Tips for a New Writer

I know it seems a tad premature to be dishing out tips to aspiring writers when I myself am not even published (yet - but it will happen) but I didn't have any other ideas for what to post today. 

It is said that everyone has a novel in them. So here are some tips for someone starting out as a writer or considering writing a book/novel/collection of poems.

1) Take a notepad with you everywhere. This is something pretty standard within the writing community. Almost all creative writing tutors will tell you to keep a journal of creative thoughts or to keep writing materials on you at all times. This means that whenever you have a good thought you can jot it down so as not to lose it. I tend to keep one by my bed, in my bag etc. 

2) Read a lot. You want to be able to read a lot of books as style models for your own work and to understand the market. 


3) Avoid the cliché. Does your writing sound familiar? It might therefore come across as cliché or typical of the genre. This is fine. This is where a lot of writers start and this is how we learn. When we start out our knowledge of writing and how to craft our creative work may be basic and therefore we just repeat what we know. 

4) Find inspiration everywhere. We are human beings are constantly creating and constructing stories. "Oh this funny thing happened the other day..." "The strangest thing once happened at my old house..." "One time when I was out with my friends..." Just ask yourself whenever you think back to an old story 'Can I write about that?' You may find you could write an entire collection of short stories just based on your life experiences.

5) Join writer groups. I recently joined figment.com which is a place where you can post your work and have it read whilst doing the same for other writers. It acts as a bridge for creative minds. Other places are wattpad and The Writer's Circle on Facebook. Something about conversing with other creative people can really help you to consider and develop your ideas whilst inspiring you to keep writing.

6) Write the sort of thing you'd actually want to read. Make sure it's something good, something compelling, and nothing too similar to something well known and pre-existing. 

7) Ensure your characters are interesting. Nobody wants to emotionally support a dull character.

8) If you feel like you have Writer's Block try to set yourself the challenge of writing 50 words. Just 50. You may find that this breaks the ice and sets you free from your block. If not you're still 50 words better off...


9) Consider writing out a plan for your book/story. Sometimes just knowing where you're going helps you to explore the terrain that eventually leads you to that end point. 

10) Try to avoid creating characters that appear to be the embodiment of perfection. "He was rather tall.  His body was wonderfully slender, ever so toned and his hips jutted out a little in a strong way. To summarise: he was nothing short of a Greek god. " I read that recently and couldn't help but think "Really?" Perfection is boring, almost overrated. I like characters with quirks and flaws, I'm sure most would agree that makes someone more interesting as a character. 

11) Ensure you write a good first sentence. That is the way you introduce a reader to the story and most decide within the first page if they want to read the book or not. This is why you want your first sentence, and then your entire first page, to be good. Try setting up questions that the reader wants to have answered and such answers can only be found by reading the book. Catch them off guard from the very start by throwing something wacky or arcane in their direction.

12) When crafting your work try to get some feedback on it. Allow someone to read it and give you their honest opinions. This way you'll get some perspective from a reader. 

13) Read your work to yourself out loud. Does it make sense? Are the sentences nice, varying lengths? Does it drone a little? Reading it out to yourself will allow you to understand how the mind of the reader will process it. 

14) Don't force romance. Maybe it's just me but when people force romance into a novel or the novel is just about romance and the portrayal/situation is weak my attention is lost almost automatically. I get it. Love happens. But I'd rather read something interesting. Come back to me when you've written a novel about anything else. Mechanical octopus battles or some shit. I don't even know.

15) Write your work. Blurt it out. Let it flow. Then go back and cut, edit, tweak and perfect it. Don't think you can get by without crafting your work. 

16) Read similar books. Don't steal from them, maybe let them repel you. Try to fit into the genre but make sure your work is different from other books in the genre.


17) If you're writing poetry try to go to poetry readings to really experience contemporary poetry. Sometimes hearing a poet discuss and read from their work can bring a new perspective to the process. 

18) You finished your work, sent it to a publisher and it got turned down? Yup. That happens. A lot. What you have to remember is that not everyone will like what you do, but someone out there probably will. It will take someone equally as determined for you to fail as you are determined to succeed. It would take you being turned down from literally every literary agent and publisher in the world, and believe me there are a lot of them. It's really tough, I know, but keep trying. If not, why not try self publishing?

19) If your novel requires a specific setting/epoch/situation with which you are not familiar, do your research. You want to write a book about Victorian England? Do research. You live in England but you want to set your novel in rural Japan? Research. You're trying to write a novel about a specific breed of bird? Research. It's the best way to ensure that your work is accurate and interesting.

20) Stay calm. You're the writer, you are the controller of your own fictional world. Remain calm and all should be fine.

21) ENJOY IT. There's no point in writing if it isn't an enjoyable experience. In fact I find writing to be curative, therapeutic... Perhaps it can be the same for you. 

Some of the greatest works in history took years to complete so don't worry, you'll get there eventually. Always save/back up your work if you're writing digitally, keep it safe if you're working on paper. 
Click here to go to Figment.com!
The Guardian's "Ten Rules for Writing"
The Guardian's "How To Write A Novel in 30 Days"

NaNoWriMo website