Why Writing Is Like Swimming In The Sea

Swimming in the sea and writing books have similar journeys.

The difference is that if you have been a lifelong reader, you may have an easier journey to publication than those who don’t read a lot. And you don’t need to be perfect in terms of the basics before you start writing. Swimming, on the other hand, requires a good practical knowledge of the basics before you start swimming in the ocean, or you’ll drown.

One way to spend summer, for many South Africans, is to head to the beach. Once there, setting up a beach umbrella, laying out towels, smothering oneself in sunblock, and settling back with a ‘holiday read’ is a given.

On The Beach

It’s here where some first begin to think, “I could do this!”  They rush to the local stationery shop and equip themselves with a snazzy notepad. It’s a bit like splurging on the new swimming costume. You don’t actually need to know how to swim to wear one. And you don’t need to know how to write a book to buy a fancy notepad. What new writers don’t realise is that it takes talent and time to write so well that it reads as if it’s easy to write.

One of the delights of the beach is to explore those clear pockets of water nestled among the brown and grey rocks where anemones, and tiny fish or crabs can be found burbling away in delightful safety. There’s no rough water, no sharks, just a peaceful little pool with water slightly warmer than the sea. For the budding writer, this is the untrammelled pool of their imagination. Plots and visions of success begin to rise to the surface.

Paddling In The Lagoon

Many beaches have a nearby lagoon which guarantees a safe swim. A doggy-paddle is really all that’s required. It’s also a great place to learn more of the basics – how to float, do breast-stroke, and freestyle. In writing terms, reading good fiction, as well as books on writing, and learning the basics of grammar, spelling, and punctuation, and developing your imagination, is a good start.

Surfing The Shallows

No one expects you to swim the English Channel the day after you learn how to swim. But to eventually swim in the depths, your next challenge will be tackling the shallows, among the surf. A short body board is a great way to ride the shallow waves. You get used to the rough and tumble and develop better control of the board.

Once you know the basics of grammar your next writing challenge will be taking courses and starting to write. No one expects you to write a five-hundred-page novel right away. Many new writers want to leap right in but this, like trying to swim the English Channel, might not be a good idea. A better idea is to practise your craft by writing write short stories. Finding a great writing group that will encourage you and help you to improve your technique is vital. Handling criticism of your writing technique well may be the hardest lesson of all. Deadlines For Writers is a great writing group to join.

Diving In The Deep

This is where the beach falls away from beneath your feet. Once you know how to swim, have built up your confidence in the lagoon and the shallows, you could then learn how to scuba-dive in the local swimming pool. The depths of the ocean are now available to you. The writing beach falls away when you start plotting your first book. Diving deep into the technique opens up new options for your books that you wouldn’t have been able to use at first. Like practicing scales as a piano player, short stories should be a life-long practice. They are also the ‘swimming pool’ where you can try out styles, voices, tenses, and plots.

Writing, like swimming, is something everyone can learn. But once you know how, you get better and better all the time.

The Last Word

If you would like to learn how to write powerful stories, sign up for a course with Writers Write. It’s the perfect place to learn.

by Elaine Dodge. Author of The Harcourts of Canada series and The Device Hunter, Elaine trained as a graphic designer, then worked in design, advertising, and broadcast television. She now creates content, mostly in written form, for clients across the globe, but would much rather be drafting her books and short stories.

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