If you could give only one piece of advice to a newbie writer

Tornadoboy · Nov 28, 2006

I'm sure this is a thread that has happened already a 1000-times over, but I'll start it again anyway because I could use some inspiration

My question is for all you successful writers out there: If you could give only one piece of advice to someone just starting out in writing, what would it be?

TsukiRyoko · Nov 28, 2006

Never stop writing. Even if you become a near-vegetable who can move the tip of one finger, use that finger to write. Write like the world is going to fall and the only hope of enjoyment you have left is writing. Write like the fate of every child depends on it. Just keep writing.

Ok, so maybe that was a little dramatic, but I'm sure you get the point.

So, what do you write?

Shadow_Ferret · Nov 28, 2006

As many here say, BIC. Get your Butt In Chair and write. The more you write, the better you get.

And read. Everything. Voraciously. Not just your genre, but all genres.

And finally, read the Learn Writing with Uncle Jim thread.

And just hang around here. Greatness rubs off.

zornhau · Nov 28, 2006

Read Dwight Swain "Techniques of a Selling Writer" - it's all in there.

CaroGirl · Nov 28, 2006

I'm a career writer, but a newbie at fiction. I guess any advice would be to get as many tools in your tool box as possible. Read Stephen King's On Writing for more information.

Frankly, to be effective, writers need to know the rules. Learn grammar, punctuation and sentence structure. Make sure the bones off which you want to hang your ideas are strong.

eldragon · Nov 28, 2006

Don't pay to publish your work.

C.bronco · Nov 28, 2006

Write what you'd like to read. I got 50 pages into a few books before quitting. Then, a lightbulb went on over my head and I wrote the book I wanted to read. I had no problem finishing, re-reading or tweaking the novel and have not lost interest yet. It was a whole bunch of fun!
Ray Bradbury said something akin to "People say writing a novel is hard. It isn't hard! It's fun! If it isn't fun, then don't do it."

illiterwrite · Nov 28, 2006

Don't get too attached to any of your words. Especially titles.

NeuroFizz · Nov 28, 2006

Post some of your work in the Share Your Work forum here. Reading books on writing fiction is a useful exercise, but a much better way to learn is to have the lessons come from your own writing, instead of someone else's. Put your writing self out there for criticism, and then listen to what is said. The people here are really good about pointing out the major problems in a newbie's writing. If you don't have the gumption for that, read the postings of others in Share Your Work, and pay attention to the crits that address those postings. By reading several crits in your genre, and outside of your genre, you'll see certain patterns of writing problems that crop up repeatedly. Those represent a good starting point for developing a self-editing eye for your own work.

Gillhoughly · Nov 28, 2006

Read.

James D. Macdonald · Nov 28, 2006

Write your darned book.

KTC · Nov 28, 2006

It's the same piece of advice I give to all people everywhere for anything.

FOLLOW YOUR DREAMS.

This life is once. When you die, and prepare yourself for the next one, you will want to be able to say that you followed your dream.

Linda Adams · Nov 28, 2006

There is no silver bullet.

MyFirstMystery · Nov 28, 2006

Just write. Once you get over the hump of procrastination and worry the writing becomes it's own reward.

Make a commitment to finish things.

MFM

CrankItTo11 · Nov 28, 2006

Write.

(Talk is cheap.)

BruceJ · Nov 28, 2006

Join a good writer's Web site and ask for advice on...oh, wait a minute...

Azure Skye · Nov 28, 2006

Write until you reach The End.

JeanneTGC · Nov 28, 2006

You can't publish something you don't finish. You can't publish something you don't send out for (potentially multiple) rejections. You can't publish something you refuse to resubmit because the first (several) rejections hurt too much.

If you can't take criticism, then a career in the arts may not be for you. If you CAN, then just remember that perseverance is the key and keep on doing it and don't let anyone steal your dream.

Stew21 · Nov 28, 2006

write. edit, rewrite, read, write. repeat.

Don't worry about it being perfect, just write it, when you go back to edit it, you will already be a better writer, and can fix it. Then fix it again. Then write a new one. If you want to write, love to write, then write.

(and read Uncle Jim's thread.)

blacbird · Nov 28, 2006

Plastics.

caw

jst5150 · Nov 28, 2006

Wear clean underwear and call your mother more often.

aghast · Nov 28, 2006

write what you love to read - if you dont enjoy your own fruit of labor its a waste of time - and oh do learn the business if you want to get published

Kate Thornton · Nov 28, 2006

Read, write, repeat.

Read voraciously, write every single day and enjoy the process as much as the product. And hang in there!

engmajor2005 · Nov 28, 2006

Quit caffeine. Now. Go two weeks drinking nothing but water. That's how long it takes to kick it. Stay off caffeine after that; herbal tea and decaf coffee for you buddy.

Then, when you need to pull an all-nighter, that venti quad mocha will actually do something to you.

(Hey, the good advice was already given.)

Zolah · Nov 28, 2006

engmajor2005 said:
Quit caffeine. Now. Go two weeks drinking nothing but water. That's how long it takes to kick it. Stay off caffeine after that; herbal tea and decaf coffee for you buddy.

Then, when you need to pull an all-nighter, that venti quad mocha will actually do something to you.

(Hey, the good advice was already given.)

I Think that's very good advice! I happen to be following it right now (Hell. Hell on earth. But so worth it when the time comes for a major caffeine shot).

If you could give only one piece of advice to a newbie writer

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