The magic of writing

There’s this moment in writing, this wonderful, at-times rare moment when the words begin to flow. Every word trickles onto the page like a waterfall, refusing to be contained by dams, whether natural or manmade. Spitting and spattering onto page and screen, they paint the pictures from your mind, words instead of brushstrokes, metaphors in lieu of colour, verbs as guidelines.

It’s beautiful, and precious, and rare. It happens in fits and starts, depending on the day, your mood, the colour of the page, the wind in the trees…it’s like magic, sparkling in a scene, in the middle of a book, at the end... It can be one sentence, a paragraph, a witty exchange, sometimes a whole act!

One can’t control the magic, simply succumb to it.

But one doesn’t create magic without pursuing it, at times relentlessly, like a wizard locked in a library tower (no need to be so dramatic, though).

Writing is hard, yes. It’s a struggle. Some days, it feels like trying to climb a steep mountain on a world with a much higher gravity rating. It’s a slog.

Yes, at times it even sucks. More often than not, if we’re being honest.

But then, there’s magic. Then, characters shine and the words tumble freely and, once the book is done, you can look at it and say: this is mine. I did this.

Me.

I wrote it.

And then probably tackle the next book. I’ve written many, many books, so far, and each book has its different set of challenges and they’re all stubborn in different ways. Some are super quick to write. Others take years.

Some books I’ve been working on for over a decade. Still not quite there yet.

It’s the creative process, and one that’s both extremely frustrating and extremely joyful. And it’s worth every minute of it.

With each book, each word, I feel like I’m developing instincts to help guide my writing. I know when something’s wrong with the book, and it’s faster for me to figure out how to fix it, now. Because I’ve worked at it, continuously honing my skills, I know no panic is needed, only work.

You have to stand in the fire of story to let it reshape you. So that then, in turn, you can shape it.

I never feel time writing is wasted, not even on those unfinished books that are still not quite right, that sometimes call to me to play with them again, to try to figure out what’s wrong with them.

It’s not wasted, because I’m getting better.

This doesn’t apply to just the books released under my own name, either. I’m currently creating a new pen name in a hot subgenre, to replace the income of some soon-to-end contracts. I have to write these stories quickly, and it’s not easy. I’ve still got edits from clients, and short stories to write, and life—omg life is a lot right now—and writing books takes times and sometimes the words just won’t flow…

Deep breath.

Then, I go on social media and see how authors are using AI as “short cuts” to their writing.

Even if I was tempted, I know from years of experience that it’s not a shortcut. It would be robbing me of the one thing I’m bringing to the story: my voice. It would dull it, smooth out the rawness, turn the unique into common.

It’s not a shortcut: it’s a trap. A tempting one for so many writers, but one that will cost so much more in the long run, because writing instincts will be replaced by GenAI suggestions, flowing sentences will be replaced by prompts.

Authorial voice is what makes books special. Not just words. AI gives words. You give voice.

Don’t fall into the trap.

I’m stressed right now as I’m writing this, trying to get too many words in too short a time (and yet here I am, blogging, reminding myself why I love writing). But it’s still not worth it. Every chapter I’ve written so far sings. I think readers will love it.

Every book is another reminder of why I love writing. It’s an ode to words, to poetry, to language, to life. It’s the pursuit of magic, just a sentence away, sometimes hidden between words that only the most careful readers will find. Like fairies in the garden.

Writing is worth pursuing. It’s hard, yes. But it’s beautiful. Steals the breath away.

And it’s worth fighting for.

Now back at to my library tower! May all of our words flow with ease today. 💖