How to Become a Writer

by Laurie Lamson

As soon as I learned how to read, I wanted to be a writer. But long after film school, I was still stopped by fear my writing wasn’t good enough. 

Finally, in desperation, I took a City College creative writing class. The teacher said we’d do assignments, read our work in small groups, then to the whole class. I for sure wouldn’t be doing that.

He said he’d give personal comments and suggestions, but no critiques – his goal was getting us writing. After the first class, I sat on the steps outside and cried with relief. This was the compassionate teacher I needed. That class changed my life. And it wasn’t easy, but by the end I did read to the whole group.

A few insights from this teacher:

  • If you’re called to write, ‘just do it’ – get in the habit. The words will flow more and more easily.

  • You need to protect your time and space to write. People often take, “I’m writing,” as an invite to interrupt: ‘Oh good, you’re not doing anything important.’

  • Every time you write, even journaling, your consciousness changes – something from your unconscious is incorporated organically.

  • You don’t need permission to explore challenging or “taboo” topics. You don’t have to share your writing, and you can always edit later.

KEEP READING the full article featured in Inkubator Magazine, published by She Rises Studios.