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You don’t start out writing good stuff

Butler had it right, I think. I can’t teach myself creativity, or give myself talent–but I can teach myself craft, hope I have talent, and enjoy the process of writing.

My only hope is persistence, so here I go for a day of wrestling with the Muse.

If you’re looking for some writing practice, and some feedback, sign up for the I’m Hearing Voices Blogfest..or look up the A to Z Blogging Challenge!

Happy writing, folks!

Damyanti Biswas

Damyanti Biswas is the author of You Beneath Your Skin and numerous short stories that have been published in magazines and anthologies in the US, the UK, and Asia. She has been shortlisted for Best Small Fictions and Bath Novel Awards and is co-editor of the Forge Literary Magazine. Her literary crime thriller series, the Blue Mumbai, is represented by Lucienne Diver from The Knight Agency. Both The Blue Bar and The Blue Monsoon were published in 2023.

I appreciate comments, and I always visit back. If you're having trouble commenting, let me know via the contact form, or tweet me up @damyantig !

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15 Comments

  • Janna says:

    I'm reading Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott, and she states the same thing as Butler. I'm looking forward to lots of practice in April.

  • sue says:

    Just popping by to say Hi for the A-Z challenge.
    Now I'm off to try to get a bit more prepared than last year 🙂
    Sue

  • mish says:

    Wow! It's only the second day of sign-ups and when I checked the linky, the number already stands at 360…
    It seems like the challenge has already taken on a life of its own!
    Let the party begin!

  • I found you on the A to Z Challenge site. This will be my second year – looking forward to it!

  • KarenG says:

    That's a great quote, and I believe every word of it. I really struggle with the persistence. Trying to get over that.

  • Gibson Goff says:

    What a well put dose of reality. And a charge to do better. Thanks!

  • Richard says:

    Can't argue with that.

  • Very nice. Reminds me of "She was maintaining the prime truth of woman, the universal mother: that if a thing is worth doing, it is worth doing badly." from What's Wrong with the World by GKC, the patron saint of underachievers! Thank you for the encouragement.

    I want to do the Rule of Three! sorry I missed it, but I will do it on my own just for the practice.

    Goodonya, damyanti!

  • Suzanne Korb says:

    No, I start out writing good stuff that gets better and better.

    WIN

  • Adriana Noir says:

    Very true and beautifully stated!

  • The Challenge will definitely give you practice!

  • Practice makes perfect, right?

  • Rick G says:

    Feh! Nonsense I say. I am like the Midas of writing. All words I spew forth are gold! Heck, I expect to win the Pulitzer from this blog comment alone. 🙂

    Kidding!

  • This is the hardest challenge I face in my writing. I've always been such an anal short story writer, and first drafts took days but ended up needing very little revision. Now, as I tackle my first novel, I HAVE.GOT.TO embrace the fast, messy, crappy first draft. Because using my short fiction tactic will result in a first draft that will take about two decades to write.

  • Love that! It's so true.