Are you a writer in search of some tips?
Read, Write, Repeat
It’s the most common piece of writing advice: read a lot and write a lot. And it’s common because it’s true.
There’s no secret.
No magic trick. No special shortcut that everyone else knows but you. We learn to write by reading.
If a passage in a book makes you laugh, or cry, or feel a little shiver, stop for a second and think - why?
What has the writer done to make you feel that?
Was it the language? The pacing? The detail or description?
Or is it the characters - maybe their humour, their home life, or are their hopes and dreams like yours?
You don’t need to analyse every book you read like it’s a homework assignment. But it helps to stay a little curious.
Reading is a powerful teacher, even when you’re not trying.
Read widely: picture books, novels, biographies, non-fiction, textbooks, cereal boxes, newspaper articles, newsletters, graphic novels, comics, fantasy, mystery, adventure, old books, new books - everything.
If you like a story, think about why you like it.
If you don’t like a story, think about that too.
Then comes writing.
Write anything - stories, lists, poems, ideas, jottings on bits of paper. It doesn’t matter.
What matters is that you’re practising, and starting to notice what you enjoy.
And remember: the first time you write something is just Draft 1. It’s for you. It’s allowed to be messy. You can always fix it later. You don't need to put any deadlines on yourself! There's no grades given out for how creative you are when you're writing a story for your own enjoyment.
Being a writer really comes down to these three things: read, write, rewrite—and repeat.
Remember Your 'Why'
It’s not easy to be a writer.
It’s not easy to try and get published.
And it's really not easy to see everyone around you succeeding (at least, that’s what it can look like!)
But before you worry too much - just remember your ‘why’ – why are you a writer? Because you love being completely immersed in creating a story? Or because you want to make millions of dollars?
Which reason do you think is best?
When I was trying for years and years to be published and received nothing but constant rejection (I once received five rejection letters in a single day), I kept getting frustrated. I was determined to quit writing. I even decided I would re-train as a librarian.
But even with my stories getting rejections (which happens to every author, even after they've got books published) I had to keep reminding myself why I wanted to be a writer – because I really love the actual craft of writing itself. That was my 'why'!
Being focused on the process is the important part – not worrying about the product.
So, keep going, don’t compare your journey with anyone else, and remember your ‘why’.
Never Give Up
If you love to write, then write.
Don't worry if you fear your story is not 'good enough'.
Don't worry if your friends don't like writing.
Don’t worry if your stories don’t sound like the books in the shop. Those writers started exactly where you are.
It does not matter where you live, where you were born, what your parents do for work, how much money you have, what colour your eyes or your hair are, if you've lived in the country all your life, or if you've never been out of the city: writers come from everywhere.
So, write.
Just write. Never give up. Never stop dreaming. Never stop hoping. And never, ever stop having FUN!
You can do it.
And PS... Published authors who have written a gazillion books still feel like giving up.
They still feel like their writing isn't good enough.
They still feel worry and doubt.
But they all succeed by doing one thing: they keep going.
I'm the same.
Check out this little yellow card I keep on my desk.
Whenever writing is too hard or I feel doubt, I look at it and remember to JUST KEEP GOING.
It’s the most common piece of writing advice: read a lot and write a lot. And it’s common because it’s true.
There’s no secret.
No magic trick. No special shortcut that everyone else knows but you. We learn to write by reading.
If a passage in a book makes you laugh, or cry, or feel a little shiver, stop for a second and think - why?
What has the writer done to make you feel that?
Was it the language? The pacing? The detail or description?
Or is it the characters - maybe their humour, their home life, or are their hopes and dreams like yours?
You don’t need to analyse every book you read like it’s a homework assignment. But it helps to stay a little curious.
Reading is a powerful teacher, even when you’re not trying.
Read widely: picture books, novels, biographies, non-fiction, textbooks, cereal boxes, newspaper articles, newsletters, graphic novels, comics, fantasy, mystery, adventure, old books, new books - everything.
If you like a story, think about why you like it.
If you don’t like a story, think about that too.
Then comes writing.
Write anything - stories, lists, poems, ideas, jottings on bits of paper. It doesn’t matter.
What matters is that you’re practising, and starting to notice what you enjoy.
And remember: the first time you write something is just Draft 1. It’s for you. It’s allowed to be messy. You can always fix it later. You don't need to put any deadlines on yourself! There's no grades given out for how creative you are when you're writing a story for your own enjoyment.
Being a writer really comes down to these three things: read, write, rewrite—and repeat.
Remember Your 'Why'
It’s not easy to be a writer.
It’s not easy to try and get published.
And it's really not easy to see everyone around you succeeding (at least, that’s what it can look like!)
But before you worry too much - just remember your ‘why’ – why are you a writer? Because you love being completely immersed in creating a story? Or because you want to make millions of dollars?
Which reason do you think is best?
When I was trying for years and years to be published and received nothing but constant rejection (I once received five rejection letters in a single day), I kept getting frustrated. I was determined to quit writing. I even decided I would re-train as a librarian.
But even with my stories getting rejections (which happens to every author, even after they've got books published) I had to keep reminding myself why I wanted to be a writer – because I really love the actual craft of writing itself. That was my 'why'!
Being focused on the process is the important part – not worrying about the product.
So, keep going, don’t compare your journey with anyone else, and remember your ‘why’.
Never Give Up
If you love to write, then write.
Don't worry if you fear your story is not 'good enough'.
Don't worry if your friends don't like writing.
Don’t worry if your stories don’t sound like the books in the shop. Those writers started exactly where you are.
It does not matter where you live, where you were born, what your parents do for work, how much money you have, what colour your eyes or your hair are, if you've lived in the country all your life, or if you've never been out of the city: writers come from everywhere.
So, write.
Just write. Never give up. Never stop dreaming. Never stop hoping. And never, ever stop having FUN!
You can do it.
And PS... Published authors who have written a gazillion books still feel like giving up.
They still feel like their writing isn't good enough.
They still feel worry and doubt.
But they all succeed by doing one thing: they keep going.
I'm the same.
Check out this little yellow card I keep on my desk.
Whenever writing is too hard or I feel doubt, I look at it and remember to JUST KEEP GOING.
