Is the writer born as such, or does one become a writer by learning how to do it on a daily basis? Well, it’s actually both. There are some individuals that are natural talents for writing, but that alone won’t get them anywhere near success if they’re lazy. Writing requires hard work and patience.
But first, let’s be honest. You won’t learn how to become a good writer by just reading this 500-word article. These tips should only serve you as guidance on how to start and what to pay attention to when beginning your writing career.
You Have to Love It
This is an obvious one, but we have to mention it nevertheless. Being a writer is not your regular 9-to-5 job that you do just to get by. Writing requires having a passion for your work and spend hours sitting in front of your typewriter or a keyboard and loving every minute of it. Sure, you’ll get exhausted from time to time, but you must wake up the next day and still look at it as something you enjoy doing, and not something that you simply HAVE to do. If you’re not enjoying it, you are wasting your time.
Wait for Inspiration
Rome wasn’t built in a day, just like a great novel can’t be written overnight. Good books may take years to get finished, so you must be patient. Write when you feel like it, and don’t force it. Be persistent and wait for inspiration. Don’t give up only because you haven’t come up with anything for a certain amount of time.
Be Bold
One of the worst things that can wrap around your mind as a writer is insecurity. You have to believe in your skills and not let fear mess with your work. Avoid playing it safe and just be yourself. Of course, this is easier said than done, but hey – do you want to be a writer or not?
Read a lot
Again, this is an obvious suggestion, but it can’t be more true. For you to become a writer yourself, you need to read hundreds of books from renowned authors and learn from them. Pay attention to how authors present their work and highlight what you have found gripping about it. Read books from different writers and try to compare their styles. Get deep into their words and become a little bit of a book critic.
Editing is Important
Once you have finished writing your manuscript, you are only half-way done. Go back over everything and see what needs fixing. Don’t do this right away, as it’s advisable to look at your finished writing with a fresh set of eyes. The publishers are going to edit your work anyway and make sure that there aren’t any spelling errors or narrative inconsistencies, but you still need to look diligent when presenting the manuscript.
Be Prepared to Hear a “No”
Only a few writers get their books published on the first attempt. Don’t let a negative answer from a few publishers discourage you. It’s not the end of the world, and it doesn’t mean that you’re a lousy writer. It just means that you need to work harder and become better, which you certainly could accomplish.
