My advice for aspiring writers is in two forms. First, a manifesto to encourage you. Second, a list of helpful tools to assist you with your craft.
A Manifesto to Encourage You
Be fearless. Express your voice—your inner creative self—without limits. Say “yes” to any opportunity, small or large, to share your writing with others. Be humble and simultaneously proud. Seek out fellow artists who share your fascination with creative potential and who strive to lift you up not knock you down or entrap you with jealousy and criticism. Support your creative colleagues and please remember to take care of yourself. Meaning, cut yourself some slack if you make a mistake. Transform what some might call a “failure” into a learning opportunity. Get up, dust yourself off and take another step forward on your unique, magnificent and irrepressible journey as a creative human being.
While Staying True to Your Voice, Keep Your Tools Handy
I suggest that a budding writer be true to her/his own voice. The story will come, whether you’re writing a poetry book or a crime novel, and the story will be told by you, with your voice. If you can honor your voice, follow your intuition and respect your imagination, that’s everything you need. The rest is essentially solving a puzzle.
I understand that if you’re writing a novel you need characters, motivations, settings and a plot. These elements are important. They will fall into place as you develop your book, but it is your voice that will be the bridge between you and your readers. Having faith in yourself may sound cliché, yet there will be challenges. Confidence in your voice and a good set of tools go hand in hand to prepare you for the adventure ahead.
Here is the most important tool: keep a writing journal and don’t let a single idea escape—not even a whisper of an idea. Make this a habit. Put no judgment on any new idea, instead, write it down. You can record voice memos, short videos or whatever method you prefer. I’ve worked diligently to develop this habit because I’ve seen so many instances where a small idea blossoms into a full-fledged poem, song or story. I’ve also been the victim of skipping the habit and later realizing, “Oh, I had a good idea an hour ago but didn’t write it down and now I can’t remember it!”
Writing a book is a fun and rewarding endeavor. Writing a book is also a detailed, complex and multi-faceted undertaking. To stay organized, use an outline for your entire book and each chapter also.
You’ll be spending plenty of hours in your workspace, so make it comfortable and tranquil. A place where you won’t be interrupted. Speaking of interruptions, here’s a powerful but simple rule: turn off your mobile phone. It’s too much of a distraction. If you need to do research, do that before you sit down to write. This way you can focus on writing and, when needed, refer to your research notes without being distracted by the siren song of the Internet.
Assemble a team. Find a good editor and a reliable inner circle. These people should be trustworthy, good listeners and adept at providing constructive feedback. It’s a delicate dance but well worth the time spent choosing the right team members.
Lastly, writing a book is like a marathon not a sprint. Give yourself permission to rejuvenate along the way. Take breaks. If your writing is flowing smoothly, celebrate. If you’re in a rough patch, that’s okay, it will pass. Try to keep a positive attitude throughout the process. Enjoy being a writer!
Notes:
- In an interview conducted by author/artist Alexis Marie Chute, I discuss topics ranging from my advice for aspiring writers to my favorite superhero. To read the full interview, click here.
- In a guest post on the T’s Stuff blog, I discuss tools that benefit aspiring writers. To read that post, click here.
Lee Hudspeth is a poet, writer, musician and fellow human being. Incandescent Visions is his first book of poetry. He is the co-author of ten nonfiction books in the field of Information Technology. He has written articles for professional journals like PC Computing and Office Computing. He is the author of over one hundred articles in the online magazine The Naked PC, which he co-founded and co-published. He lives in Southern California with his wife, two sons and their cat. Find out more about Lee, his books and his music at LeeHudspeth.com.
Copyright © 2020 by Lee Hudspeth. All Rights Reserved.