By Chrissy Brown | C.A.A.B. Publishing
Writing is an act of discovery, not only of the world around us but of the self within. Every writer embarks on a journey that feels familiar, but the terrain is constantly shifting. Writers often do not know what they’ll find when they sit down to create. In the midst of crafting stories, essays, or poems, writers are caught in a paradox: we are experts and amateurs at the same time. There are many things writers new and old alike don’t know, and that uncertainty is what makes the process both thrilling and terrifying.
1. Writing Can Be Lonely
Writers often find themselves working alone. It can be a solitary and rather isolating experience. This can be helped with workshops, groups and reaching out to those in the community.
2. The True Depth of Their Characters
Writers usually set out with a vague understanding of who their characters are, but the deeper they go into a story, the more those characters surprise them. It’s not uncommon for a character to reveal an aspect of their personality that the writer didn’t see coming. The character might take actions that change the carefully thought-out plot trajectory or voice opinions the writer finds surprising. Writers can plan out a character’s arc in meticulous detail, only to realize that the character has taken on a life of their own, one that doesn’t always align with the writers intentions. This is one of the beautiful contradictions of writing: the writer is the creator, but the character often takes control.
3. What the Story is Really About
Many writers begin with an idea, (some have a plan from A-Z but others are called pantsers – they fly by the seat of their pants and let the story develop as they write) a theme, or an image that serves as the seed for their story. But as the pages accumulate, the true heart of the narrative often emerges in ways that weren’t initially clear. It’s easy to think a story is about one thing, only to find that as the narrative develops it is actually about something much deeper or more complex.
4. That Writing Can Make You Feel Vulnerable
The first time a new writer asks someone to read their work can be harrowing. You feel like you have just stood naked in front of them. Then when you send your work out into the world, it is like watching your first born child heading towards a flamethrower, you hope they will survive, you hope the reviews will be kind, but you know that both you and your work will probably get burnt.
5. The Perfect Sentence
In the writing community there’s an idea that the perfect sentence exists, one that will sum up a thought, a feeling, in a way that is both beautiful and precise. But the truth is that perfection is ever elusive. Each draft may bring a writer closer, but rarely do they find a sentence that fully satisfies every criterion. It is often best to just write and let the words flow, striving for perfection is an illusion that can trip you up and wipe away your creativity.
6. That Writing Takes a Long Time
Writers often think it will not take much time to get a book ready for publication, that they can write it quickly or that they can become famous once they knock out a few novels. Many writers do not realise the work that goes into every page, the editing, the slow process and finally the search for a way to make your book marketable. To get it read, to get it noticed and then to get started on the next one.7. The Struggles of Other Writers
Writers often look at other authors and think they’ve got it all figured out. Whether it’s the author with a new book on the bestseller list or the one effortlessly writing a flawless first draft, writers tend to compare themselves to others. What they don’t know is that every writer is struggling. Some have self-doubt, some feel like imposters, some may be struggling with writer’s block, or the next book, some are bad at marketing themselves, some have anxiety or are trying desperately to be seen. The truth is, everyone has their own set of obstacles to face, you are not alone in your struggles and talking about it can really help.
So just remember that no one knows it all. You will learn everyday as you write and you should be open to learning as it is the only way to improve as a writer.
C.A.A.B Publishing
CAAB Publishing Ltd is a traditional, small, indie company helping unknown authors have a voice and inspiring new writers to take that first step into the world of publishing.
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Article originally Published in the Summer 2025 Issue.