With every word written, every idea tackled, the writer makes choices that impact the writing, in varying ways: from having an enormous impact on the whole piece, as with the choice of evidence to present in an argument, to having impact on a single sentence or phrase, as with a word choice.

Writers choose the ideas to tackle, nonfiction or fiction, the genre to write in, the length preferred all the way down to how to start a sentence and the right word to use. With every stroke on the keyboard, the writer makes myriad decisions (as with my choice to use the word ‘myriad’). Mundane choices such as when and where to write, with the laptop on the beach (hey, I live in Southern California with lots of beaches) or at home on the dining room table or desk, or between five and seven in the morning, or only on Sundays (as I had to do for many years) – these are all part of the writer’s list of choices.

Writers also must decide whether to write at all or leave it for another day. Do you allow life’s big and little distractions keep you from your writing? They do provide valid and sometimes strong excuses not to write. Or do you arrange your life to minimize the distractions as much as possible?

Do you wait until you’re “in the mood” to write? Or do you write because you want the piece written, whether you feel like it or not. The latter is the sign of professional; the former that of an amateur. (Sorry for the harshness, but that’s the reality). Do you set deadlines for yourself and stick to them? If you do, you’re valuing your resolve to write, and thus valuing yourself.

Another choice is to decide when the writing is “finished.” I put finished in quotes because the writer is never finished with a piece of writing. She just lets it go, either filing it away in a private filing cabinet or sending it out into the world, to stand on its own strong (or weak) legs.

The writer must decide how she wants the writing to be seen by the world, the publishing route. Should it be a printed book, an e-book, or something shorter, such as an article, a blog post, or any other wonderful outlets for the writing. This decision involves the writer’s marketing skills, usually not a chosen skill area for most writers, but one that is essential. I’ll write more on that topic in a future post.

Every moment a writer is writing, and even when not “writing,” is filled with choices on all levels and impact potential. That is part of the fun of being a writer – making all those choices.

What choices really bother you as a writer? Which ones can keep you up at night? And which ones are taken in stride, just part of the job? Tell us about your choices as a writer.

Do you want to use this blog in your ezine or on your blog? You have permission, as long as you send notice of publication with a link, to katie@ploegersservices.com,

and include the following paragraph with links intact in your post:
Katherine Ploeger, MA, MFA, is a writer, teacher,  consultant. She publishes practical, process-oriented information for nonfiction writers and screenwriters on her blog, Katie’s Writing Notes.  Also check out her information at http://www.ploegersservices.com.