Getting Started as a Writer - article

People often make the mistake of thinking that writers don’t really work. The truth is: Writing is hard, sometimes painful work that requires detailed preparation, practice and persistence. Here are several things you should do to get started as a writer:

1. Decide What Kind of Writing You Want to Do

You can choose to embrace either fiction or nonfiction (or both). As a fiction writer you can write novels, short stories, plays or poetry. Nonfiction writers can research and write scholarly articles, how-to-books, biographies or fact based books on any subject in art and science. Ideally, the kind of writing you decide to do will be rooted in your personal interests, desires and skills.

2. Read and Write as Often as Possible

In order to excel at writing, you have to enjoy reading and you should read a lot. The best writers read a vast array of content that can range from history, classical and contemporary literature, art and science. Reading expands your thought vocabulary and informs your writing with a knowledge of “the big picture” that will entertain and teach your audience.

Practice is part of the pain that creates the beauty in what you write. Writing everyday is akin to being an acrobat, magician, dancer or singer: It makes your delivery smooth. Imagination delivered by the fingers of crisp, well-crafted sentences linger long in the literary gustatory palate. Set aside a time and place to write everyday. Choose wisely by selecting a time and place with ample room and minimal distractions.

3. Set Your Stage

You will be spending a lot of time in your writing space, so it’s important to stock it with what you need. Adequate lighting and ergonomically correct chairs will help you to avoid hand, back and eye strain.

If you are an “old school” writer who eschews computers, stock up on notebooks and ball point pens from your local Dollar Store. If you don’t know how to use a word processor, consider investing some time in free classes at your local library.

If you are computer literate, set up a file on your computer (or thumb drive) that will contain your writing resources and projects. Make sure you back up your files every day.

4. Establish Short and Long-Term Goals

Outline what you want to write about, then break it up into sections or chapters. Set up goals for your research, sections and chapters of your book. Make sure you have sufficient resources to obtain the information you need to be well informed about your topic. 

Short-term goals are what you want to accomplish in days or weeks and long-term goals are for what you want to have accomplished within months and years. Choose goals that are attainable (what you have the time and resources to accomplish) and measurable (something you can quantify such as pages per day or chapters per month).

5. Join a Writing Community

Local bookstores, libraries and colleges are reliable sources of information about real world writing communities. Goodreads is a free online writing community that lets you search and browse books. Its Author Program allows you to promote your book as well. Writer’s Cafe gives you the opportunity to post your work online and network with other writers for free.

6. Continue to Learn

Actively look for more information about what you want to write. Continue to read and write as often as possible. Seek out other people who are writing or trying to write the things you want to write, and see if they're part of communities you can join. See how other writers got started with their writing.

The most important thing you can do is keep going. Don't stop.