Tips for your writing journey
So, you'd like to be a writer? Congrats! Writing not only is a great way to express yourself, but can provide an income. Keep in mind not all writers make a fortune, some still cant quit their day job. Below are some tips to start your writing journey.
1.Start Writing
Okay, so this tip is obvious. For some, it's a question of what to write about, for others how to write. Write how and what you want. What kind of books do you like to read? Fiction, Mystery, science fiction, how to books? How about articles, reports, maybe you're interested in journalism. Whatever the case may be, to get your creative juices flowing, start writing! Don't worry about how it sounds, grammar or other mistakes, you can go back to fix these.
2.Join online and offline groups/message boards and chats
If you already know what you want to write about, consider joining writer groups at your local library, or online groups, along with message boards and chats. It's a great way to network with other writers and published authors. It's also a good place to share your work and receive feedback. Many places online are free to join, some require a membership which usually consist of a user name, e-mail address and password for your user name. Some request more information such as a name, address and sometimes phone number.
3.The Library
You've probably heard about some books that writers refer to, this could be writer markets, e-book publishing, self publishing and generally how to improve your writing. But what do you do when you can't afford to buy these books from your local bookstore or online? A trip to your library is the key. Many libraries carry writer resource books, which if you have a library card, are free. If you're living out of the area, the library may require a fee for membership. The book you're looking for may not always be at your local library, however libraries borrow from other libraries in and out of state. The method of receiving outside books is called Inter-Library Loan. Later on, if you find the book to be a great resource, you may be able to purchase a used copy online.
4.Researching
The Internet is also another good resource for information. Keep in mind that not every resource you find online is going to be an honest good resource. It will take time to sort out which websites are useful. Most information is free, so you can sit back and research in the comfort of your home. If you don't have a computer with Internet access, check your local library and see if you can use one of theirs.
5.Workshops
Workshops taught by experts is a great way to learn from the professionals, but only if you can afford it! Make sure the topic of the workshop is based around your interest. For instance, if you love fiction..it wouldn't be a good idea to go to a workshop based only on non-fiction. It's a good idea to register early to ensure a spot at the event. Bring a new legal pad, plus a few writing tools to take notes.
6.Contents
After writing a while, you may want to enter contents. Some require an entry fee. I suggest staying away from the entry fee contents until you've entered some other free ones. That way you can get a feel for how contests work. Spend some time writing and re-writing your entries. If you've written your entry in 5 or so minutes, th judges will notice it immediately. You wouldn't want a reputation for sloppy work.
There you are, 6 tips to get you started on your journey to writing. Good Luck!
About the Author- Laura Hickey is the author of the children's book Mysterious Chills and Thrills- 10 short stories to tickle the imagination. It may be purchased at http://www.laurahickey.com Access Laura's press kit...interviews, book reviews, PR's and more.
Oswego taxi to Midway ..Simply put, it is the art of writing scripts for... Read More
Everybody knows writing a story is not easy. Like the... Read More
If your writing muscle isn't in shape, writing a novel... Read More
This is a tough question for every freelance writer. For... Read More
Last week I was having a quick browse on eBay... Read More
"The Magic of Layout..."???Okay... "magic" might seem a bit over... Read More
~~~Old age, to the unlearned, is winter; to the learned,... Read More
Back in my school days, if the teacher demanded a... Read More
"If you're like me, than I'm sure you're pretty familiar... Read More
FERRETING OUT WORK You keep hearing that there's work out... Read More
By far, I have found that the lack of discipline... Read More
9 out of 10 professionals and small business owners have... Read More
I hate to admit this, but I rarely get an... Read More
Among the various foolproof methods used to boost traffic to... Read More
Have you given up on getting your book out of... Read More
Joyce Carol Oates. Langston Hughes. Anne Sexton. F. Scott Fitzgerald.... Read More
Creative Writing Tips ?The writer, who doesn't have the time... Read More
Self-examination sheds light on a writers motives, goals, and aspirations,... Read More
My husband is no poet, so when I offer my... Read More
SALE, SAIL Sale is either offering something for purchase... Read More
Creative Writing Tips ?What a plot is and what a... Read More
Picture this scene.Your hero is sitting in a bar. He's... Read More
Plagiarism has been condemned lately by all types of experts,... Read More
Far too many inexperienced writers create flat, stereotypical characters: the... Read More
Working on my first humorous novel, I started with a... Read More
shuttle from Midway Morris ..The journey to having my first novel for children published... Read More
If you have been online for any length of time... Read More
Writers are an insecure lot.It's easy to understand why. You... Read More
1) Can you summarize the story in about a sentence... Read More
You're writing a story set in your local city, but... Read More
1. Set aside a time to write and keep it... Read More
Why should you consider creating a memoir of your personal... Read More
How many times have you checked out a job board... Read More
One of the biggest problems that inexperienced writers have is... Read More
Writing better is critical for students. But it's even more... Read More
Around eighty percent of nonfiction books today are written by... Read More
1. Make your goals achievable.By achievable, we mean realistic and... Read More
About two weeks ago I received an article submissionthat immediately... Read More
Suspense novels are probably the easiest novels to write. Suspense... Read More
Style manuals are all well and good, and in fact,... Read More
No matter what you are writing, the first priority is... Read More
It occurred to me one day that I needed something... Read More
My husband is no poet, so when I offer my... Read More
'Talent is cheaper than table salt. What separates the talented... Read More
Technology vendors often contribute bylined articles to trade journals. The... Read More
So you're one of 20 million Americans who want to... Read More
We've all heard a politician on their soapbox, pushing for... Read More
Compiling a list of the history's ten best writers is... Read More
A few days ago, I critiqued a chapter for a... Read More
1. PLAY A GAME LIKE SOLITAIRE....for half an hour or... Read More
Writing |