Anyone Can Be a Writer!

(Ten Reasons Why It's Easy-Peasy)

1--Because writing is just a craft like carpentry and if you can build a bookcase, you can write Infinite Jest or at least Pride and Prejudice.

2--Because even your mother did NaNoWriMo. Twice.

3--Because there are apps for everything. And now there’s AI.

4--Because spell check does half the work and bestsellers can't be all that hard anyway.

5--Because all you need is passion, patience, and a fondness for rejection--just like stalkers.

6--Because agents are a dying breed, traditional publishers are thieves, and Amazon is The Wild West.

7--Because there are more people willing to take your money in creative writing programs than there are people phishing for your social security number.

8--Because anyone can be a dancer, a musician, a painter, an actor, or a neurosurgeon--you just have to want it badly enough. Talent doesn't matter.

9--Because every other writing blog filled with writing tips tells you so. Duh.

10--Because there are a million inspiring Mark Twain quotes on the Internet he wrote after he was dead that will give you the courage to just do it. After all, didn’t he say “The secret of getting ahead is getting started”  when he led a weekend motivation workshop on a Mississippi paddle steamer?*

Photo by bruce mars on Unsplash

*Never happened. :-)

Lev Raphael grew up in New York City but got over it and has happily lived more than half his life in Michigan. His work has appeared in fifteen languages and one of his books has sold over 300,000 copies.