Margaret Atwood continues, “The wastebasket has evolved for a reason.” This morning, a student described how difficult writing was for her. She’s not alone. One thing that hasn’t changed over the decades I’ve worked with students is the expectation that writing should be easier than it is. They’re surprised to learn that even prolific, successful, and witty writers like Atwood also find writing to be hard work. In fact, Atwood’s essay on writing is titled “Nine Beginnings” because that’s how many times she had to start over. That’s what it takes. Don’t waste time hoping it gets easier.
Atwood, Margaret. Writing with Intent: Essays, Reviews, Personal Prose 1983-2005. Carroll & Graf Publishers, 2005, p. 107.