Position:Home>Books & Authors> Writer Wannabee Help!?

Incubus has a point but there are also many great writers who have a natural gift for writing!. It is simply further emphasized by writing regularly and getting yourself out there!. Being published doesn't make you a great writer and not getting published doesn't mean you're a bad writer either!. If it is your passion and you have a talent for it, that is all that matters!.

I will say though that it is indeed a craft to be honed upon!. As I said, some do have a natural gift for writing but with the many styles and genres out there, honing that gift and determining your niche will ultimately set the stage for you as a writer!.

With me for example, I am a copy writer/technical writer!. I dabble in some fiction but it's rare!. I know my material fairly well when it comes to web content, business plans, press releases, feature articles, and journalism!. Writing a full length manuscript, however, is simply not my forte!.

Since you are interested in fiction I recommend taking as many creative writing classes as you can!. Explore a little!. Carry a notebook with you and jot down ideas!. Be an observer of everything around you!. On the mechanical side of it, take classes to hone your grammar, sentence structure, and style!. I know I need a few refresher courses, unfortunately I cannot afford them!.

If you have the passion and desire for writing, then do it and relish in it!. For practical purposes I recommend considering taking classes in technical writing or business writing!. These can benefit you immensely when dealing with day to day writing needs and are more likely to help you land a job!.

Best of luck to you!.

EDIT:

Incubus, another common mistake that people assume is that every writer is a fiction writer!. Not this writer!. I am published in other areas offline and online!. I am an established writer with a portfolio and credibility, just not a novelist!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

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Writing is a craft which means it is something you learn to do!. Many people think they are good writers (and maybe they are "good"), but are nowhere near the level it takes to get published!. Therefore, I suggest you go to Amazon!.com and purchase the following books on the art of writing fiction!. Almost, if not all of these books can be purchased used for a fraction of the original cost!.

The Elements of Style Series has books on Plot, Dialogue, Conflict/Suspense, Beginnings, Middles and Ends, Character Viewpoint etc!. I have pretty much all of these books and they are great reasources!.

Another great book is The First Five Pages by Noah Lukeman - This book contains information on what needs to be in your story in order for an editor to continue reading past the first few pages!. They don't have much time and they have thousands of submissions so if they aren't captivated in the first five pages, you're screwed!.

also, Elements of Style is a great fundamental resource on the basic rules of grammar, sentence structure etc!. It was published in 1918 and is still a bestseller today!.

These will get you started!. I have about thirty or so books on writing!.

When you look on Amazon, you should be able to filter your search to writing resources and just skim through and see what can help you!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

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Don't send stuff to famous authors!. They don't exactly care!.

I'm a really keen writer too, older than you though I think, I'm in college!.

Tips: Learn to embrace rejection!.
Write A LOT
Good luck trying to be original in your fantasy category when you've got Harry Potter and Twilight to compete with!. Don't write about vampires!. That's way overdone!.
Join your school's litmag, newspaper, take some creative writing classes!. Read On Writing by Stephen King!. It helps SO MUCH with a lot!. And it's really inspiring!. I read it whenever I'm blocked!.
Read A LOT!. Increase your vocabulary, haha!. I know that sounds cheesy, but it's true!.
Go to college!. Have a back-up!. Because sometimes you're just not cut out for writing - something that scares me every day!.
Good luck, hope to be seeing you on the bestseller's list someday! Maybe next to my name! haha
Www@QuestionHome@Com

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You don't need to be sending pieces of writing off places; competitions are ok, but don't write and expect to send it off all the time!. I write and i'm 23 and i've been writing for about 8 years i think!. What you need to be doing is finding out your writing style, and what you like writing about!. You have to read a lot, but read all different kinds!. Try not to copy other authors too much!.

Reading plays is good to develop writing dialogue!. Reading poetry is good for your emotive kind of style!.

Read stuff from mid-20th century like catcher in the rye!.

Relax when writing and don't force yourself to write because you'll struggle!. Get a notebook and make lots of notes of anythings (things you see, things you experience, feelings) and a diary would be good too to remember real feelings!. Imagine all the time, like what random people you see might get up to, and listen to what they say - be nosey!.

I don't know how old you are so don't know what books i could recommend, but over the next few years if you carry on writing you're style will change and develop!. Www@QuestionHome@Com

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Write, write, write!. Join an online writer's forum and practice critiquing other people's stories!. Put some of yours online to be critiqued (not the idea you plan to make your bestselling series from :) )!. Get used to listening to people who tell you there is a lot wrong with your writing - take what's useful, ignore random abuse, and thank them politely for taking the time to review no matter what!.

Good luck with the Red House thing! Www@QuestionHome@Com

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