Writing advice #OpenBook Blog Hop

November 12, 2018

What advice would you give to someone who wants to become a writer ?


It sounds easy, doesn't it? "I want to write a book. Anyone can do that."

And it's probably true. With enough effort, anyone can get fifty thousand or more words down on paper. (Or saved to a computer file.) It might take years, and after the first five thousand the realization of how much effort it takes might sink in, but that's okay.

But this is not an attempt to scare anyone off from the attempt. The satisfaction that comes with writing "The End" is hard to match.

So what advice to I have for aspiring writers?

I think the best thing I can suggest is to not worry about getting it perfect the first time. Finding the right wards can be next to impossible. Sometimes the word you thought was right doesn't sound so good after a few more sentences.

But here's the trick. There are these things called "first drafts" and editing. That means after the words make it from the brain to paper, they can be changed. And for those of us who aren't total geniuses, changes will need to be made. Even total geniuses will need to go back and check their work.

But if the first draft isn't completed. there's no editing to be done. Well, that's not quite true. I use editing as a way to help break writer's block, but it's a short-term solution. It helps to get my brain back into the story.

So, back to my advice. It's like walking. You have to take one step at a time. Get out that pen and paper or typewriter or keyboard. Write that first sentence. Then write another, and another. Writing, like any other creative endeavor, takes practice. It may never become easy, but it gets easier. I've written several books that will never be published because I don't feel they are good enough, but that's okay. The time I spent writing them wasn't wasted because it helped make the next book I wrote better.

Now let's head over and see what advice the other authors have to share.

(And a side note. Wolves' Knight, a book that went through several drafts before it was ready for readers, is on sale for 99¢ for a short time. You can find the links here:  https://pjmaclayne.blogspot.com/p/wolves-pawn.html  You'll need to scroll down the page a little way to find it.)






November 12, 2018

What advice would you give to someone who wants to become a writer ?


Rules:
1. Link your blog to this hop.
2. Notify your following that you are participating in this blog hop.
3. Promise to visit/leave a comment on all participants' blogs.
4. Tweet/or share each person's blog post. Use #OpenBook when tweeting.
5. Put a banner on your blog that you are participating.

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