Where Do I Start? by S. Lanier Lovejoy

I know it’s been a while since I’ve had a guest post. Hopefully, I will be able to provide them more often. Today’s post is by S. Lanier Lovejoy. Enjoy!

Where Do I Start?

by S. Lanier Lovejoy

I want to write but I just don’t know where to start. What subject should I tackle today? I know that I love to write, so why is it so difficult to determine what to write? Does my desire to write far outweigh my ability to write?

     The aforementioned questions ring loudly in my head while dipping my toe in the water to write my first piece.  This “true” novice has long desired to pen something of interest to the world, provide a glimpse of things as I see them. Yet, my dogged companion at the end of the day is always a blank screen.  I keep telling myself I can write. I have a vivid imagination. I never let the facts get in the way of a good story.  Why can’t I convey these thoughts in an appropriate medium?  After every attempt and failure, I simply put away my instruments of doom and move on to something else. Yet, there is always this nagging voice within me that draws me back to the pen and paper, or that dreaded computer. So what’s a beginner to do?

    It is my belief that a beginning writer like me tries to write that epic tome right out of the gate. I have to show that I am the best undiscovered writer in the world; just wait until they get a hold of me! When in reality, it is probably more advisable to take smaller chunks out of that elephant before crowning myself a clear descendant of Hannibal. Sure, this is easier said than done, but I have to start somewhere. So where is this starting point?

     I asked a question of a friend once, “What are you passionate about?” I qualified my definition of passion as something that you have a fervid desire to do and nothing can detract you from it. Surprisingly, this friend had initial difficulty providing an answer. She wavered on things she liked to do, but couldn’t classify them as things she’s passionate about.

     My suggestion to anyone that desires to become a writer is to determine the one thing you’re passionate about, the one thing you probably can be considered a near-expert in, and start your magnum opus on that subject. Think about it. If you’re possessive of a writer’s spirit, and are able to write about that thing you’re most passionate about, then your commitment to this effort should rarely wane.

     Yes, this sounds simplistic and sophomoric.  Think back to your youth when everything was new, and every new toy brought about an unbridled desire. Whether it was a bike, computer game, or hula hoop, you just had to have it. You went to sleep at night thinking about that one thing. That, in my opinion, was passion (albeit slightly misplaced). We still possess those same strong feelings within ourselves, although the toys we’re passionate about today are slightly larger and more expensive. But if we can just bound that desire, that passion into an act or activity, or maybe even a person, and shape our topic around that subject, therein lies our starting point.

     Start with a description of the object. The beauty of writing is that you can always modify it later. Convey to your intended audience the depths of your passion on that subject. Why are you so passionate about it? What is the draw or allure you possess toward it? If you’re going to use a person as the object of your passion, please ensure that you define and bound your description of your passion towards this person. A trip down Thesaurus Lane and you’ll find some interesting synonyms for passion as they relate to a person.

     As you write, write for yourself. This is your passion. You’re merely using the written word to convey it, but it’s yours first. Ignore your impulses to write for others, and simply let the words flow. Like a great work of art, the observer will sense the passion in the author’s work and draw their own conclusions.

     Lastly, enjoy yourself. This isn’t a labor of strife, but a labor of love. I write because I have something to say. Shout it from the mountain top! Have fun with it and let the readers of your works glean passion from it.   

~~ S. Lanier Lovejoy

***Lovejoy and I talked about voice. You probably noticed the piece has more of a formal voice than my usual posts. I didn’t want to alter the voice because it’s “true.”

How do we name voice?

Is your voice always the same?

How do you decide which voice is appropriate for a piece?

Is it ever all right to write the way you talk?

How do you teach voice?

Is it even possible to teach voice?