To Write, Or Not To Write?

Jonah Newton

Originally published in Cambrensis magazine (Issue 34, December 1997)

There are a number of reasons why a writer may write. It may be for business, for pleasure.
It may be for therapy, or out of routine. But in any situation, it requires concentration,
dedication, a desire for communication through the use of written language.
Perhaps you too would like to be a writer. Perhaps you pass by your local bookstore every
day and admire the latest books, the colourful covers – and perhaps you wish you had
written one of these. Well – why shouldn’t you? It certainly isn’t inconceivable that you could
be a writer of note. Someone who produces stories which people actually want to read.

Consider this – you may already be a writer – a creative writer. Think about it – every time
that you send a text or an email, every time you scrawl a note to a member of your family
and leave it on the kitchen worktop – well – this is creative writing.

But can we take this idea further? Yes – of course.

You may keep a diary, a journal. So this is an ideal place to begin your apprenticeship. And if
you do not own one, then buy a notebook and keep it handy. Jot down any interesting
thoughts, observations, stories, snippets of news. Gradually, you will begin to develop the
knack for collating, examining and expanding upon interesting ideas for potential stories.
Also – this simple act of recording ideas often appears to create a receptive ‘space’ in the
human mind, allowing ideas to arrive more readily.
But what about taking up writing in a professional capacity – or at least in a semi-
professional capacity? Again – this is not impossible. But before you embark on your career,
you may like to consider the following myths.

Myth number one – to be a real writer, one must be published

Being published can be an ‘end-point’ to a writing project, but it is not necessarily the case
that every piece of work has to be published. To aim to be published is however a useful
‘driver’ for completing a project.
Of course, a well-written piece – a sincerely-written piece, may be completed and sent to an
editor for review. But the editor may reject this work on the grounds that it is commercially
unviable. Publishing is, after all, dependent upon a market – a specific type of readership.

Myth number two – a writer constantly must read, read, read

How important is it to read? It is certainly true that most writers are ardent readers too. It is
through reading that every writer subconsciously begins to understand how to construct a
sentence, how to formulate the rhythm of language. Through reading, a writer also beings to
expand their set of vocabulary, and determines what is already published. And of course,
through reading, a writer can learn from another writer’s mistakes!
But remember that although it is useful to read, read, read – it is equally as important to
write, write, write. Cultivate the habit of writing every day. Be inspired by what you read but
have the confidence to create your own compositions and your own style.

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© Copyright 1997, 2015 – Jonah Newton
 To Write, Or Not To Write? – Jonah Newton

Myth number three – A writer must stick to only one genre

This is not necessary. In fact, when developing your writing skills, it is a good thing to try to
write in different genres. You may be walking down the street one day when you have an
idea for a dark mystery, or a horror story, or even a romantic tale. So, examine that initial
picture that forms in your mind – make a start with the story and just see where the
characters lead you. There is more than one side to human nature so most writers should be
capable of writing pieces which may be classed as different genres.

Myth number four – A writer should only write in one form

As with genres, there should be no restriction as to which form of writing you express your
idea in. Poetry, short-stories, novellas – these are all popular forms of writing. And you may
find that, when exploring an idea, the words that you initially set down may naturally lead you
to express your thoughts in a particular form.
Ultimately, you may decide that you cannot write so well in certain forms, but do not by any
means restrict yourself from the outset.

Myth number five – A writer writes and an editor edits

Note well that a writer only becomes a good writer when he/she becomes a good editor. And
what does ‘good’ mean in this context?
Well, it means having the experience to know which elements of a piece of writing are not
working – and then having the confidence to remove those elements. Most writers will panic
at the thought of this. Many believe that in order to improve a story, one should add more
detail. But, often, a story will not work because too much information has been provided to
the potential reader. Concentrate on the structure of the piece – remove all superfluous
material. Use ‘dramatic’ spacing, timing. Remember, an inappropriate word can spoil a
passage, a chapter – perhaps an entire book.

So, there you have it – the myths, the facts. And now you have two choices: write – or do not
write. And if you decide on the first, then don’t just act like a writer – be a writer. You were
given the gift of creativity. So, use it. You may be surprised.

Jonah Newton, Manchester 2015

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All material © Copyright 1997, 2015 – Jonah Newton