Are You a Real Writer?

Summary

Roz Warren, a Writing Coach and editor-for-hire, discusses the essence of being a real writer and the process of transitioning from research to writing, emphasizing the importance of having something to say.

Abstract

The article delves into the journey of a new client working with Roz Warren, an experienced editor and Writing Coach. The client, after extensive research, hesitates to begin writing due to fear of imperfection and self-doubt about her identity as a writer. Warren reassures her that a real writer is simply someone with opinions they wish to share with the world, and that entitlement to share is a key differentiator. The role of a Writing Coach is outlined as helping writers claim and exercise their right to express their opinions through writing, guiding them to internalize writing rules, and encouraging them to sometimes break those rules. Warren emphasizes that without something to say, one cannot become a writer, and she offers her services to help improve and publish written work.

Opinions

A "real writer" is characterized as someone with a lot of opinions they wish to share publicly.
The transition from researching to writing is fraught with the risk of imperfection and the challenge of overcoming self-doubt.
Writing coaches help writers overcome barriers to writing and gain confidence in their work.
Improving writing involves learning and sometimes intentionally breaking established rules.
Having nothing to say is a greater obstacle to becoming a writer than any technical writing skill.
The act of writing is inherently imperfect and writers should accept that reality does not align with the ideal vision of their work.

Here’s What It Comes Down To

For decades, I’ve worked with beginning writers and accomplished writers, and every kind of writer in between, on projects ranging from 500-word humor pieces to 500 page fantasy novels.

Yesterday, I was working with a new client. She’d spent hours researching the article she wanted to write. Now it was time to actually write the thing. Part of what she’d hired a Writing Coach to do was to push her off that particular cliff. (After making sure, of course, that her parachute was in good working order.)

She needed to move from the comfort of researching the piece to the danger of actually writing it.

What’s so dangerous?

In the research phase, the article was imaginary and, thus, perfect. She knew that in reality the piece might fail to live up to her vision of it.

In fact, it almost certainly would.

So what? That’s okay. Reality isn’t perfect.

There was also a certain amount of self-doubt involved that was holding her back. “I’m not a real writer,” she told me. I’m just a person with a lot of opinions.”

“I’ve got news for you,” I told her. “That’s what a real writer is. A person with a lot of opinions.”

Writers, unlike other people, have a lot of opinions that they want to share with not just their immediate circle but with the rest of the world. And somehow?

We feel entitled to do just that.

But my client wasn’t really feeling that entitlement. Hence the need for a Writing Coach.

My job is to help her claim that right and exercise it.

Improving your writing isn’t rocket science. There are basic rules. A writing coach can work with you until you’ve internalized them. Then you follow them. Sometimes, you intentionally break them.

But if you start out with nothing to say?

You’ll never be a writer.

Writing Coach and editor-for-hire Roz Warren, who writes for everyone from the Funny Times to the New York Times, can help you improve and publish your work. Drop her a line at [email protected]. (That’s Ros with an “s,” not a “z.”)

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Are You a Real Writer?

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