Patricia Raybon
Know thyself. It's the only genuine way to know what to write, how to write it and how to market it--then how to make peace with how it all turns out. I'm amazed how long I resisted writing about my biggest life challenge--figuring out how to stay sane and make peace with my childhood and upbringing in a racist world.
In my 40s, when I decided to forgive a lot of the hate I'd experienced, that journey turned out to be my first book, "My First White Friend." Everybody has their own life story--their own struggles and successes, troubles and triumphs. As William Zinsser says, "That's your material." Well, he actually says, "It's all material." So use it.
Know your life. Then you'll know where to start your writing. Your writer's voice resides in your life, in fact. If you hate cooking, but love housework, right there those are two writing paths to claim as your own. Blog about it. Write poetry about it. Write a novel about it. Write essays about it.
Use your natural "material" and you'll never run out of things to say with writing. From there, learn from other writers. Go to writers' conferences. Great places to network and learn. Take writing classes. When you act serious about your writing, whether you're published or not, you commitment means you now are writer. Other people will see that in you. Every day, as you get to "be" a writer, you'll soon see your work in print. It's not about magic. It's about hard work. Follow that path. Every step will take you closer to your goal. Onward!
In my 40s, when I decided to forgive a lot of the hate I'd experienced, that journey turned out to be my first book, "My First White Friend." Everybody has their own life story--their own struggles and successes, troubles and triumphs. As William Zinsser says, "That's your material." Well, he actually says, "It's all material." So use it.
Know your life. Then you'll know where to start your writing. Your writer's voice resides in your life, in fact. If you hate cooking, but love housework, right there those are two writing paths to claim as your own. Blog about it. Write poetry about it. Write a novel about it. Write essays about it.
Use your natural "material" and you'll never run out of things to say with writing. From there, learn from other writers. Go to writers' conferences. Great places to network and learn. Take writing classes. When you act serious about your writing, whether you're published or not, you commitment means you now are writer. Other people will see that in you. Every day, as you get to "be" a writer, you'll soon see your work in print. It's not about magic. It's about hard work. Follow that path. Every step will take you closer to your goal. Onward!
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