Writing is easy, except when it isn’t
I’m Suw Charman-Anderson, and I have a lot of experience of writing. I have worked as a music journalist and as a tech journalist and columnist, I’ve been on a news website launch team, and I’ve written reports, opinion pieces and hundreds of blog posts. I’ve edited two non-fiction anthologies and written novellas, short stories, a novel, a feature film script, and a six-part TV show.
But I’ve also spent an awful lot of time not writing.
I’ve had periods where I’ve just had no ideas, or I’ve had ideas but been unable to work on them, or have started a project but then it’s fallen by the wayside. I’ve had writers block. I’ve got so deep in the research weeds I couldn’t start writing. I have had periods of clinical depression where I couldn’t even think, let alone write. I’ve been too stressed, too tired, too busy, too poor and too scared to write.
Where others are experts in writing, I am an expert in not writing. And it was never once down to a lack of willpower. There’s always something else going on.
In Why Aren’t I Writing?, I’m going to explore all the reasons why writing can sometimes be really, really difficult. And I’m going to dig for answers that might make writing just that little bit easier. Because I’ve developed a robust writing habit, and if I can, you can too.
Why subscribe?
If you’ve ever founds yourself wanting to write but not writing – regardless of whether you’ve written before or not – then you should subscribe so that you never miss an update and to have full access to my archives.
You won’t have to worry about missing anything. Every new edition of the newsletter goes directly to your inbox.
Upgrade to access Grist, ‘basic training’ for writers
Grist is a 'basic training' program for authors, screenwriters and other creatives which focuses on improving those fundamental skills that every writer needs: observation, awareness of emotions and physical sensations, deep listening and intentional watching/reading.
Each month, we’ll have an hour long Zoom call to explore a different topic that will help you develop your observational skills and fire up your imagination. Grist will help you to enrich your writing, making it easier to create compelling characters, build lush worlds and develop plots that are more deeply rooted in your world building, and give you a deeper insight into your characters interior lives.
The premium subscription is just £5 per month, or £50 per year.
Join the crew
Lots of people want to write, but aren’t. Join me, and all the other people who are also trying to write, and let’s find a way through the maze together.
To find out more about the company that provides the tech for this newsletter, visit Substack.com.
