I hear it every day: how can I become a better writer? Well, my fellow writers and editors, I’m about to help you. It’s not as hard as it sounds and there are some amazing freebies out there – if you know where to look.
Let’s take it back to the basics first and then build from there.
ONE– Practice. Yes, you’ve heard it all before, but that doesn’t make it wrong. No one sits down at their laptop and writes the great American novel first time around. That takes practice. Hone your skills, just like any other genius would.
TWO – Get into the brain gymnasium, and do it right now. Much the same as a musician or a gamer, writers need muscle memory to become great. Why? The simple answer is the more we do something, the better we get. We’re exercising the brain muscle, and, just like every athlete, we need to get into a routine, or habit. Write every day, if you can, at the same time, in the same circumstances. Much like Sheldon Cooper, writers have their spot. Those sacred places where they lose themselves in their own worlds. They are important and they help create positive habits.
THREE – Do it your way. The prep and first draft are all about you. It doesn’t really matter how you write, but do it the way you feel most confident. Don’t try to be Stephen King or Dr Seuss… be you. I’m a gardener, since I like to explore as I write. I’ve tried planning and I could have cried, but that’s just me. Stick to who you are.
FOUR – Give ordinary people the right tools, and those people will create extraordinary things. There is no right answer to what platform you should write in. I’ve tried my hand at a few and I always come back to word. It’s true to say that there are a fair few platforms out there to choose between. From the free marvel that is google docs to the author-friendly and much-coveted Scrivener. Use whatever floats your boat, but don’t get lost in the sea of choices. There is a lot out there and some can be more trouble than others.
FIVE – ‘A classic – a book that people praise and don’t read.’ I love this quote. It hit it out of the park for me, because everyone has an opinion of at least one of the classics but has never actually read the books. As writers, we should be constantly reading, the same as any other professional would do to keep abreast of their craft. This had me wondering if there are authors out there who do not enjoy reading books in their genre? I’m an audiobook fan, so my reading comes during my daily walks and whenever I’m wasting time on the net. I also write in several genres, but I usually focus my ‘reading/listening’ on Urban fantasy, as that’s my main focus. Read, read, and then read some more.
SIX – Check into a class. If you have time, take a course. If not, there are a hundred free courses out there on the net. My absolute favourites are the free lectures given by Brandon Sanderson on YouTube. Check it out here – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-6HOdHEeosc&t=1970s.
SEVEN – Buddy up, or join a group. Believe it or not, this is one of the best ways of improving your writing and making new friends. There are some amazing sites out there that are geared toward putting writers together in a safe space where they can let their imaginations roam. What am I talking about here? Feedback. Feedback is the breakfast of champions, and I’m not talking about those Amazon Vampires out there who like to give you a one-star rating because they ‘didn’t get it’. Sometimes we fixate on those things, but we really shouldn’t. The people we should listen to are the people that can help us improve. Real people who care enough to tell us the truth.
EIGHT – Imitate the writers that you want to be like. After all, imitation is the highest form of flattery. I’m a big fan of Richard Kadrey’s Sandman Slim. It hits all my writing buttons in just the right places. I have a few characters that I like to give some attitude to and I ask myself: what would James Stark do in this situation?
NINE – Write like it’s your job. After all, that’s what most of us want, isn’t it? If you want others to take you seriously, then you need to take yourself seriously, too. Discipline is essential to success. Focus on the positives. Plan your time. Stick to the plan.
TEN – I left the best to last. Accept that first drafts are 99.9 per cent total garbage. And that’s okay! It’s just you getting your idea on paper, and it’s an important part of the process. If you’re just getting started, you might edit as you go. Try not to. Just get it all out, because that’s where every successful writer’s journey really begins.
Did I say ten? Here is one extra, for the same price as ten! Find a good and reliable editor and don’t just go for the first one… shop around. If you need help, then go to the BGS website https://bgsauthors.com.
Good luck, my friends, see you next time…
