Things I’ve Learned about Writing as a Non-Native English Speaker by Lena Toporikova

Someone once told me that I can’t dream of becoming a professional writer if I keep writing in English, which is not my native language. There is no point in telling you these were the most discouraging words I have ever heard. But, probably, there is a point in mentioning they were also the most encouraging words I have ever heard. You know how you just want to prove someone wrong?

In the process of proving this particular someone wrong – or rather establishing myself as a professional writer – I learned quite a few things. Some of these things I would have never learned if I were a native English speaker. Others are common sense.

It’s been a while since that conversation, and I have grown a lot as a writer, though I still have a long way to go. Actually, we all have. As a writer, you never reach a destination. You won a writing contest? Congratulations, but you have to keep working. You finished your novel? Amazing! But this is not a reason to stop. Your novel was published? We are happy for you; we might even purchase it and – can’t promise this though – read it. But you have got to be moving. Up and up and up.

The aim is not to publish as many books as you can. The aim is to write books and stories that make a difference in someone’s life. The challenge is to connect with readers. It is not about the feeling of self-importance; it is, rather, about putting something, or someone, into the middle of the Universe and making it important. The ‘someone’ could be the reader; the ‘something’ could be life itself.

At least this is what I want to do as a writer. Richard Bach once wrote, “A professional writer is an amateur who didn't quit.” We all start as amateurs. I suppose most of us end as amateurs, too. I might not be a professional writer yet, but I will not quit. And when someone tells me I will never be that writer, I say to myself, “Do not let anyone define who you are and what you can or cannot be.” And I haven’t. Instead, I continue learning new things that make me keep reaching upward. And I get better because I aim higher and work harder than most people do. This is one of the reasons I started my own website.

Things I’ve Learned Along the Way

You Can Do It

It does not matter who says what. It only matters what you say and what you want. You can be anything you dream of being. And if you dream to be a writer, then be one. If I can write short stories, so can you. If I can write poems, so can you. You can do whatever you set your mind to.

It does not matter what your native language is. Russian, German, Afrikaans… it makes no difference. The only thing of importance is the effort you put into it. Think about Vladimir Nabokov, Ayn Rand, or Joseph Conrad who learned English as their second or even third language when they were adults. They wrote brilliant books. You might not be the next Nabokov (We don’t even need the next Nabokov!), but you can be the first you. Don’t let anyone take that from you!

Working Hard is Not Enough

Everyone who is serious about writing works hard. So, by default, working hard is not enough. For me, even working harder than hard is not enough because I have to catch up with all the native writers out there. A note to native speakers though: Even for you, working hard is not enough. James Allen said, “In all human affairs there are efforts, and there are results, and the strength of the effort is the measure of the result.” Think about the result you want to get, then work twice as hard to achieve it. Otherwise, someone else will get there first.

You Can’t Please Everyone

I read a lot of books in their original language. I prefer reading books by English authors in English because some things always get lost in translation. Sometimes I read books translated into English from other languages. I suppose it is partly because of my professional interest (I am a translator). What I have learned is that there are some books I do not like even despite all the great reviews the book receives. I don’t like Gabriel Garcia Marquez. No, I don’t. However, this does not define him as an author and does not define me as a person. Some people love romance, some, horror stories, others prefer thrillers. Those who love Harry Potter books may not enjoy Thomas Mann’s writing.

There are people out there who will not like your books or stories. They might even hate them and will leave a bad review or comment. While you should learn from feedback, you should not take it too personally. My little niece loves Kate DiCamillo’s “Because of Winn-Dixie” story. She’s read it hundreds of times and knows it by heart; however, I can’t make her read books about Mary Poppins. Does that make Pamela Travers a worse children writer compared to Kate DiCamillo? Is this even the criterion to compare two authors? Like I said, you can’t please everyone, and when you try to do so, you lose your own voice. You cease being a good writer. Moreover, you cease being a writer altogether. You become an imitator. I have seen it so many times, in so many blogs, by so many writers. Don’t be one of them.

The Bottom Line

You are a writer. You have the power to convey emotions. You have the ability to make people cry or laugh. You have talent. Use it wisely. I read a lot of blogs – again to connect with people and to improve my English. And I have noticed many people who have an amazing way with words—God  blessed them with this power—but they just let it go to waste. Don’t be that person. Be the writer you always wanted to be.