November 15, 2009 by Lillie
Today is the 8th Annual I Love to Write Day.
If this year is like previous years, libraries and schools will have events focused on writing.
Writers will encourage others and teach them how to improve their writing.
I think the best way to celebrate is to start with a blank sheet of paper … and write!
photo credit: koalazymonkey
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I love to write poems. I was eager to write them when I have felt love for the first time.
Roger,
Poetry is one thing I don’t write, but it is a popular form of writing, one that is often associated with love and strong emotions.
Poetry is sublime and best suited for expressing strong feelings, but like you Lillie I also don’t write poems.
Actually, I can’t.
Martha,
Your comment started out very poetic so I thought you were going to say you are a poet.
Sometimes you could think that writing something is stupidity but this is not truth. Everyone should write because it is a perfect way to keep our thoughts together and in stable conditions. Sometimes it is impossible to figure out what we really thing before we talk about it. The same thing is with writing, but gives us a chance to thing longer about what we think.
Jason,
That is an excellent point: writing can help us clarify our thoughts as well as express them.
I think the main problem with writing for me is the motivation to keep going. I find it easy to begin but hard to finish. I have tried writing ebooks but as usual, I begin only to have them unfinished halfway through. But I do agree that to start writing, one just has to pick up a pen and paper and start scribbling away!
.-= Jen@Signs Of Cheating´s last blog ..Cheating Signs Must Be Followed By Evidence =-.
Jen,
One of the main reasons people don’t finish writing something they start is because they don’t think it’s good enough. Knowing that it’s not supposed to be good the first time around often helps. Just keep writing, no matter how bad the writing. You can always go back and fix something you’ve written, but until you’ve got something written, there’s nothing to fix.
I think you touched on something that a lot of people simply don’t realize, which is that you don’t have to go straight from your word processor to a published work. Instead, the rough draft should be just that, rough. I myself am guilty of this from time to time…
.-= Steve@Lift Chairs´s last blog ..Common Misconceptions About Arthritis =-.
Steve,
That is such a common problem. I’ve written about it before, and I’ll write about it again. I have met people who have been working on the same novel for years and years but never get past the first chapter because they want it to be perfect before they go any further.
Fun stuff! Interesting how much I wanted to write yesterday, too. I did, but only in my journal as I was processing some stuff. I think my biggest drive as a wannabe writer is that I want to put the irony I see in my life and turn it into stories.
.-= Ronnica´s last blog ..What Have I Missed? =-.
Ronnica,
I’m sure you have a lot to journal right now after your trip. Journaling is a great way to process your thoughts and experiences as well as excellent writing practice. You can actually use your journal as the basis for other writing.
In my opinion, when writing something, make sure you write exactly how you feel. This is because, writing exactly how you feel is more likely going to come out as sincere and well put than trying to be too creative. The most important thing here is for your reader to realize that you made an article specifically for them and it was hard work.
Mustana,
Sincerity is important in writing, but how important it is varies with what you’re writing. Sometimes you’re writing factual information, and your feelings aren’t important. Other times you’re writing material with emotion, and your own feelings are very important.
I’m truly intimidated by a “blank sheet of paper”. Even in a personal journal, I spend the most time writing those first few words.
Alicia,
Julia Cameron’s morning pages or any type of free writing can be helpful. Just start writing anything — even that you don’t know what to write — until the ideas start to flow. Give yourself permission to write “pure green dreck.”
Wow! I had no idea there was even an I Love to Write Day! Such a wonderful way to encourage writing. I think I’ll celebrate it today.
.-= Karen Swim @Marketing Consulting´s last blog ..Naked Trees and Wild Eyed Murderers =-.
Karen,
No time like the present. Enjoy!
I love writing. However, I can’t consider myself as a good writer. It seems like I’m lacking of something. Maybe because I’m so bothered about my grammar and writing style, but that won’t stop me from writing. I can improve my writing skills with continuous practice.
