Contributed Post
Writing is rewarding. It’s also very hard. Like with any creative pursuit, you have to go out and seek inspiration. We could all sit around and wait for the muse to pay us a visit, but we’d be waiting a long time. Some people believe writing is a natural talent. For the most part, that’s not true. You may not be able to teach yourself to write well in the general sense, but there are things you can do to ensure you’re the best writer you can be. Here are a few things no writer can do without!
READ
That’s right. To write, you need to read. You should read everything you can. Remember in Matilda, when she reads the phone book because there’s nothing else? That should be you. Read much and read widely. Read things that don’t interest you. There are some well-known authors out there that claim they don’t read, but that’s not the way to do it. You have to study your craft. You wouldn’t attempt brain surgery without researching how first? Nor should you write without reading. Make the struggle easier by giving yourself some idea how to do it! The good news is, there are many masters out there waiting to teach you! If you don’t want to spend money on your pursuit at this stage, there are plenty of free kindle ebooks that can keep you going!
PRACTICE
No amount of reading can help if you don’t practice. It’s said that it’s important to write at least 10,000 words before you call yourself a writer. That may not be an exact science, but the point is that you have to write rubbish before you get good. Reading can teach you a lot, but nowhere near as much as writing can. The more you write, the more you’ll be able to understand what works and what doesn’t. Rid yourself of that fear of the blank page by filling it with your work. This practice will set you in good stead for continuing your journey. Any established writer will tell you that it’s better to have rubbish to work with than nothing at all. Give yourself permission to write something that isn’t perfect. Remember that you can improve it later!
PATIENCE
Writing requires a lot of patience. The writing itself takes dedication and self-motivation. No one else can sit at that desk for you! You also have to practice patience when hoping you get published. We’ve all heard of those overnight success stories. They plague us! In truth, no publishing story is as easy as it seems. There are always rejections. Normally a lot of them. All you have to do is not give up. Remember why you write and try again! Each rejection you receive could take you closer towards your goal. Use those rejection letters as inspiration to improve what you have! If you think it’s as good as possible, keep sending it off. You only need one person to spot your talent!
