What Writing Has Taught Me (So Far)

I’ve always heard famous people say in interviews that regardless of what they accomplished in their lives, the most difficult thing they ever did was write a book, and I always found that hard to believe. Could writing a book really be more difficult than, say, going to the moon, being the heavyweight champion of the world, or reaching the summit of the tallest mountain?

From my own learning experience, I’ve come to realize a few interesting things about writing. These are things that, for me, started as simple lessons learned through trial and error and the guidance of my fellow mountain climbers. Furthermore, what I’ve come to realize is that these lessons have slowly morphed into philosophies that can not only be applied to writing, but to life in general.

One of these philosophies comes from a quote that I first read a few years ago. The quote is credited to Sir Thomas Fowell Buxton, and it reads:

“With ordinary talent and extraordinary perseverance, all things are attainable.”

This belief can certainly apply to lots of different things, including, of course, writing. It’s a task that doesn't require an abundance of natural talent (although that would definitely help a lot of us out), but it does require a high level of perseverance and patience. The ability to press on in a habitual manner, knowing that the process is a long and arduous one, will carry any writer to that moment where they can finally put down those two magical words at the conclusion of their story. 

In addition to what Buxton said, I recall Albert Einstein being famously remembered for saying something very similar about how he approached his own work and achievements:

“It's not that I'm so smart, it's just that I stay with problems longer.”

So any advice that I would give to a fellow writer out there would be to stick with it and keep writing. As laborious as it may seem at times, keep writing. Even if you think whatever it is that you're writing isn’t all that good, keep writing. Guess what? Your first draft doesn’t have to be good, it simply has to exist, so keep writing it. If you do, I’m sure you’ll find that THE END, like all things, is always attainable.