Beginners Lesson - Writers Forum

Hoss · 01-25-2006, 09:34 PM

What is the most essential thing an inspired, beginning writer needs to do to get to where he wants to be? Write is an obvious anwer. Write good is an even better one. But I'm looking on the terms of education/college. I haven't read as many novels as I need to either. Also, workshops haven't been a great way to show my potential, which I really would like to see right now. I guess I'm basically asking two questions: (sorry)

What did you do or what would you have done as a teenager to pursue a career in writing?

How important is the caliber of college when it comes to doing this stuff?

-Thanks

Mike C · 01-26-2006, 02:00 AM

What to do as a teenager? Write a lot. And just as importantly read a lot, and read widely, don't just stick to reading one narrow genre because that's what you like.

College? No importance whatsoever to writing. Study engineering, or law, or anything that'll give you a career to support you while you write.

gohn67 · 01-26-2006, 04:49 AM

I'm working on a creative writing degree. And my professors are very willing to help to me with any questions I have, which is nice, surprising actually. Like this semester I'm working with one of my profs one on one, which I hope will be extremely helpful, but who knows.

I do think that in the end being a good writer depends on how much work you put into it.

Workshops are more helpful in helping you learn to look at someone's work in a critical manner, so that eventually you can do that with your own work. That's why don't do a half ass job on your critiques in workshops and particpate in the discussions about writing. That's where you're going to learn the most. Most of the feedback will be pretty useless.

TimK · 01-26-2006, 12:03 PM

Hi, Hoss. I'll echo the other comments here. I assume you're looking to become a novelist, which is a little different than becoming a journalist. What to study in college is an iffy subject. It depends on who you are and what you want to do with your life. (How's that for vagueness?) Certainly, if you want to be a novelist, you should find some way to support yourself as you hone your craft. This could take a decade or more.

The most important things you can do are:

Read, read, read. Then read some more. Read fiction. Read non-fiction. Read books about writing. Read Storyteller by Kate Wilhelm.
Think critically. When you read a good story, ask yourself what makes it good. Analyze. Find lessons you can use in your own writing.
Learn the basics. Learn grammar. Learn how to write good prose. Learn the basic types of stories and their structures. Holly Lisle has a lot of good information at her web site.
Write, write, write. Your early work will stink. Try to learn what you can do to make it better. Always be open to constructive criticism. But always remember that it's your story, not anyone else's, and you have final say on what it is.
Learn the business. Check out Michael A. Stackpole's The Secrets newsletter and podcast.
Market your work. Submit to publications and publishers. Take pride in your rejections; it means you're writing. But always ask what you can do to make it more likely you'll be accepted next time.
Improve. Keep repeating the above until you get good enough to be published. Then keep improving. None of us will ever be perfect enough that he can't grow some more.

-TimK

mammamaia · 01-26-2006, 07:59 PM

read... read... READ!

you can't be a good writer if you're not a good and constant reader... that's ALL i ever did, to 'become' a writer... i never took a single 'writing course' and didn't even go to college, yet i can write anything that takes words better than most and was a writing consultant hired by multiple degree-holders who paid me up to $150/hr to do their writing for them or to show them how to do it better themselves...

TimK · 01-26-2006, 09:01 PM

Wow, Maia. That was inspiring. I'd love to read your memoirs.

Sincerely,
-TimK

Hoss · 01-26-2006, 10:50 PM

Thanks for your input everyone, I'll definitely consider all of what you had to say. And Maia, thanks for the inspiration. I must be taking advice from the right people.

SxThorntonxS · 01-27-2006, 12:57 AM

Now i know you dont need a degree to be a writer. That was one of the main reasons i dropped out of college and just worked full time. Now in the fall i decided i will be going back to get a degree in creative writing. There is two reasons for this. One, many employers like to see that you have a degree and it doesnt always have to be in the feild your applying for, it just looks good. And two, it never hurts to take courses. I figured out that the two years after finishing my AA degree would be all writing courses, and generally would be a lot of fun i think. The course ill be taking include magazine writing, journalism, script writing and a bunch of lit classes. So again, you dont have to go to school for it, but if you can and really want to, do it. Im lucky that the job ill be at soon will pay for most of my courses.

mammamaia · 01-27-2006, 07:01 PM

tim... help yourself!... see autobio bits in 'a weird life' on my website in 'writings' section, under 'other works'...

hoss... you're entirely welcome!

sxt... you're lucky indeed... what kind of job will pay for such stuff [other than such promises made by us army recruiters, that is!]?...

love and hugs to all, maia

SilkFX · 01-28-2006, 01:21 PM

The best advice I've ever heard on this subject is simply this: Write a lot, read a lot, and be part of a community of writers/artists.

I'm in the process of getting an MFA in creative writing for a variety of reasons, one of which was to be part of a concentrated community (one that's focused on writing to the exclusion of (almost) all else). But that was a choice I made; it's not a requirement by any means.