The One Obvious Thing To Do To Be A Writer

By Wayne Elsey

Creativity is something that everyone should practice. Studies have shown that there are many positive benefits to being creative. These include becoming a better problem solver, heightened self-awareness and the reduction of stress.

I’m in the process of writing my sixth book as I write this article. One of the questions I hear most often from people whose paths I cross is how they too can write.

The answer is very simple. If you want to write, just write.

I think people can get hung up about a few things. They may not feel they are the best writer. They may think there’s already too much content out there, so what’s the point? However, the reason I hear most often about why people choose not to pursue writing is lack of time.

My point in this article is to challenge that thinking. If you want to write and you have something you feel you need to share, then you simply have to find the time. I have a busy schedule, as we all do. Yet, I find the time to write.

It’s not easy to write hundreds or even thousands of words. Yes, it takes time, space and solitude. But it’s possible. I make the time to write.

I’m an early riser. When many people are still sleeping, I’m wide-awake and full of energy. This quiet time when the world still slumbers is when I choose to do most of my writing. Sometimes the words come flowing one right after the other. Other times, not so much.

No matter the results of my writing the day before, I keep on writing. That’s how I’ve published five books. It’s just been a matter of priorities for me. I have things I want to convey to readers and I’ve made writing a priority in my regular schedule.

So, if you’re looking to write you have to brush aside the excuses. You have to quiet that voice in your mind that’s telling you you’re not good enough or there are more pressing things to do. If writing is important to you, it means you have to make space for it. You have to find the time either by waking earlier or staying up later.

Once you begin to incorporate writing into your routine, I promise you it will become second nature. It’s simply a matter of making it a habit. After a few weeks of prioritizing writing into your schedule, you will see that it becomes as much a part of your routine as having breakfast.

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Wayne Elsey is the Founder and CEO of Elsey Enterprises (EE), a company that works with social enterprise organizations, nonprofits and companies on strategy, branding, development and education via the following suite of independent brands: str@tegic – focusing on leadership and business strategy. Funds2Orgs – a social enterprise that enables individuals, companies and organizations to raise funds while helping to support micro-enterprise opportunities in developing nations. SocialGoodU.com – an online university for non-profit education. Not Your Father’s Charity (NYFC) – which is a forum that enables social entrepreneurs, philanthropists, non-profits, the media and general public to learn how to succeed in 21st Century social enterprise. Author of:  The Not Your Father’s Charity Book Series, Get Off the Couch: Grip & Rip and Break the Barriers Holding You Back in Life (Publishing September 15, 2015), Almost Isn’t Good Enough.