1. The Writer's Affair with Writing

Like many students and enthusiasts, I wondered how writers write well-crafted articles and books, how they feel to be a writer, and what affects their writing. But, I never tried to ask such questions to them. I let my questions remain quiet in subtle mind for many years.

As a way to soothe office stresses in the evening, I was browsing YouTube, there appearred a video with thumbnail showing a book "Writing to Learn". Then, I played it. It was a self-help video based on a book by William Zinsser. Once I finished watching, I searched such book on Google serach engine. Google suggested many books by William Zinsser along with that book. A book "On Writing Well" attracted me. I downloaded and started reading. Then, my unanswered questions about writing got answered.

In that book, Zinsser presents a tale of and Dr. Brock, a surgeon, discussing the writing with students at a school in Connecticut, USA. Zinsser and Dr. Brock were panelists. Students ask them "What is like to be a writer?" Dr. Brock answers writing as a matter of tremendous fun. For him, returning home from the hospital and going straight to write tensions away are routine activities. Words just flow. It is easy. But, to Zinsser, it is hard and lonely and words seldom just flow. A student again quiries whether writers rewrite what they write. Dr. Brock replies no need to rewrite. "Let all hang out", any form of sentence appear will reflect the writer in his natural form. However, Zinsser points out that professional writers rewrite their sentences over and over and then rewrite what they have written. Still, another question comes "What do they do when it is not going well?"  Dr. Brock replies hes just stops writing and put the work aside for a day when it goes better. But, Zinsser says the professional writer must establish a daily schedule and stick to it. Writing is a craft, not an art and the man who runs away from his craft beacuse he lacks inspiration is fooling himself. He is also going broke. Again, a student asks hem "What if you are feeling depressed or unhappy? Won't that affect?" Dr. Brock says probably it will. Go fishing. Take a walk. Probably it won't, Zinsser replies. If your job is to write every day, you learn to do it like any other job.

As Zinsser describes in his book, the writing is not an easy task. We should apply more effort to make it a craft. Whatever emotion comes through us, we should make daily routine of writing and stick to it, as a professional writer.