1. Read.
Join your local library and get your own
ticket. Read everything you can get hold of – novels papers, magazines, flyers.
If something gives you an idea, make a note of it or if it’s in a paper or a
magazine, cut it out and keep it. Join a reading group and talk about books.
2.
Start now.
If you want to write, start now! Buy a
notebook and a decent pen or a supply of pencils or just sit at the computer
for a few minutes. Never, ever think, ‘I don’t have anything to write about,’
because everybody has something to write about. Write about your day so far.
What was the weather like first thing this morning?
What did you have for breakfast? Describe
your first journey today: was it to University; to work; to the newsagents; to
the supermarket? How did you travel? Were you stuck in a traffic jam? Did you
hear any interesting conversations on the bus or did you meet anyone as you
walked along the road?
3.
Set aside
time for writing.
Once you’ve actually started, it’s helpful
to set aside a definite time for writing. Try this: set aside one Saturday
morning a month, to begin with. Try to write when you’re full of energy and
enthusiasm. Quite often, when we’re bored with something we’re writing, it’s
because we’re tired.
4.
Don’t
worry.
When you’re writing your first draft, don’t
worry too much about spelling, punctuation and grammar. All that can be
corrected later. Try to write as you feel: write as you think. Let your
characters come alive on the page; paint a detailed backcloth to the action.
5. Be kind.
When you're reading through your first draft, be kind to yourself. Don't rip it up just yet. Think about how it can be improved. Acknowledge that it's just the beginning.
When you're reading through your first draft, be kind to yourself. Don't rip it up just yet. Think about how it can be improved. Acknowledge that it's just the beginning.
6.
Move on.
Now is the time to ask yourself a few
questions: Is this story going anywhere? Is it a good idea? Are the characters
believable? Would anybody, apart from me, enjoy reading it? Do I really want to
develop this story? If the answer to all of these questions is yes, look at
your work again. How could it be improved? Now is the time to start being
critical in a positive and constructive way.
7.
Ask a
friend.
When you’ve finished work on a story, ask a
friend to read it for you. A good friend will read it and respond with an
honest opinion.
8. Join a writers’ group.
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