You can’t learn to be a writer .. It’s a gift, a passion.

You need more than lessons on how to write, to become an author. If you have a constant compulsion to write, to express yourself by putting pen to paper or fingers to key board, you already have something that can’t be taught. You have a passion for writing; the rest is down to commitment and making time in your life to follow your passion.

You can learn how to spell, punctuate, analyse and parse. You can learn how to edit, form sentences, paragraphs and chapters. You can even learn how to enhance the readability of your story. But to be a successful writer, you need to have a gift and a passion for telling stories. You must feel a sense of excitement and inspiration when an idea for a story comes into your mind.

If you have this passion, then just start writing. It is not a matter of learning how to write, it is then a matter of honing your craft, and the best way to hone your craft and develop your unique style, is to keep writing. If you are a reader, and most passionate writers are, you already know what good prose reads like. Read and re-read your writing. Keep changing it until you think it reads well.

Finish your projects, polish them as much as you can, then give them to someone to assess. If you are a first timer, no matter what the “Experts” say, the someone you choose can be your mum, or a relative or friend who is an avid reader. This is where you will get your first indication of the effect your writing has on others.

Firstly you must be writing for yourself not fame and fortune; then if others like your stories, it’s a bonus and it will give you the inspiration to write more.

I suppose planning your story comes under the heading of “Learning How To Write”. You will develop your own style of planning your stories, Each writer is different, there are plotters (writers who plot their stories to varying degrees) and there are pantsers (Writers who start writing and write the story by the seat of their pants). I fall somewhere in between. I like to have an idea where I’m going, but let the characters and the story take me where they want to go. I’m a Planser.

I found a free software download that I use, to be my best planning tool. You can map out the story, characters and locations before you start your story and it gives you a plan to follow. Your story will still take you places that you didn’t expect, so when it does you just change the plan. It also helps you to remember minor character’s names as they bob up in your stories or even sequels to your stories. You will find it here.

But once you get the sugar hit from the family and friends and if you have enjoyed the process, it’s time to get the experts in. Have the manuscript edited professionally and get some professional reviews. Careful who you use, research them, there are many charlatans out there, particularly in the increasing world of publishing and marketing. They will tell you how wonderful your writing is then ask you for money to get it published.

‘Traditional’ publishers who praise your work will not ask for money, they will sign you to a contract and take a risk on your book for a share of the proceeds. The others are known as ‘Vanity Publishers’ all charlations, as the name suggests, or ‘Hybrid Publishers’, there are some reputable Hybrid publishers who will ask you to contribute to aspects such as editing, marketing etc. However, there are many who are vanity publishers by another name, ready to take your money and leave you with something you could have done better yourself.

I find it useful to have some Beta Readers. Readers who like your genre and who you trust to be honest with you. They are hard to find, but worth the search. They are usually avid readers and do it for free. though, increasingly some charge. You may wish to give them a signed copy once you publish.

For self-publishers, editing is by far the most expensive part of getting your book to market and there is no substitute for a human editor, the good ones will cost you thousands of dollars. There are increasingly sofisticated AI editing programs out there which do a very good job (I use ProWritingAid) but, when you have run your manuscript through the program, it is wise to give it to a human editor, one who is expert in your genre.

I’m fortunate, in that I have some skills learned during my days as a marketer in the corporate world, so I do everything else myself, and offer my skills to other writers including website design, cover design, KDP (Amazon) publishing etc. Access Details Here

I’ve written four novels and have two more in progress. I have recently become a devotee of ‘Short Reads’, a new and growing form of eBook publishing. KDP (Amazon) has devoted a new sector to this form they call ‘Kindle Short Reads’, eBooks from between 400 words to 25.000 words and everything in between. 

I think I know how to write. Now I’m working on how to write better. I guess what I’m saying is, If you have the passion, don’t let anyone or any hurdle discourage you, just write. Read and research what you can about the process and enjoy yourself, it’s very rewarding. Join a Writers Group.