Help me please!?

Question

I'm thinking of being a writer when I grow up. What should my first step be? What is the process of becoming an author like?

Answer 1

Read. read alot! and then take a couple of writting classes. Start with short stories, and then move on to longer ones. Personally I like to start with a plot and then expand it into an outline with 2-4 things that happen in each chapter. From there I start writing, then rewrite and rewrite. Write it long hand first, that way it will be easier to make yourself rewrite it at least once, though haveing your english teacher make notes on it for you is a great help, and most are happy to. After all, if you make it big, you can thank that teacher as your inspiration.

Answer 2

Well, well, well...I've read all the answers. Interesting. One common thread is the response, "read." To read is to learn, but you must read critically, not just to entertain yourself.

Most of the answers have made the assumption that you are young and totally inexperienced. That is a rather broad assumption to make. I don't know you. I don't know if you have just graduated from kindergarten or if you hold a Ph.D -- and it really doesn't matter. What matters here is that you have taken an important step toward being an author merely by thinking about it.

Creative writing is a very personal experience and it can happen at any stage of your life. Many writers started their careers well after retiring from whatever it was they did to make a living, others started in their early years in grammar school. There is no set pattern.

If you're serious about wanting to be a writer, the best advice I can give you is to begin writing (don't forget the reading part) and keep on doing it. Whether you write in longhand on paper, as many do, or use the most advanced computer, there is no other way to get where you want to go than taking the first step, then follow each of your steps with another. You'll soon find out if writing is really what you want to do.

Make no mistake, a huge chunk of self-discipline is part of the stew and without establishing the discipline required to make yourself sit down and write you will not write. Set a goal, say 500 words a day, a page a week, or whatever -- then stick to it -- no matter what.

If you'd like to pursue this further, take a look at my site:

http://www.jrichardjacobs.net

Or you may contact me at [e-mail]

I am always happy to help anyone who wants to write.

J.

Answer 3

Spend some time reading the Resolved Questions here - there is a lot of information. I dont think people decide to become writers, I think good writers are born. However, if it is in you, plan on going to a good college and getting a good education including reading TONS of classics. I learn more about my own work with every book I read. Also there are many kinds of writers. Some write novels, some write non-fiction. Some are journalists, some write articles for magazines, some write short stories or poems for anthologies. The best way to learn to write is to do it - and do it often - read things back to yourself and see how they sound. Get friends to Beta read for you. Find a teacher who is a mentor for you. And then spend as much time as you can observing the world around you. That's where your writing will come from initally. Expand and grow.

Incidently - did you know Barnes and Noble University gives FREE creative writing classes online?? All you have to do is register. Ive taken a couple of them and they were excellent. and FREE. C.

Answer 4

Talk to your teachers. I love to write, I had an agreement with my English teacher that as long as I turned in some type of story every week I didn't have to worry about tests on dead English authors. I wrote like crazy. The only thing that ever came of it was becoming editor of a union newsletter. I still write, mostly for myself, but when I kick the bucket maybe my kids and grandkids will enjoy reading some of my musings. But write, write, write. That's the only way you'll get good.

Answer 5

First make up a good original plot. Think of the beginning, the middle and the end...then start writing. You will find you come up with all sorts trying to go from beginning to middle and then from middle to end. At least thats the way it works for me. Concentrate fully on the story though. Dont get distracted. Alot of people write the first 50 pages and quit and say they will do it later, but 20 years later its still sitting on their shelf or drawer waiting to be finished.

Answer 6

Here's a book for you How to be a writer.
1. Check if you are good at writing. besides, it's gonna be on a computer anyways so don't worry.
2.Make a favorite font.
3.Try reading really thick books. (harry potter etc.)
4.Create some books on the computer.
5.Use YM to improve your fast typing.
6.Edit stuff.

Answer 7

read. most authors I've spoken too recomend studying history or psychology. Get the book Elements of Style. I recomend this book to anyone who does any writing at all.

Answer 8

I would suggest you read a lot and a lot of different things. The more you know about a lot of things, the better chance you have of writing stuff people will want to read. Good luck.

Answer 9

learn how to write small paragraps first and learn orgazation of the passages later. hope to read your book before I die. All the best

Answer 10

just write.maybe later you could develop your english skills and vocab.