In your classroom, your library, or your home, you may know a young person who dreams of being a writer. Or you may be that aspiring writer. One of the most common questions writers get is how people can develop and succeed as writers. While every journey is different, here are some practical tips.
Read. The first thing any writer needs to do is read: read widely, read critically. There’s no teacher like example.
Write. Practice; try new things. Try to write haiku, sonnets, flash fiction, essays, articles, novels. Discover what works creatively and where your strengths and preferences are. Develop a revision process.
Learn. Classes and workshops can help you perfect the craft of writing. Book signings, author visits, author websites and blogs afford the aspiring writer a chance to meet writers, and to find out more about this process.
Prepare for a long road. The question will arise as to whether a writer should try to publish during the teen years (or even sooner). There are people who get published at young ages, but it’s far more common for the writing apprenticeship to take five, ten, or twenty years. I sold my first short story at the age of seventeen, but did not publish again for years. In some ways, that early success was encouraging; it helped inspire me during years of rejection. In other ways, early success can set up some unrealistic expectations. People who publish successful novels must deal with contracts, taxes, publicity and marketing. Are you prepared for that?
Think practically. Don’t take English classes to the exclusion of all else. It’s useful to have other layers to bring to the writing desk: a knowledge of history, sociology, biology, music, mathematics, psychology, carpentry, sports. Also, writing is not a high-earning profession for most people, and that other field of expertise may end up being the main source of income, at least for a while.
Dare to dream. In spite of the obstacles, writing is incredibly rewarding. It requires a certain amount of risk: facing one’s own demons and insecurities, opening oneself to critique and rejection. Setbacks are inevitable, but they don’t have to be final. Above all, the point is to be nourished by literature and the writing process itself.
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Comments
1 C. Lee McKenzie // May 11, 2009 at 12:33 pm
Every nice post. I especially liked “Prepare for the Long Road.” I think I knew it would be long; I just didn’t know it would be so long. I’ve had to learn a lot about being patient in this business of writing and publishing.
2 writerjenn // May 11, 2009 at 5:27 pm
Thank you. And I think patience is useful in just about any endeavor!
3 C. Lee McKenzie // May 11, 2009 at 6:20 pm
Yes. Followed closely by “acceptance.” Or are they the same things? Have to think about that.
4 kklove08 // Jun 29, 2009 at 7:29 pm
Hello. I am 19 and I decided to wite and try to publish a book. I have always loved to write sence i was little, and people who read it over the internet liked my story. But Agenst didn’t want it. Thanks for the tips!
5 writerjenn // Jul 4, 2009 at 6:45 pm
It takes a lot of practice, a lot of revision, and a lot of trying. Practically every writer I know accumulated a stack of rejection letters before getting an acceptance. Good luck!
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