Justin,
I’ve heard you have to write a million words to become a good writer. So often people think they either write well to begin with or they will never write well. As you say, you can continuously improve your writing by continuing to write.
Writing is art and is not possessed by many people. Some people enjoy writing and they forget each and everything before it.
.-= Bollinger´s last blog ..Reliance Netconnect USB Modem =-.
Bollinger,
I think you are correct that some people have a natural talent for writing and love to do it. For other people, it comes harder with less pleasure. But I believe anyone can learn to write better and like it more.
I love writing! But I had no idea Nov. 15 was writing day?! Hmm, sounds like it was nationally fun. I think I wrote a blog post on Saturday. Does that count as writing? haha
Amanda,
Blog posts certainly count as writing, and there’s no reason you can’t celebrate I Love to Write Day anytime.
Write about something you love like health and nutrition information. Remember this all the words in the dictionary are equally available to each of us, it’s how we pick, arrange and use those words that either greatly inspires others in the form of a great novel or becomes lost on forgotten pages. A lot of that depends on how well we tap into that which inspires us.
Jim,
Excellent advice, except I certainly have different interests than you.
Writing about health and nutrition would bore me, and I’d never want to do it. In fact, I have some great personal testimonials about natural health products that have made a huge difference for me. So I signed up as a distributor … If you dig deep in this site, you’ll find a mention. However, you don’t see me writing regular posts about them even though I might be able to generate sales and income. It’s just not what I want to write about.
But it’s a good thing we’re all different and have different interests. Otherwise, we’d all be writing the same thing.
Oh, I feel terrible! How come they never teach in Journalism schools that there is such thing as a “I Love to Write Day?!”
I kinda miss writing though. For a Journalism graduate, I’ve been doing very little writing for the past 6 months…
I feel terrible two-fold now! T_T
Louise,
I think “I Love to Write Day” was started by a writer, and it’s not a huge event (at least not yet).
Maybe you need to start doing some more writing.
I do hope that “I love write day” will become more popular among students, because it’s a good way to improve one’s creativity!
Andy,
It doesn’t seem to be a very well-known day. If you have contacts in schools, you might want to spread the word and encourage them to get involved.
I love to write words and later on if i have a 2 to 3 paragraphs, im converting it to become a song.
Kilua,
I don’t write poetry or songs and I admire anyone who can do so.
Well, just try it.maybe youll learn to love it
Kilua,
Maybe someday …
I’ve always envy people who could write. People who are able to paint a mental picture with just words. Just from my comment, you probably can tell I am not one of them!
I really enjoy reading your responds to all the comments. It makes this blog so much more interesting and I feel like I know you already. Thank you.
Sharon,
There was nothing wrong with your comment. Although being able to create mental pictures is good, what is important in writing is being able to communicate your message. I’m a very simple writer—not one who constructs beautiful prose—but I hope I get my message across. You certainly did that in your comment.
I never knew there was an I love to write day. My library didn’t do anything for it. I went on Friday but didn’t see anything posted, oh well.
.-= April@Wedding Centerpiece´s last blog ..Wedding Table Centerpieces To Save Money =-.
April,
It doesn’t seem to be a very well-known day. Maybe you can bring it to the attention of your library before next years’s event.
i also like to write because in writing i get the confidence although i am a duffer in my real life !We can write by a lot of ways such as keyborad typing,typing machine or pen etc.!For celebrating the writing day hence i have planned to write my project about tree saving on paper rather than typing in my laptop!
.-= parminder@data card´s last blog ..Reliance Netconnect USB Modem =-.
parminder,
There are many ways to write and doing something other than your usual practice can spark creativity.
Im not a good writer but i know how to appreciate a good writing, as i love to read. i guess everyone have own personality that shows on what they do.
Ash,
Writers love readers. If there weren’t people who loved to read, no one would buy our books.
I love to write poems and stories but a lot of times, i can hardly finished them. It is because, i don’t have anymore idea to pursue the story or my imagination just vanished. But I still write short poems and stories.
