“How do I get started?” I hear this question often from writers who are new to writing and also from writers who have been writing for a while but want to start working towards a goal and want to get published.
My answer to this question is really simple: read a lot and write a lot.
Read a lot of books in the genre you want to write in and especially books on the topics that you’re interested in writing about. Try to set a goal for yourself that you can stick to.
For example, if you want to write picture books, try reading one everyday, or for short stories, one per week. If that’s too much for you, adjust it to what will work for you, but try to be consistent.
Make a list of books that you love and re-read them at least twice, if not more. Ask yourself what specifically you love about the book. Was it the poetic and lyrical language? Was it the way you were completely absorbed in the story and lost track of time? Was it the relatability of the main character and the things that they experienced? Make notes!
Try as much as you can, to articulate to yourself what was it that you loved and how the writer achieved those things in the writing.
Keep a notebook where you can jot down all your scene and/or story ideas. Don’t judge the ideas, just write them down as they come to you. These could be big ideas like themes and story lines. Or they could be something as simple as snippets of dialogues, first lines, or even just images and descriptions.
When you feel stuck or aren’t sure what to write about, you can always come back to this notebook.
Revise and rewrite. Creative writing is a skill that needs time to build and requires lots of practice, so don’t be afraid to rewrite your stories. Use books that you love as a guide to help you write the kinds of stories that you want to read.
Take writing courses in the genre that you want to write in. This is just my personal preference, but I don’t recommend taking a course right away because it can feel like information overload, especially if the course covers technique and craft. Those things are important to learn. But I think it helps to start writing on your own first. You’ll have a stronger sense of your voice and appreciation for your tastes. You’ll also come to recognize the gaps in your learning, at which point your brain will be primed to soak up all the new information you learn in a course.
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