How to Be a Writer

Destroying yourself for the words inside you

A friend asked me 
how to be a writer.
I wanted to say,
lock yourself in a room,
scream until you have 
a poem and no voice.
Open your veins and bleed 
until you know that your bones
are pure words and sorrow. 
Act as if you slit your own throat
and all you can bleed
are your own regrets 
and all of the darkness
you boxed up for inspiration. 
Write your mom a letter,
tell her you're leaving
and you won't be back for awhile
Because being a writer is traveling 
through all seven layers of Hell
and denying anything is wrong.
Forget loving yourself 
when all you have is a pen and paper
fused to your wrist
and Jesus is tapping at your skull
saying turn back now.
Warn the neighbors that if they smell burning
It's just your soul 
clawing at the front door trying to get in. 
Learn how to be alone. 
Learn how to lose everything you have
in order to feel release,
learn how to only feel deceased 
from now on.
A friend asked me
how to be a writer.
All I said was
don't

Reviews

[Wayfaring stranger]

Every person have diffirent approach to became a writer. There is one scheme what should be follow. You desrcibe seven layes of hell but don't forget on heavens too. We need all absorb not just dirt but also clean. When you write jusat write let it pen do writing . Be opewn to new ideas and old ones make more better. Be writer is not means to became mad. But to observe own self and whole world. Mix reality and fantasy and don't forget drink few drops of your ecthasy .

[Shattered Rose]

This piece is absolutely, positively, impossibly, incredibly, AMAZING. Never have I ever in 14 years of my life read something so true while also have so much feeling, without being boring or flavorless. And to top it all off it's also one of the most easily related poems I have come by, I give this a 10/10. Weeeeeeell done.
- Shattered Rose

[Zayir]

As always you never fail to impress me, or any of us lucky readers for that matter. For some of us writing is this exact process, some of us have it worse. You accurately described the mental fortitude and pain someone goes through when trying to place emotions into words. Life is hell, putting it into this creative work is revisiting that hell, willingly. Thank you for explaining this process for those who don't know what it's like

Much Love

[Julie McCarthy (juliesp..]

love this i truly do so honest and clear love the ending too quite unexpected.:)
well done
thanks for entry into my comp

[Nolo Segundo]

You've caught well in metaphor the contradictions and ego-wrecking that writing entails-- congrats on your win, too.

[Ally Ann]

Thank you a lot!

[Carla]

This poem is so honest and true, and I agree with every word written. Congratulations, it is truly wonderful.

[Ally Ann]

Thank you very much!

[Stan Lee]

and Jesus is tapping at your skull
saying turn back now.
Warn the neighbors that if they smell burning
It's just your soul

yup
you're a writer for sure
well said
keep fighting

100/100

[Ally Ann]

Thank you for your review and rating, it means a lot

[Davidgeo]

"how to be a writer" -- Don't waste too much of your time on poetry.

(only a little)

[Riddhi]

I loved the way you expressed yourself..This is your first writing that I am reading but I must say you are indeed a good writer and I loved this one..
Keep on writing...

[Pooja Chintamani]

Hey you just did excellent appreciattion ,it's blessings to bleed the words on the paper.lovely