Delesdernier
To write a story based on random events, or even based just off of your own life, is quite easy if executed correctly. For example: telling a story about how you grew up poor with a hope to become a great journalist, only to land that amazing dream job right when you were down on your luck; entertaining to you maybe, but others might not see it that way. A story about a dragon that is trying to learn to love, also a little lacking in story as most of those stories, or at least the ones I’ve read, have major flaws. They write in the moment, what does that mean? Well, it simply means that writing in the moment you develop a form of tunnel vision which can be good, but also bad. You focus too hard on the little picture instead of the big picture, along with excluding a wider audience for your writing. The best way to write, for me, is to take breaks, and work on more than one story, review, or blog post at a time. I understand many people can’t get on that level of complexity yet, but the truth is everyone can do it. To focus on one project, and to focus on many, is the same. Just one lasts longer, and taking stretches away from that project can help you improve it in the long run.
One major issue with focusing too hard is never going back and rereading your work. Many people think after the first draft it’s amazing, and don’t go back to read over it again. THIS IS WRONG! Always, no matter what, reread everything you write even if it’s only a sentence. Make sure you have it to a perfect shinning gem that you want it to be. Now some can write their first book, story, or post, and be happy without rereading. But for beginners, those people if not experienced are simply over confident. Not everyone reading your work will be a critic or some literary god that can tell when something is off or wrong, and the thing is, that is something that is good but also bad.
You don’t want to just pass by with everyone that isn’t an expert because, sooner or later, there will be people wanting to review your work, and you don’t want to come off as an amateur. You want to show that you know your stuff and tell them, “Yes, I understand the level of sophistication that I need to bring to a project of this magnitude.”
Writing in the moment is all about the moment, but you must look beyond a single moment. Being able to bring higher forms of writing into the room, and tell that you truly are a better writer for it is all you need. To truly know your writing can improve: no matter what you can always improve. Improving yourself as a writer is the most challenging thing to accomplish, as some don’t know what to fix, and others just think everything is bad. Then you will find those that believe they are perfect, but no matter what there is always room for improvement.
To improve your work you can have help: if in school ask your professor; if out of school ask your peers and friends to give your manuscript a read, and give you feed back on it. Remember, this is all my opinion, but I hope that it can help people. Writing in the moment is good, but can also damage new writers. Good luck out there and write some amazing stories.
