I want to write a book...not the best writer in the world...who would i see?

Question

lol i know a good start is writing and i have done that but i would like to talk to someone in the industry.

Answer 1

I truly believe that authors are born - just like any other artists. You cannot teach someone to be a writer. However, you can teach them to hone their skills. If you feel you have a natural writing ability, but you are not the best writer in the world, then you need training. That doesn't come from someone in the industry - it comes from someone in the field of education. Go to school. Tell a favorite teacher that you are interested in writing and would like extra help to work on your skills. Join a writers' group. But the two best ways to become a better writer are 1) Become an avid reader. Read both good and bad things. When you are done, analyze what you did or didn't like about them. Use that information to improve your work. and 2) Write. You do not have to start out with a novel. In fact, a novel is the wrong place to start. Start with short stories, narratives, fragments ... brainstorm in notebooks. Write a LOT. Most of it will be stuff that will be tossed into the bottom drawer of your desk, but it is how you learn. A Rod didn't learn how to hit homeruns by joining the Yankees. He spent a lot of time in the batting cages putting in the time and effort. He listened to coaches. Like anything, learning to write a novel takes time and effort. You cannot just sit down and write a novel. It would be a waste of time for you unless you did the background work and improved your skills and technique. Try joining Absolute Write Water Cooler. Their forum has a lot of places for doing exercises and stuff. They can help a lot. Pax - C.

Answer 2

Persephone pretty much covered it, but here are some more ideas from another wannabe writer =)

Take your favourite book and analyze it. What does the author do that makes it so good? Similarly, you can see why you don't like the books you hate.

Fool around a lot. You don't write mystery because "you're not good at it"? How do you know if you haven't tried? Maybe the story will turn out to be a complete flunk, but you might have learned something about your own writing style in the process, or gotten a really interesting plot idea for another genre. Or maybe you'll find that you're actually a fabulous mystery writer!

This depends on how you write, but I've found poetry has really helped with my language. It gives you an idea of flow, rhythm and new ways to put words together.

You could take a creative writing course. The one I took didn't teach me how to write better, per se, but the teacher was really helpful in pinpointing my weaknesses, something teachers at school never did.

Good luck!

Answer 3

Your best bet is to take some creative writing classes. If you are still in high school, see if there is an English - Creative Writing class you can sign up for in the new school year. IF you have just graduated, you need to look into an English Literature and/or writing course in college. Some universities and even some smaller "higher education" schools may be able to offer this. If you want to be the best writer in the world, I must preach the importance of the proper education. Good luck.