There Is Nothing To Writing. All You Do Is Sit Down At A Typewriter And Bleed.

The Problem with Ernest Hemingway's Quote on Writing

"Write drunk, edit sober."

Okay so it's not that one. I actually like that one, though I try not to take the drunk part literally. It's this one:

"There is nothing to writing. All you do is sit down at a typewriter and bleed."

Such pressure! Am I the only one a little intimidated by that quote? Must you really spill the contents of your soul every time you write? I have to admit, it's a romantic notion. And while Hemingway's writing was definitely not romantic, his image as an author was. But should it be?

It's quotes like thi s that make writers, and the rest of society for that matter, think they must be tragic, brooding, dysfunctional figures to be successful. But while no one can argue with Hemingway's success, his romanticized depression and alcoholism led him to an early grave. I think it's safe to say that none of us want that end.

You should be writing from the heart, but that doesn't mean you should be discouraged if that doesn't happen every time you write. The point is to keep writing and practicing as often as possible. It may take a lot of time writing crap until you strike gold at the heart of what you're really trying to say. And it's okay to be scared to bare your soul on the page. You can slowly over time build your momentum to get to that point.

Rather than thinking you must bleed onto the page every time you write, think of your writing as excavating. Dig and dig and dig, practice and practice and practice. Sift through the dirt and sand. Chip away at the stone and clay. Find the treasure waiting beneath. Keep writing until you find what resonates with you and with your readers. Keep writing until you find your voice.