The Impossibility of Being a Writer

In reference to writing fiction: What does it take to be a writer? Obviously, all it really takes is a Writer’s Spirit. However, according to experts on the internet, it takes regimented practices like setting daily word count goals, and a specific writing time each day, and having bios for the characters, and an outline for the complete story, and knowledge of AI (because you don’t know what literary devices are), and writing software (gladly pitched at the end of any random writing article, so your story is just like a million other stories). Also, there is the deadly Writer’s Block to avoid at all costs.

Some people say to read books in your genre to learn to write. That makes as much sense as eating to learn to cook. Yes, read text books on writing or take classes to learn the craft, but copying someone else’s style doesn’t make you a writer; it makes you a copycat.

To get you started, here is a list of 100 Literary Devices with examples: The Ultimate List.  https://blog.reedsy.com/literary-devices/

Let’s go with the Writer’s Spirit concept. Relax. Throw out all of the regimented activities listed above. Learn the craft. Meet your main character—maybe in a dark alley or in a park. Meet them where they are and learn about who they are (as you write) just like you would learn about a real person. Give someone a skill or knowledge that you possess. Use a setting that you know or can imagine. Quickly find their heart’s desire or greatest fear, and enter that story with them; that is your joint quest. That is your story. Sit down and write it.