As I become more focused and experienced as a writer I have been reflecting on what would have helped me at the start of my writing journey. So here are five ideas to get you started:
- Find a local writing group either online or face to face. Most writing groups are very welcoming and each has its own distinct mission, some are very social events, some require a more formal set up with writing prompts and times writing sessions, some are there to review others written work. Not sure where to find your local group? Try asking at a library or look up “local writing groups near me”, and remember you may have to try a few before you find that good ‘fit’.
- A good word-processing system, this could include software such as Scrivener or Google Docs, where you type your own manuscript. If you prefer writing manually or even dictating your book, a good copy typist will be able to draft your manuscript for you, however remember there will be a fee to do this.
- Research and planning – using sticky notes, writing ideas in a jotter or a journal or using an online system, such as Plottr or Aeon Timeline, for organising your notes and planning out your story arcs can help with the planning. I also have two monitors, which I find easier than a split screen. One monitor has my manuscript on and the other has a search engine open ready to do some quick research.
- Keep reading – I cannot stress how important it is to do some reading yourself. Read current books, classic authors, newspaper articles and non fiction works. The more you read the more you will understand other writing styles and in turn begin to develop your own voice. Through reading you should be able to identify the genre that you would like to written and who your target audience is. Stuck for some inspiration then why not try some online book reviews for more ideas.
- My final tip is to believe in your work. There are lots of online resources and courses but when you have a limited budget or you are just starting out, you may feel that parting with your money straight away is not possible. Some online resources have a free membership for you to try before you buy. In the meantime, if you are looking for inspiration, connect with the genre you are interested in. A historical novel? Then take a trip to a museum or a stately home or castle, get a feel for how the people would move around, what sort of work they would do and what relationships they would have with one another. Crime thriller? Think about the atmosphere you are trying to build, is it clinical or dark and spooky, why not look up some images online that could fit your perfect scene? Or is science fiction or fantasy your genre? Read up on current scientific advancements or delve into ancient or local legends and mythology.
I hope this can help some of you get started on your writing journey.
