Get Writing

I love books, I like writing but where do I even begin?

The answer is wherever you like! If you think you have a book inside bursting to come out, then make a start. If you’re a closet poet or a short story whizz, put pen to paper and get some words down. No-one is going to anoint you ‘professional writer’ or ‘author’. There’s nothing special about people who are published except that they gave it a go. Something it took me a while to figure out. So what’s stopping you?!

A lot of writers, including me, have an obsession with stationery – the smell, the feel! So a nice notebook and pen are good first tools. Jot down any ideas that come to you, take pictures of things that inspire you while out and about. Get used to carrying a little notebook to write down anything that triggers your imagination – an overheard conversation, someone you see in the street. These days I tend to use my phone for notes. It’s inconspicuous and quick to type in the notes folder on your smart phone, and these days it usually sits next to the bed if you’re struck by inspiration in the night. There are scientific studies to say the flow of ideas works better from brain to pen than from your brain to a keyboard but the reality is that your work will need to be typed, word-counted and emailed to agent/publisher/competition. A laptop is great as you can set up your desk wherever you like. I like to work at my local garden centre café. It’s a large enough place that I don’t feel guilty about taking up a table for a couple of hours, there’s a gentle hum from the mostly retired clientele which helps as background white noise, and I buy a nice pot of tea to drink while I write.

If you really want to get started but are stuck, use a prompt. Choose an object, anything you find at home which interests you, and start to write about it without too much thought, you may be surprised at the ideas which come to mind. Or get someone to give you a first line and see what develops from that. Check out Mslexia for some useful prompts and exercises.

More than anything, to be a successful writer you need to have self-belief and you need to keep going, even when your sick of the sight of your well-edited manuscript. There are many people who start to write a book but not as many who get to completion. Put yourself in the latter category and most of all, enjoy.