Every writer faces challenges during his/her career. I'm no different. The challenges I face may be different from other writers, just as theirs may be different. Some of our challenges may be shared, or experienced on different levels.
I'd like to share a few and share how I get through them. Maybe it can help you when you experience the same challenge. Of course, I hope you'll never have to go through the challenges but it is always better to be over prepared than not prepared at all.
Challenges of being a writer...
Having time to write. I think this is probably one of the biggest challenges of being a writer. I've read different answers across the list of books I've been able to get my hands on. The biggest reply to the question is this--you have to make the time. Any time you have something important to you, you have to make time for it. Why wouldn't writing be any different. You shouldn't have to sacrifice what you love to make time to write, but you can easily move things around on your schedule (sometimes it's not possible). For instance, picking up the kids from daycare. That's something you can't change, but while you're in route, you can dictate to your phone when it's safe. You could also call the daycare or babysitter and adjust the time, an hour later if needed. You can get up an hour early, or stay up an hour longer. You can write while in the bathroom while you wait instead of reading a magazine or newspaper. You can skip doing a chore (or have someone else do it). While waiting for the bus, you can write a scene on your phone. Then transfer it over when you get home. I stay up all night once or twice a week so I can get writing-related things done including actual writing. I go through a lot of caffeine to get that done.
No place to write. Being a writer means you can write anywhere. You don't need an office space to write. You can write at your kitchen table. You can write outside. You can write in the living room on your lap while watching a movie or during the commercial breaks (that actually answers the question of finding time to write). You can write in bed. There are no rules that say you have to write in this location during this time of day or night. You pick the place (it can change depending on the day as well), and when to write (that can change too).
"I suck" or I'm not a writer. At least half of us have experienced impostor syndrome at one point in our career. It doesn't make you any less of a writer than someone who is famous like Stephen King or Dean Koontz. They started at the bottom just as anyone else. They experienced rejections too. The difference is they didn't give up--they kept writing and improving their skill. Now look at what they've done. And you deserve to sit at the same table as they do. It doesn't matter if you've written one book or one hundred books. It doesn't even matter if you're published. If you're writing, you are a writer. Once the book is finished, you have authored a book. If the book isn't great, edit the book. That's how a good story becomes great. No one has ever written a perfectly great book on the first go-around. It takes several rounds of edits and fixing mistakes to get there. Read a lot of books and stories. Keep writing. That's how you learn.
Ideas stopped coming in. Ideas are everywhere. Sometimes you need to be patient and allow the ideas to come to you. Sometimes, you can ask for ideas. It doesn't make you a bad writer. Asking your fans could mean having them included and your fans will enjoy that part. It could be something you can include in your newsletter. Signing up for other newsletters that share writing prompts can help inspire ideas. I do that. I also keep my eyes open at all times, looking where others dismiss. I listen to conversations in the crowd. I watch people. Movies have inspired ideas because I keep an open mind. Heart of Thirst actually was inspired by a movie about vampires. It was a horror movie--I simply changed the genre. If you're trying too hard, sometimes just walking away and taking a break can help. This works if you don't have a deadline to finish the book. You can also switch stories. This is also good if you hit writer's block.
I'm writing too much and need a break, but have no idea what to do. I don't think any writers have said this but their loved ones may have. My husband sure has. I've had days when I was writing up a storm and he missed my company. It is OKAY if you take a break from writing. In fact, it's probably better if you do take breaks from time to time. It will help prevent burn-out. That also includes breaks from social media. I take Sundays off from IG and FB for that reason. I used to write every single day and ran into times when I was writing for too long. I had to learn to walk away for a bit and "live". That's how we can get inspired. Living is a good way to experience new things we can write about. I've heard write what you know many times. Living gives you that knowledge. Trying new things can give you that knowledge.
Balancing writing life with personal life. Knowing when to take breaks and living can be a struggle. If you live alone, this can be a real challenge. A lot of it is free will. Maybe setting up a schedule and sticking with it can help. Being a writer doesn't stop when you walk away from writing your story. You can be researching things while living your life. And it's perfectly fine that you are. You can gain so much experience from it. Take a walk at the mall or a park, and watch people. Go to the movies with your friends. Balancing the two doesn't have to be equal and it doesn't have to be the same everyday. Mine sure isn't. I don't even plan which nights I stay up all night. I give that power to my husband so he can be involved. It actually makes him proud that he gets to choose the nights. When you're not writing, you can keep a journal handy (ladies, you can keep one in your purse), you can use your cell phone, or have a tape recorder, etc. When you're at the store and in a long line at the cash register, you can dictate ideas for your book. You can write out a scene for the story.
Excuses not to write. It's going to happen a time or two. You have friends coming over, the dishes need to be washed, the laundry isn't going to wash itself, you need to go to the store, you're too tired, you're feeling sick, and the list keeps growing. Are you "making" excuses or do these things actually have to be done right now? If you can push something aside or ask someone else to do something, you can get to your writing. Including family members in your writing excuses can help filter out the things that aren't vital. But you do need to ask yourself if it is just an excuse not to write and face it. Are you afraid or nervous about a scene? Knowing the answer can help you get past it. You can't keep pushing the writing off, because your book isn't getting finished if you continue. Writers write after all. Taking a year off to handle something is okay, by the way. Sometimes, you need to take a step back and think things through. Sometimes, you want to look at the bigger picture of your career and taking that long break is necessary to do that. It's okay if that's what you choose to do. No one will think less of you for that. It isn't an excuse at that point.
Minor Challenges...
Choosing which POV to use. 1st, 2nd, or 3rd. That depends on how you want to tell the story. It's a personal preference. Either choice is right. Who the POV character is also up to the writer. You can choose more than one or keep one through the whole story.
Choosing the genres to write in. Up to the writer. You can use one and include different sub-genres, or you can write in 2 genres. You can also choose to write multiple genres. The "rule" says two at the most in one pen name. I don't know who came up with this rule, but I've broken it. I write in most genres, but I choose to write clean stories (that is, no sex in my stories). I chose this because I want to use one pen name across the board, another rule I've broken. Rules are made to be broken, right? I don't write sports stories and I don't write erotic stories. That's my choice. It does make marketing harder, but I'm more interested in telling the stories that come to me rather than writing in one or two genres.
Writing style/voice. I don't have one that I stick to. I prefer to stay true to the story that needs a certain style or voice. Every writer is different and how they write is their choice. I think it's important to stay true to who you are. If a writer chooses to use humor in every story they write, it should be allowed. It makes the stories unique to that writer.
I know I'm missing other challenges. Please comment below what challenges you've faced as a writer. How do you get through them? You're also welcome to comment on my IG or FB post concerning this topic. Thank you!
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