#1. WRITE BECAUSE YOU
WANT TO WRITE, NO MATTER WHAT ANYBODY ELSE SAYS
And I mean anybody. Don't let anyone get you down, not your
parents, not your friends, not your teachers or that stranger on the internet
who probably sits around eating cheetos on a greasy keyboard and can't spell to
save his life.
No, writing is about YOU and your life and desires and
story. If you have something to say, say it. Never stop. That is the most
important thing I have learned. NEVER STOP.
#2. SET OBTAINABLE
GOALS, AND GIVE YOURSELF ROOM FOR FLEXIBILITY
On January 1, 2013, I made a New Year's Resolution: write a
book by January 14, only two weeks later.
I had personal reasons.
The point is, I met my goal. I finished when I said I would
because I knew I could. I had a completed 151,000-word first draft and I
couldn't ask for anything else. The feeling was amazing. I was that much closer to being done. Then I set a new
goal, to finish editing the second draft by April 1st.
So I took a break, collected myself, and then got back to
work. I edited and edited and edited EVERY SINGLE DAY until I was done. I know
most people don't have the kind of time I do, but again, the point is to MEET
THE GOAL. I actually beat my goal. I finished on March 28th.
My manuscript was reduced to 122,000 words.
Set goals. Meet goals. You will feel WONDERFUL. Completing
goals is such a rewarding experience.
#3. START A BLOG AND
WRITE USEFUL POSTS
I'm not trying to pat myself on the back. I'm saying blog
what you learn, just as you should actively use
what you learn. I write from experience. I want to help people, and that is
part of what keeps me motivated. If I don't learn, I can't offer advice.
#4. FIND WRITING
COMMUNITIES ON FACEBOOK AND OTHER SITES
I happened upon a Facebook page called Go Teen Writers while doing a lazy Google search one day way back
in January 2013. Let me tell you something: the people there are fantastic.
Everyone helps each other. You'll see comment threads with 20...30...40
comments just to talk about one specific part of writing. And everyone has
become, more-or-less, friends. We'll talk about random things, like Harry
Potter and what our favorite fantasy land is, and you'll see us posting
pictures of our writing spaces and makeshift book covers.
Go Teen Writers is
great. Jill and Stephanie do an awesome job, and are always in touch when you
want to talk to them. Thank you so much for being awesome!
#5. MAKE COVER ART,
OR DRAW PICTURES FROM YOUR BOOK
What is writing, really? Writing is taking pictures in your
head and describing what you, as the author, see. Writing is putting together
jumbles of words and creating people and worlds that live inside you.
But words don't always have to be the only way to get those
visuals out. Draw. Paint. Photoshop. Whatever you have to do, bring your world
to life so other people can see it. Make a cover for your book, even if you
don't end up using it. I made my cover in February, and two months later it's
the cover of my proof copy and everyone who sees it gives me great feedback.
This is your story. Draw a picture and show us what you see
before someone else decides to see it for you.
 |
| Eddie Utherwise (click for link) Copypright 2011 Thomas Taylor |
#6.
REVISE...REVISE...EDIT...AND GET CRITIQUED
What's the difference between "revision" and
"editing?"
Okay, revision is taking your story and working with the
plot, adjusting scenes, changing pace, crafting the story from the first
draft...or the second draft...or however many drafts it takes to tell the story
how you want it to be told. I've still got lots of work to do tweaking things
here and there and making Embassy
juuuust right.
Editing is stuff like grammar, punctuation, spelling,
finding that missing word...your basic proofreading stuff. Pay attention, and
have several pairs of eyes look at your work. Seriously, once you get past the
fear of people hating what you write, you'll find that comments and suggestions
are the best way of editing and revising a story, and I mean THE BEST way.
If you want to publish a book, that means you want hundreds
or thousands of people to see it. So start small and get a general opinion.
You'll thank yourself later. And people in writing groups love to help as long
as you help them.
#7. TAKE TIME TO
YOURSELF...AWAY FROM WRITING
Me? I go for long bike rides alongside Pittsburgh's three
rivers. The wind and trees and ducks and geese and sights and people and the
Pittsburgh skyline are wonderful. Biking, or going for walks, or sitting in the
middle of Market Square lets me empty my mind and just feel at ease. I don't
have to think about writing. I don't have to feel stress. I can just be.
Everyone needs a break. Do yourself a favor and do something
you love besides writing. Inspiration will come from the simplest places when
you aren't even looking, and stick with you when you leave.
#8. TAKE TIME TO BE
WITH FRIENDS...AND DON'T TALK ABOUT YOUR WRITING
Unless, of course that's what you and your friends do. But
my friends and I will play soccer, or Mario Kart, or Frisbee, or walk Downtown,
or grab some coffee or a bite to eat, or watch baseball. Doing this helps you
because you can experience society and interaction and guess what? That will
help you write better books!
#9. READ, READ, READ,
READ, READ
"But I don't have
time to read if I'm writing and hanging out with friends!"
Ahem. Excuse me? I think it was Stephen King who said: "If you don't have time to read, you
don't have time to write." Why do you want to write? So other people
can read what you wrote, and to express yourself.
Study what works. Don't look at one book, look at many. See
the various forms, line structures, elements, character interactions, dialogue
sequences...everything. Adapt and create your form.
Published books are published for a reason. Successful books
are read for a reason. Blockbuster books are known by millions for a reason.
That author wrote something that worked.
#10. DON'T EVER BE
AFRAID
Yes, this is similar to #1 and is last for reason. I want to
leave you thinking: What can I do, and what could I have done? The world of
writing is probably the hardest job out there. Success is NEVER guaranteed.
Publication is NEVER guaranteed. Writing the next blockbuster NYT Best Seller
is NEVER guaranteed. But none of that will ever happen if you don't try.
Get out there and be shameless. If you are writing, make
sure people know. I tell everyone I can. Random strangers I meet at the
airport, people walking Downtown, my professors, friends, friends of
friends....the point is to not care. You'll write better if you know people
will read it. If you hide it away all the time and don't let anyone see it, no
one is going to care, EVER. It's nerve-racking, telling people you wrote a
book. But once they see you've actually written one, they WILL be astounded. I
speak from personal experience.
And remember, if you write because you want to, and tell
people about it, you'll have readers. If you have readers, they'll help you by
offering suggestions and comments. If they're helping you, you're becoming a
better writer. If you're becoming a better writer, people will CONTINUE to read
what you write.
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While you're at it, check out my New Adult Science-fiction novel, Embassy.
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