When I was about twelve, I read a story in Boy's Life Magazine that just thrilled me. I went to my father, showed him the story and told him that writing was what I wanted to do with my life.
My father told me that there were people who did that, and who made a pretty good living at it, but I probably wouldn't be one of them, and that I should think of something practical to do. (Yes, he was a Depression child ... the original Depression. )
I reminded him of this when he was in his 70s and he was properly embarrassed. I think all of us parents ultimately learn we should mostly encourage and let life help to determine practical limits.
But anyway, I both did and didn't follow his advice. (Yes, this has been a pattern in my life.) On the one hand I went to college and got a teaching degree, and on the other, I've never not written.
Songs and poems in high school, poems and stories in college, where I began to be published. Short stories in Cricket Magazine during my teaching years. Thirty years of ad agency work, during which I was paid to write about a million words. And finally–quite a bit later–novels.
I'm currently writing my sixth with three published, and yes, even though few in the world know who I am, my books are well-reviewed and finding an audience.
My father told me that there were people who did that, and who made a pretty good living at it, but I probably wouldn't be one of them, and that I should think of something practical to do. (Yes, he was a Depression child ... the original Depression. )
I reminded him of this when he was in his 70s and he was properly embarrassed. I think all of us parents ultimately learn we should mostly encourage and let life help to determine practical limits.
But anyway, I both did and didn't follow his advice. (Yes, this has been a pattern in my life.) On the one hand I went to college and got a teaching degree, and on the other, I've never not written.
Songs and poems in high school, poems and stories in college, where I began to be published. Short stories in Cricket Magazine during my teaching years. Thirty years of ad agency work, during which I was paid to write about a million words. And finally–quite a bit later–novels.
I'm currently writing my sixth with three published, and yes, even though few in the world know who I am, my books are well-reviewed and finding an audience.
Writing because you can't not write.
Whenever I tell people I'm a writer–a considerable number of people tell me they've always wanted to be a writer, too. What I tell them is what I'm telling you now: if you really think you'd like to, do it.
Will you be a famous, wealthy novelist? Well, odds are maybe against that. But I do know a best-selling mystery writer who was a non-writing adult when he wrote his first novel, got an agent, and landed a contract in one swell foop. He said he thought that was how it worked for everybody.
It isn't.
A Few Ideas for Getting Started
There are lots of guidelines out there for writing. Here are some that work for me.
1. Figure out what kind of thing you want to write. Poems, short stories, a novel, a "how-to" ... it kind of doesn't matter.
2. Don't start writing right away. Walk around with the notion a while. Think about your book while you're walking or ironing or occupied with some activity that leaves your brain free.
3. Once you know what you want to try, start writing every day. I get up at six and typically write about four (first draft) pages in two hours.
4. Don't let yourself get tangled up in details. The Internet is great because if I want to know what day ice on the Tanana river in Alaska went out in 1956, it's right there at my fingertips. But if you don't know it and can't quickly get it, keep moving. Just make up a date and keep writing.
5. Each time you sit down, re-read and tighten-up what you wrote in your previous session. Just a little. It helps you to remember where you're starting from.
6. DON'T get all worked up and blurt your whole story to someone. You know you want to. Somehow it dissipates the energy and your writing of it won't be nearly as exciting as the story you told and now can't quite remember.
7. If something really hangs you up ... like writing dialogue, for example ... open a favorite writer and see how others do it. And then keep writing.
8. Finally, when you have a whole book and you've written an ending, put it away for a few days and then start reading, re-writing, fixing and adjusting, from the beginning. After you've done that a time or two, you can try reading a good part to someone you trust.
9. You have to like it yourself. If there are things wrong with it, you may find yourself hoping your readers won't notice. They will. You have to write it until it works for you. We all write for ourselves, others are gravy.
10. Before you can consider submitting to anyone, you still need to have it copy-edited. Don't fuss, everyone needs an editor. Well, okay, yes I do fuss, but I still need editing, too.
So There You Are.
Can it be that simple? Yep. That's the bulk of it, honest! Write a page a day and you'll have the rough draft of your novel in a year, easy. Remember: the important part is that you finished (most people don't) and that you like it.
Will it sell? That's a whole other story.
Comments and questions are always welcome: jonathanthomasstratman@gmail.com
If this seems useful, please forward to interested friends.
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