October 7, 2005
When I first started writing back when cavemen roamed the earth, I was told to write every day. I didn't. Not quite. But I was pretty good, maybe five days a week. And my approach to it came from my years taking saxophone and piano lessons and eventually giving saxophone and piano lessons. That is to say, practice 30 minutes a day. This started in college when between studying for classes and working to pay my rent and tuition I didn't have a lot of time, but I figured I could carve out 30 minutes a day at the typewriter, so I did. Later, after I got married and had a job, this served me well. I moved it into 7 days a week most of the time and extended it when I had time.

I remember times when I wouldn't write something. And it would be 10:30 at night and I would think, "I haven't written anything today. I really should but I don't want to."

Then I convinced myself, sit at the computer and write one page. Just one. You can do it in five minutes and you'll be done. And you know what? Usually I did and I found myself writing more than one page because once you get going it's easier.

I never waited to be inspired, whatever the hell inspiration is. I just worked at it. I might have moved into professional areas or even gotten published a bit earlier if I had done a bit more networking, going to conferences or taking classes. Or then again, maybe not. They say hindsight has 20/20 vision, but I suspect hindsight often sees things through rose-colored glasses, if you'll forgive me mixing and matching my cliches. I did things the way I did because that was the way I thought they needed to be done or because of time, financial or personal limitations. It's not always easy to convince a practical spouse that this activity you spend time on but seems to have no return could eventually make money and you might have to spend money to do it. And maybe you can't convince yourself of that, either.

Anyway, I still think if someone wants to make a living as a writer, writing 5 to 7 days a week is a requirement. If you can't do that, you probably aren't going to be able to do what it takes to make a living at it. My sister, whom I love dearly, is a nurse and recently asked me how she could break in so she could be a freelance writer when she retires. I sighed and gave her a few hints and thought that writers write because they have to. They just do it and if they're lucky somewhere along the lines they get paid for it. She could be making money now writing for nursing magazines that pay quite well, which is what I told her. Will she? I kind of doubt it, though you never know what people might turn to once the things that take up their time--jobs and family, etc--decrease.

I have often felt like the day I decided to be a writer was the day I gripped a tiger's tail with both hands. I couldn't let go for fear of my own destruction, which sounds rather melodramatic, but don't you wonder about people who easily give up their dreams? The world is filled with embittered people who gave up. Persistence is more important than talent. It's probably better to be lucky than smart, but it's better to be both.

In the meantime, I'll just keep showing up. Because we know what Woody Allen said about that.

Best,
Mark Terry