You want to start writing, but you’re not sure where to
start? You know all of the great reasons to write (for mental health, to
express creativity, to inspire or help others, etc.), but you just can’t seem
to begin? It’s easier than you think.
Step 1: Get out
your Whittler
Carve out the time.
While looking at your calendar and considering all of your
other obligations (work, school, kids, chores, etc.), decide on a writing goal
for the next week. Think of it like exercise. Start slow and increase your goal
each week. Next, PEN it in. View your writing time as an appointment you can’t
miss unless you have an emergency. Note: Laundry and dishes are not
emergencies.
Carve out the space.
All you really need is a pen or pencil and paper, but you
may like a lamp or light, chair, desk or table, computer, and reference books.
You can plan to write outside of the home like at a coffee shop, but it is a
good idea to have some writing space at home for when you can’t get away.
Be ready.
Keep index cards or notebooks plus pens or pencils
everywhere you go (by the bed, by the toilet, in the car) so you can jot down
ideas and thoughts when they come (which you know will be when you least expect
them). Or carry a digital voice recorder.
Sept 2: Get on the
merry-go-round.
Do you already have an idea for a poem, story, creative essay,
or other project? Great. Write it down. Write. Write. Write until there is no
more. Don’t worry about punctuation, spelling, grammar, etc.
Not so lucky? Great. Write. Set the timer and write about
anything and everything in your head in no particular order without worrying
about writing mechanics. Use prompts from books or websites. Go somewhere and
write what you see, hear, feel, taste, and smell. Make lists and then when you
write, pick one and go: places lived, old friends, vacations taken, questions
you’ve had, heartbreaks, foods you like/dislike, things you know, teachers
you’ve had, jobs you’ve held, or one of hundreds of other topics. Ask yourself,
“What if…?” and then answer the question. Start with “I want to write about…”
and then go into details. When you think you’re done, set the timer for a few more
minutes and keep going.
Eventually, an idea for a poem, story, creative essay, play,
or other work will come to you.
Step 3: Get it in
shape.
Some projects may require research beyond what you already
have in your head. If so, get that done first. Good resources include the
library, internet (just be careful of user-generated sites), personal
interviews, and observation. Once you have everything you need, put your words
in the final form you desire (poem, story, novel, etc.). Leave out stuff from
Step 2 you don’t need or want but still don’t worry too much about the
nitty-gritty, writing-class type details.
Step 4: Get it
good.
This is where you really get down to business. Read through
your piece as many times as needed to make it more exciting, interesting,
readable, and insightful. If you need help, visit the book store or check out
books at the library about whatever form you’re writing in (poetry, fiction,
non-fiction) as well as about creative writing in general.
Especially in fiction and creative non-fiction, you can amp
up the energy in your writing by using specific but not clichéd words, using
dialogue, or by using shorter sentences. You can increase tension by creating a
character; giving him or her a big, important problem; putting him or her in
danger of not being able to solve the problem; and then solving the problem while
creating additional little problems that must also be solved before the story
ends. Keep the stakes high; continually ask yourself, “Who cares?” In all forms
of creative writing, increase the impact of your images by creating pictures
with words, involving all of the reader’s senses, and writing active rather
than passive sentences. Deepen insight by showing readers a truth about human
behavior or offering a new way to look at something. Keep your point of view
consistent unless you have a reason not to, keep your reader in mind as you
revise, and show, don’t tell. (Show: “She shuffled her slippered feet across
the hardwood floor.” Vs. Tell: “She was tired.”) You’re voice and style in
creative writing is uniquely you. The only way to hone it is by practicing and
learning by reading other work and writing craft books. The most important
thing to keep in mind is your voice is YOU. Find yourself, who you are, what
you’re about, how you feel, what you think, and you will find YOUR voice. The
most efficient way to do this is to write.
Step 5: Get it in sharing
shape.
Read and correct any of the nit-picky mistakes until your
eyes glaze over. There are numerous writing reference books available if you
need to brush up. Remember to:
- ·
Use correct punctuation and grammar (and if you
break the rules, have a reason).
- ·
Read your work out loud and word for word and/or
have others read it and give feedback.
- ·
Cut “That” out: Read the sentence without “that”;
if it doesn’t belong, chop it.
- ·
Remember the power of said: It is a nearly
invisible word so think hard before using something else like shouted or
whispered. Try to make the dialogue speak for itself.
Step 6: Get it
polished.
Once you think you have your work all edited and ready to
go, read through it one more time. If it is a book length piece and you want
someone else to publish it, consider professional editing. No matter how good
we are, our brains always want to read what we should have written and not what
we actually wrote.
Step 7: Get it out
there.
If you want your work published in print or electronically,
query agents, publishers, and/or magazines as appropriate or publish it
yourself. If you’re not interested in publication, you can still share your
work with friends and family or start a blog (several are free). Participate in
open readings or give your poems and stories as gifts.
Embarking on a creative writing journey can be a rewarding,
healthful, and life-changing experience. Following these seven easy steps will
get you going.
Happy Writing!
My first book, Crush and Other Love Poems for Girls, came out in 2008. At that time, social media was still relatively new. When I opened my Facebook account, I used the cover of my book as my profile picture. Now, the book has its very own Facebook page.
Last year, I published my second book, Missing Emily: Croatian Life Letters, and, by that time, the options for promoting books had grown exponentially. I have the ability to learn a new way to marketing books every day if I want. Other than the classics such as John Kremer's 1001 Ways to Promote your Books, Carolyn Howard-Johnson's The Frugal Book Promoter, Angela and Richard Hoy's 90 Days of Promoting Your Book Online, or one of the other several hard copy book-marketing books, there are dozens of websites, blogs, and enewsletters devoted to the subject.
