Writing Tips for the Novice Writer

It's never too late to start writing, but you'd better not keep putting it off or it will be too late one day.

To be a writer, you need to choose your media--paper and pen or computer screen--and just start writing.  Pour out all the thoughts craving to be released.

Say Something 

Typically, my writing stems from a wellspring of thoughts triggered by various experiences—whether it's while cleaning the pool, doing household chores, walking the dog, taking a shower, or even perusing someone else's article. 

In these moments, my mind weaves through different themes. Yet, bottling up all these ideas doesn't serve any purpose. I find it essential to let them out. With a bit of luck, these ideas settle and resurface later when needed.

Share Your Writing 

The internet is a turning point for many writers and artists.  It gives us a place to show our work which is much better than growing a pile of journals, manuscripts, or even painted canvasses in our drawers or basement.  Sharing what's on our mind not only gives us joy, but it often helps someone. 

Art by Rosalie Garde, 2015

Don't Limit Yourself 

All those ideas you have can be worked on simultaneously.  You don't need to focus only on one project at a time (unless you're doing a for-pay piece with a deadline).  I might write on marriage, gardening, midlife crisis, or life purpose all in a week.

Have a System 

Create a system.  That may mean setting aside time to write.  Or it may mean setting aside a method.

I have a file in Word called "fodder" and another called "rough drafts."

Fodder is where I collect ideas. They may be cut and pasted off the internet (to use as prompts), or they may be ideas of my own that I don't feel like working in depth at the time.   I also have a separate file for "ebooks I'm working on."

I will scan through my fodder or rough draft files and choose something of interest to work on hopefully to completion and submission.  Then I'll transfer the piece to "submitted." 

Often, a rough draft was written without editing and ends up so long I can pull two or more articles out of it and multiply my revenue.

Joining a group or submitting to a place where there is an opportunity to have your work pass through editors is helpful.  I work through Constant-Content.

Their team of editors checks everything and sends back errors pointing out what's wrong.  Of course, rejection hurts and delays income, but this has been a good way for me to learn and improve my writing. 

Silence the Critics

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If you're going to enjoy your life as a writer, you're going to need to shut out certain voices and demolish certain long-held beliefs. That may include putting into check outside voices, voices of school teachers, your own voice and putting your long-held beliefs in check. 

Rules have changed. The threat to emerging writers is that those who've held professional positions with publishing houses, those who've been certified by editing organizations, those who've taught courses and been published themselves may think of themselves more highly than they ought to. They can easily intimidate new writers.

If you're an emerging writer, be wary of intimidation.  If you entrust your writing to an editor or have it critiqued, learn from their feedback, but don't let their advice stop you from pursuing your dream.

Marketers will tell you it's important to follow a set of rules that goes something like this: create a sales page, collect emails, offer a freebie, send out newsletters, pursue target customers, strive, don't give up. Those suggestions might work for some, but they may just as likely not work at all.  These may become projects that gobble up time with no return on the investment.

In the end, trust your judgment.  Take a risk.  Write something.  Publish it in a method of your choosing. Let it go.  See what happens next.