Quit Yapping – Writing Advice from Claire!

By Editor in Chief Claire Watson

Ah, fresh air.

Another year, another election season passes. Ta ta, spray-painted sheets and angry DM’s. Ta ta, for another year.

I want to do something a little different this editorial. For those of you who don’t know, I am currently studying for an MA in Creative Writing here at UCC.

By the by, we’re happy to be publishing ‘Formation’ a short story by Gerald O’Donovan this week. Stay tuned!

Things like writing can seem difficult to get into. You just sort of… do it. I’ve learned a lot over the past few years, from self-directed learning, reading, and of course, study. I would like to share some of my Dos and Don’ts that I’ve learned the hard way.

Photo of Françoise Sagan

Do it.

Write the damn thing. I don’t care if you claim it’s rubbish. I don’t care if it’s not going to make you any money. I don’t care that you’ve had an idea in your head for 20-odd years and you’re too scared to bring into the world in case you do it wrong. Bring it into the world because it’ll make you happy. Whether it’s cheesy fanfiction, wonky lines of Instagram poetry, or the novel you’ve been stewing since you were a child, just write it already. It won’t hurt you.

Don’t rush yourself.

When you write something, there’s an urge we all have to get it out into the world while its still hot. Oh no, baby girl. That Google Doc is going to need at least 3 months to cool, before you can even think about editing it. It’s not that it’s bad, it’s just that you need to let it develop. Leave it until you can’t remember anything about it, then look at it with fresh eyes. You’ll really like some parts, and you’ll really hate a lot. Oh, how I wish I could recall submission emails.

Do push yourself.

Try something new. Every time you sit down to write explore something new or explore a weak point. If you are finding it difficult to sit down and write, then push yourself to write something that you’ll enjoy. Have fun with it, play around with it. Toss your words around the page and see what sticks. Just do it on a page.

Don’t be silly.

When I say push yourself, I mean within your limit. Rest up, and drink some water, boo. Write the traditional way and take your eyes off a screen. Take breaks.

Do it for yourself.

Do it for fun, do it because it makes you happy, do it because it excites you, do it because you want to, do it because there’s an ache in your chest that you can’t soothe until you get your ideas onto a page, do it because it’s a passion, do it because it’s a hobby, do it just for yourself.

Don’t give in.

Rejection. It’s disheartening, and there’s something that calls you to keep at it. To keep revisiting that piece and finding what isn’t working. To get angry, to get disappointed, to get disheartened. STOP. YOU ARE ENTERING WRITER DOOM-SPIRAL. STOP IT! MOVE ONTO THE NEXT PROJECT. COME BACK LATER. REJECTION ISN’T THE END, IT’S SPACE FOR YOU TO TRY SOMETHING NEW. KEEP GOING. DON’T GIVE IN.

Do edit.

Please edit your work. You need to edit your work before it gets to ‘the’ editor. Read it aloud, rewrite it by hand, rewrite it on a new doc, take a scalpel to it. Your first draft is never your final.

Don’t copy.

Don’t copy, don’t steal, don’t plagiarise, don’t rip-off, don’t disrespect other writers because you think you can get away with it, and don’t disrespect yourself because you don’t think you’re good enough. Be inspired, sure, but be cautious.

Do read.

Everyone gives this advice, but it’s because you can tell when a writer is working from an echo-chamber of King and Kerouac. There’s nothing wrong with that, but when you consume one type of media, you’re going to write one type of media. Read widely, read different genres, read poetry, and when you’re sick of reading, listen to music, watch movies and TV shows, listen to a podcast, play a video game, read one star Google reviews and sloppy fanfiction.

Don’t tell others what to do.

Get off your high-horse and focus on your own business, Claire. Yeah, I see you at the other end of the keyboard. Notice how you’ve gone over the word-count on your editorial but haven’t written anything new in about a week. I see your stagnant google docs. Quit yapping and get writing.