–gorillalovesac–
anne,
There are ways you can get better at finishing stories, such as brainstorming “what if” and trying to come up with a bunch of different possible ways to continue.
However, sometimes when we don’t finish a work, it just means it was an experiment but there wasn’t enough there to do any more.
I like to read a lot, mainly historical novels, but writing is often a hard task. The nice thing is that write is a superb training to develop concentration.
Peter,
If you enjoy historical novels, check out my interview with David Bowles. You might really enjoy his books.
Writing is a good exercise to improve concentration.
I have to tell you the truth that I don’t think I have written on a blank sheet of paper in quite some time! I do love to write, but it is actually done on my computer all of the time with voice recognition software, how un-traditional is that?
C,
I don’t write on paper, either, and I don’t read print. However, I read on my e-book reader and write on my computer screen (albeit in large font), not with voice recognition software. One of my clients is blind, and he uses voice recognition software so I know what a blessing it can be. But I hear his computer talking to him and I see all the mistakes that end up in his work, and I don’t think I’d like it. But if you like it or need it, it’s great you can use it.
I find that if I think about how to structure and then write, its takes me ages to actually start writing.
So, I just start writing as I think. This kind of gets all the “noise” out. I am then able to either rewrite or edit and get it done much faster.
It is the getting started that takes longer.
.-= Emma @ Baby Educational Toys´s last blog ..Baby Activity Gym =-.
Emma,
I’ve written quite a bit about writing first, editing later. Check out my series and related posts for writing and self-editing posts.
I think we should write daily not only at certain times each year. This is like praying only Sunday, only one day each week. We should do it daily if we are serious about it.
This is just my 2 cents.
Samuel,
Well, as a professional writer who writes full-time, I couldn’t begin to imagine not writing every day. And I Love to Write Day certainly doesn’t advocate writing only one day.
The day is designed to celebrate writing as a pleasurable activity. For those of us who write for other people full-time, sometimes it’s a real pleasure to just set aside some time and write purely for pleasure.
While I love writing and editing for my clients, I need to be able to write just for myself sometimes. That’s the primary reason I have this blog. I can write about what I want, when I want, rather than meeting someone else’s expectations.
What a great idea for a day never knew about it till now but that is what I got the internet for in the first place which was a learning tool!
.-= Chloe´s last blog ..All She Wants To Do Is Dance by Don Henley =-.
Chloe,
Glad I could help you learn something new and fun.
very small but nice post next year i ll keep in mind and definitely write something on this day and promote it so that other also write as books are our best friends and we can write anything on it.
Namrata,
Don’t wait until next year to write, but do write something on that day.
Hmm, I’ll have to keep this date in mind for next year, I haven’t written anything non-job search related in the last year, I’ve almost forgotten how relaxing it can be…
.-= Joe Thompson @ garage good installation repair sales technician´s last blog ..Custom Garage Doors in Dallas =-.
Joe,
You don’t have to wait until next year. You can write something anytime.
[...] of time and energy to compile. Recognition of special days—such as World Alzheimer’s Day, I Love to Write Day, and Religious Freedom Day—and special organizations and programs—such as Operaton EBook Drop: [...]
Lately the end of the day I write by hand the experiences I had during the day. I found it very good for emotional health as it is appropriate to draw out stressful situations.
Daniel,
Journaling is an excellent way to deal with emotions and stress. Also, the more you write, the better you write.
Some days ago I tried to write some sentences by hand. To my surprise I realized I had almost forgotten the handwriting. Years of computers sometimes have undesirable effects. Now I spend a few minutes every day handwriting few sentences.
Daniel,
This is an interesting take on the day and the post. This day is talking about writing as in composing stories, articles, letters, journal entries … But I re-read the post and that isn’t spelled out, so someone who isn’t a writer could easily think writing as in handwriting. Guess I didn’t communicate very well for a writer, did I?