So you’ve decided you want to become a creative writer ey? Well, good news for you, because that’s what these posts are about. I don’t want to sugar coat. I won’t give generic advice that leaves new writers bewildered. I don’t want you wondering if you can ever become a writer. Absolutely not!
Back to the main point about becoming a writer. Writing isn’t just about novels and poetry. It’s about life, even when that life is on a planet light-years away, where the aliens are blue and purple. But it’s still life. Politics, love, concepts, relationships, giving a voice to a story that will otherwise be silent. The possibilities are endless.
Becoming a creative writer is NOT about god given talent. It’s about practice, curiosity and courage to write shit at first.
In this post I will walk you through the first baby steps you can take to start your journey as a writer. Yes that’s right, when you write your first word, and sentence, you are in fact a writer.
Now onto the steps!
Step 1: Give Yourself Permission
To Try
Give yourself permission to start without a clue on what you’re doing, and be crap at it. You don’t need a degree, a perfect idea, or a special notebook and pen… Although they are nice to have. Self declared stationary addict here!
All you need is the willingness to try and fail. Well, not fail as that means giving up. If you get back up, you haven’t failed, write that one down. Your first pieces and drafts will be messy and full of mistakes. You know what that is…? Proof that you’re trying and writing.
To Experiment
Do not feel like you have to follow every rule and be a big shot writer who will become a classic author. Be playful. Explore all the ideas you have, experiment, write something that doesn’t make sense to anyone. And the most important one, have fun.
To be Private
Not all words you write needs to be shared to a beta reader, friends or family. Some are just for you, and that’s okay. I mean, you don’t even have to tell a soul that you’ve started writing either. It’s your life, do what you want.
To Take up Space
Your voice matters. The way you write is unique to everyone else in the world. Your stories are going to be unique to you, no matter how far out they are. And guess what? They all deserve to be written on paper.
Exercise: Write for 5 minutes without stopping. Don’t edit, don’t delete, don’t judge. The goal is simply to get words on the page.
Step 2: Read Widely, Write Simply
Now I know most people who want to write are huge fans of reading. We all have our favourite genre. However, if you want to be a writer, read across all genres. Even if you DNF a book 20 pages in. That means you just learned what not to do, to bore your reader. Take notes on what you like, love, dislike and hated. It will help you learn what your style will be, as well as show you great writing.
Pro Tip: Just because it’s been published by a big publishing house, doesn’t mean it’s good, just that it’s marketable. There are loads of indie authors out there who have amazing skills in story telling.
As for your writing, start small. A sentence, paragraph, scene or a description of your morning. All writing is writing and it helps you learn. You don’t need to aim for brilliance just your authentic self. No big complex words like, Ephemeral or Pulchritude. Eighty percent of the population won’t know what these mean. And quite frankly, they just cover up for lazy writing most of the time. Show the beauty or how quick something lasted. But that was a tangent. We can go into “Lazy Writing” on another post.
Anyway, simple writing can help hone your skills in clarity, not perfection.
Exercise: Pick one everyday object near you. Write three to five short, clear sentences describing it using sight, sound, touch, taste and or smell. Keep it plain and direct.
Step 3: Practice Curiosity
Creative writing stems form curiosity and imagination. Look at the world and question what if things were different, what would life be like in this era, or with this magic? You look and you imagine. Now, not everyone is the master at day dreaming… I’m a huge daydreamer. However, it is still a skill you can work on. Let the weird and the wonderful out of your brain.
I play a lot of what if games and people watching when I am out. Look at someone, what are they wearing, what do you think their job is, are they happy, and make up a something that is their obstacle. It’s more fun with a friend. Or play what if. Think of the first what if question that comes to mind then write it down and answer it.
What if we had 2 moons? The seas would be hazardous, coastlines may flood, and perhaps more tsunamis. The nights would be brighter, but how bright. The human calendar is based on one moon cycle, so there might be a longer year, more holidays, more time off, and it would have changed history too. With two moons it would be unlikely the three wise-men would have followed the north star. And too top off the answer, earths rotation would be off, changing our seasons and how long day and night would be. Also a possibility that earths axis would be unstable.
Creative writing can be built from paying attention and playing around. Have a go at the games I play and share in the comments if you wish.
Exercise: Choose something ordinary (a tree, a jug, a shop window). Write three “what if” questions about it. Answer them in 5 or less sentences.
Step 4: Learn the Basics of Storytelling
Every story has 3 main building blocks, no matter how short and simple, or long and complex. Think of these as the first building blocks of creating a story.
- Characters: The people (or beings) who drive the story. They should want something or have a goal.
- Conflict: The obstacle or problem standing in their way. This is what creates tension. It could be a person, a catastrophe, anything as long as it gets in the way of your character reaching their goal.
- Resolution: The outcome that shows how the character changes, succeeds, or fails.
Even a three‑sentence story follows this arc: someone wants something, something gets in the way, and something changes at the end. For beginner writers this is enough to start practicing creative writing with short scenes. Don’t worry about the more complex terms and blocks of creating a story just yet. That can come later. Just focus on what I have listed above.
I will be creating a separate post, going deeper into more building blocks of storytelling, here. Covering things like story arc, themes, foreshadowing and more.
Exercises: Write either a few sentences to flash fiction, including the character, their conflict and how it ends.
Step 5: Build a Routine
Yep a routine, however, for my like minded ADHD friends, don’t worry, it doesn’t have to be strict. Just 10 to 20 minutes a day. It doesn’t have to be at the same time everyday, or even everyday. Life is busy and when we fail at doing something it can dull our motivation. So set a routine, but be kind to yourself if you can’t one day.
Don’t listen to those people who say MaKe TiMe. I have had times where I haven’t written for a week because I was so tired. What matters is that you go back to it.
However, if you can be consistent enough to see progress, you will have more confidence and therefore, more motivation. A sentence here and a paragraph there, will add up to pages and pages of writing.
As Dory said Just keep swimming.
Exercise: Pick a week you know you have time first. Then write for 10 minutes a day. Once done see your progress no matter how small. It will be there.
Step 6: Embrace Imperfection
That’s right when you start you will be so shit it’s embarrassing. Don’t worry though, it’s a canon event for all of us. I also like to believe we always grow and get better even if you’ve been writing for decades.
You’re first drafts will be terrible and that’s normal. If I give you some bricks and timber and told you to build a house, could you? No. Because you don’t know how to and haven’t had lots of practice.
Revisions and editing is where the are comes in. But still stick to small pieces. Edit a paragraph, a scene or chapter first before tackling a novel. Practice makes better! Not perfect, remember that one too.
Exercise: Write something small, or take something you have already written that is small. Find 1 to 2 sentences you like. Keep those and rewrite everything else. How has it changed, do you prefer it now or before, is it better?
The End
Every great story starts with a sentence and every writer starts as a beginner. So, keep writing, keep noticing and keep writing. Over time your practice will turn into great stories that carry your own unique voice.
Before you leave me, try one of the exercises. Any of them, pick at random if you want. Share the first sentence you wrote that started your journey. I would love to see them!
Until Next Time
A. R. Moody
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