So You Want to Be A Writer? Here’s What You Need to Do
So You Want to Be a Writer?
I began writing when I was about 6. I wasn’t particularly good, and my teachers seemed underwhelmed by my talent. But I loved writing, so I persevered. I entered competitions, wrote little short stories. Got nowhere. Then I stopped.
I trained to be a physical therapist – who needs to be a writer, anyway? – and began travelling the world. Much more exciting than getting rejection after rejection.
It was only when I became ill that I thought: what do I most want to do in the world. And the answer was: I want to write. So, the best writing advice I’ve ever had is the advice I told myself: if you really want to be a writer, then you have to write.
Which is what I did.
Keep Writing
About thirteen years ago I began a novella. I liked it, but no-one else did, so I got a lot of rejections. I kept writing. I wrote a couple of short stories, began another novel. Again: rejections. I did a couple of night school courses on writing. Crickets!
I volunteered to work on a trade magazine. I kept writing, and studied for a Certificate of Creative writing. And then, finally, a short story of mine was accepted! I was so excited!
Fast forward ten years: Now, I write pretty much every day. This includes blogging, journaling, creative first drafts, this interview. The words add up.
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Embrace the Fear
I’ve written six books. I’ve won three awards and have been shortlisted for a few more. I’ve had emails from folk all around the world who tell me my words have touched them.
Despite all this, I still feel as though I’m not very good. But I keep writing.
So, the best advice to any writer is: keep writing.
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