Breaking into creative writing

[dropcap]B[/dropcap]eing a writer is something that has always appealed to me, but I’ve always lacked the willpower to truly power through and actually write something. I’ve decided that now is the time to change all this and finally finish a book, and I’m getting there, albeit slowly and begrudgingly.

To start, you need an idea. My inclination is generally towards crime or horror, but anything has the basis to make a good story – the key is how you bring it to life, how you hook your reader.

It’s always better to write something you like, and I would suggest just getting into it. Sure, you can go to classes and read countless online articles about how and what to write, but I wouldn’t recommend it. Trust your gut, and write what you want to write. Similar to this is finding your voice; there’s no sense imitating Dickens’ style, say, if you find it cumbersome and don’t enjoy it.

Trust your gut, and write what you want to write.

If you want to write, you’re often told to expect tons of rejection letters. If, like me, you’re a touch more impatient, it is worth looking into self-publishing (either in print or as an e-book). There are so many options available, and although it requires you to put in a touch more work than just sending a manuscript off, the rewards are more immediate. Not to dissuade you from the old-fashioned method, of course, and either way could see you becoming the next big thing.

I suppose the key to writing is knuckling down and doing it. There’s an old adage that says the feeling of having written is a lot better than the feeling of writing, and there’s a lot of truth in that – if you’re serious about it, though, you must be prepared to put the work in.

Image Credits: Header (Fredrik Rubensson)