By: Margaret Huntley
All writing is about life. Whether it’s a novel that follows the life of its protagonist or a poem that describes a particular moment in time, when you write, you communicate a life experience. Therefore, a wide range of life experiences are very valuable for writers.
I’m not writing this blog just to state the obvious: you cannot write if you’re dead (though that’s true too). Rather, I’m writing this blog to encourage you to live a life that is full of deep, meaningful experiences that you will then be able to incorporate into your writing. I know it can be tempting to stay inside on your laptop typing out stories for your whole life, especially if you’re someone who struggles with mental health or are introverted by nature.
I’m also not trying to get you to deny who you are by forcing yourself into situations where you don’t feel safe or comfortable. You don’t have to scale a mountain. You don’t have to go backpacking across Europe. You don’t have to swim with the sharks. Unless, of course, you want to do those things. Simply live in a way that is meaningful to you, and that will look different for everyone.
River Street’s Margaret Huntley
That can mean that you have deep conversations with close friends and family members. It could mean that you go out and meet new people (when it’s safe to do so). It could mean that you take a step back from work and take a nice, relaxing bath. Basically, this blog is just drawing on the old cliché, “life is what you make it” to encourage you to live an enriching life that will, in turn, enrich your writing.
Although I don’t want to pressure anyone to do things untrue to themselves, I do hope that you take risks. The more risks that you take, the more that you experience, and the more you will understand. And the more that you understand, the better writer you are because you will have a catalogue of life experience to draw from. Even if you take a risk on a relationship or business venture that doesn’t work out, you will still be better for trying. Failing is the best way to understand what it is truly like to fail. And understanding failure is the best way to write about failure. Struggle and art are two very closely related entities. Just think about all of the amazing break-up songs out there.
While I don’t wish failure on you, I do want you to know that it’s not something to be afraid of. It can actually be a very enriching experience in terms of your career. On the other side of that coin, when you take a risk that works out, you will experience a surprising elation that can also deepen your life and benefit your writing. In short, every experience you have in this life can help your writing. So get out there and live your life!