to be a writer

by Anna Maria Hansen


On June 23rd, Third Story Writers Guild were visited by New York Times bestselling author Michael Perry. In addition to a public presentation, Perry took time to share insights into his personal writing journey.

There was a lot that resonated during his discussion. As writers, we've heard a lot of the theories before. Write what you know. Find a place you're comfortable with. Look for inspiration. Et cetera. The list goes on into infinity and then just a couple feet beyond.

This was a chance for us to talk to someone who was where we're headed. Michael Perry makes his living off his writing, churning out enough words to support a family and keep the necessary amount of sanity at the same time.

His writing? Everything from full-length novels, to a freelance writing guide, to magazine articles, to truck advertisements. He calls it, “Feeding a habit.” For him, writing is what he want to do most, and he is willing to do what it takes to make that his life.

He writes every day (we've all heard that one; how many of us take it to heart is the question). Not a set word or page count. Just sits down every day in whatever spare minute pops up and writes. Whatever. Anything that he can write, he does.

That gave me an idea. If I can write anything, work on anything that involves writing – yes, I can do that. I love words, reading them, picking them apart, translating, and elaborating them. I can do that every day. It's a skill; sharpen it. Leave it sitting around waiting for the muse, and it will be dull when inspiration strikes.

That was another part of Michael Perry's writing structure that stuck with me and made a lot of sense to my rural Wisconsin life. He likens writing to be a dairy farmer. “You can't wait to be inspired to milk the cows.” And the same goes for writing. If you want to make a living at it, you have to write.

Perry treats writing like a job. One he loves, albeit, but a job none-the-less. Writing pays his bills, fills hours of his day and at the same time, fills a strong desire to fill blank pages with black text. And he operates with the same dedication and commitment that many of us work our jobs. Because if we don't, we loose them. And that attitude toward writing – if you want to make it your living – is what's going to make it possible.

Perry was born a farm boy, went to school to become a nurse, worked as an EMT and then dropped it all to fulfill a passion he hadn't realized had existed... writing. All the experiences he had up until that point and all that came after it fuel his writing and keep it alive.

The key thing I took away from talking to him: If you want to be a writer, be one.

Just do it.