Are you a student of writing?
Many people get the idea that they are going to have a go at being a writer. They get out some pens and paper, or fire up the computer and set to work. The vast majority do not get much further than that. Most people do not take the time to become a student of the craft of writing, they do not make the effort to learn how to do it.
Are you an aspiring writer? If so, you need to do your apprenticeship, learning as you go. There is no short cut method. It takes effort and time. I will ignore the Chosen Few who are so gifted and are naturals; they do not need help in developing their skills. Most of us do. If I want to play a classical piece of music on a pianoI just cannot sit down at the key board and play; I must spend many hours, days and even years learning and practising before I will be half-way good at it. So it is with writing.
Here are some ways you can learn about the craft of writing:
- Read books about writing.
- Subscribe to magazines about writing.
- Join a writers’ group.
- Join a writers’ Centre.
- Attend conventions and conferences.
- Attend seminars and workshops for writers.
- Search for suitable article on the internet.
This list is just a start. Your learning process should be a life-long.
Over the years I have read many magazines and books about writing. This morning I added two more to my library. I am looking forward to reading them. I’ll share snippets from them on this blog as I read them. The books I bought are:
- “Eats, shoots and leaves” by Lynne Truss. This has quickly become a classic in helping people grapple with punctuation.
- “A novel in a year” by Louise Doughty. I read a great review of this book on the weekend just gone and was delighted to find it in my local bookshop. (The curse of a malady called “impulse buying.”) It could also be very useful in helping me write a novel as a part of my Masters of Arts course which I start this week.
Good writing – and studying.
Write while the heat is in you
“Write while the heat is in you. The writer who postpones the recording of his thoughts uses an iron which has cooled to burn a hole with. He cannot inflame the minds of his audience.” Henry David Thoreau.
I have found that it is important to always carry a small notebook. There have been times when I have had a brilliant thought (or so it seemed at the time) only to forget it because I had not written it down immediately.
I usually carry a small notebook in my shirt pocket. This serves a number of general purposes as well as a help with my writing. Some of these uses include:
- To record a list of the birds I see (so I can write about them on my blog called Trevor’s Birding).
- To list any shopping I need to do.
- To list places I want to go.
- To write down story ideas.
- To list ideas for blog articles.
- To write short poems or haiku.
- To record the names and contact details of people I meet.
- To record feelings, ideas, experiences so I don’t forget those first impressions.
- To list things to do.
- To list things to remember.
When you have a good idea, write it down. Don’t trust it to memory.
Good writing.
Be more productive – write quickly
I regularly receive newsletters about writing both in the mail and electronically. Keeping up with all that reading can be time consuming and sometimes a little distracting. Managing all this incoming information is crucial for a writer. I must admit that I haven’t mastered that art just yet – but I’m working on it.
One electronic newsletter editor wrote about being productive as a writer. She suggested that effective writers write quickly and therefore are more productive. Rather than slaving over a sentence or a paragraph for hours, she suggests trying to just get it all down – and worry about editing out the rubbish later during a rewrite. I have to agree with her up to a point.
I often find that writing quickly keeps the creative juices flowing. The momentum created by writing rapidly is self generating. The more you write the more you are able to write. Writing quickly can free up the editor inside your head wanting to stop and polish, rewrite, edit, change and improve your writing. Switch off that editor and just keep writing. Let all the good stuff come mixed up with the rubbish. Later, during the rewriting and editing stages, is the time to refine, correct, polish and delete.
Her theory is that the more you write the more the good bits will shine above the bad parts.
(Now I have to go back and edit this piece.)
Good writing.
Further reading:
- Writing hints – more articles giving hints for writers.
Writing Hint #44: Edit, edit, edit
1 Comment »17th January, 2008; Category: Writing Hints
Over recent days I have highlighted the different stages of writing:
Step 1: Plan
Step 2: Write
Step 3: Rewrite
Step 4: Edit
The editing stage is often overlooked by inexperienced writers. This is a crucial stage in the writing process. In the editing stage you need to go back over every word in the piece of writing; it doesn’t matter if it’s a fifty word filler paragraph or a five hundred thousand word novel.
Check for these things:
- Check Spelling: spelling mistakes are avoidable; check – don’t assume it’s right.
- Use the correct homophones: get to know the difference between know and no, right, rite and write, to, too and two. There are dozens more.
- Use the right word: make sure you are using the right word for the context. For example, “She gave the allusion that she was very intelligent.” The correct word should be “illusion.”
- Punctuation: make sure it is all there – and that it is used correctly. Study the classic authors and how they use punctuation for effect.
- Check your typing: no matter how carefully you type, errors will creeep in – see what I mean? Get someone else to check for typos. And watch out for words that have been missed out. (I actually found one after I published this article.)
- Check your use of apostrophes: mastering these is crucial. If you don’t, the Apostrophe Police will come knocking at your door, headed by my daughter.
- Cut out all unnecessary words: ideally, this is done in the rewriting stage. Avoid padding just to reach the word count. (I just cut out four unnecessary words from that last sentence.)
- Grammar: use correct grammar. This is too big a topic for this short article.
Good writing.
Further reading:
- Writing hints – more hints about writing.
- How to be a more productive writer or blogger – includes a list of strategies
- Short story starters – another article in this popular series I have written
- Write first drafts quickly
- Five rules for effective writing
Remember:
- Read every day.
- Write every day.
- Take time for yourself every day.
Writing hint #43: Rewrite, rewrite, rewrite – until you get it right
No Comments »16th January, 2008; Category: Writing Hints
Over recent days I’ve outlined the writing process.
Step 1: Plan
Step 2: Write
Now we come to the next important phase:
Step 3: Rewrite
This is a crucial step often overlooked or ignored by novice writers. Many writers feel that, once the words are down on paper or in their hard-drive or on their blog, then that’s the end of the writing process. The stark reality is that this is only half the process.
Rewrite, rewrite, rewrite – until you get it write right
This is one stage I do not really enjoy all that much, but I know how important it is to the final product. Some years ago I wrote a children’s novel. I haven’t yet sent the manuscript to a publisher. I know that the story is complete but the manuscript is far from finished. I am currently doing a major rewrite of the novel. After writing it I left it for some time sitting in a folder. On rereading it I realised some major flaws – not in the plot or the characters, but in the writing style I had used. In short, I went over the top when describing the action.
I have read of some prominent writers who use the rewriting stage as the main focus of their work. Some find this stage to be the most creative in the process, whereas I find it a little tedious. I’ve even read of one author who throws away the first draft and starts all over again. Not sure I could be THAT drastic – but I get the point. Rewriting is vital.
Good writing – and better rewriting.
Further reading:
- Writing hints – many more articles in this valuable series.