Seven tips for creative writers

These tips aren't totally original. I've picked them up form here and there. They have worked for me and I use them all the time.


One: Keep a notebook. Record your thoughts, snippets of conversation, images, dreams, unusual words, etc. A notebook is essential.


Two: Set yourself a realistic writing goal for each day. How much time can you spend each day writing your poem, you play, or short story? Set yourself a realistic goal: better ten minutes a day than an hour on Saturday. (I have a minimum of half an hour although sometimes I reduce this when work gets too heavy. I never reduce it to less than 20 minutes. I have to write at least twenty minutes a day. When I have more time I write a lot more). Don't just talk about it: do the writing.


Three: Read as a writer. Want to be a poet? Then read poetry. Want to write horror fiction? Then read horror stories (Anthony Horowitz is good!) When you read, read as a writer. What does the writer do? How does the writer build tension, create atmosphere, write dialogue? Very careful reading can transform your writing.


Four: Consider your audience. Writers write for readers. Our notebook is for exploring our feelings and for finding our ideas and inspirations. But if we want to write for others then we must consider the reader. What is the reader getting out of our writing? Thinking about audience also involves publication: are you blogging your poems or stories or do you want them to go in a magazine? (If so, read the magazine!) Try to find others who are also interested in writing.


Five: Edit your work. Writing is re-writing. When you finish a poem or story, you finish the first draft. You have to go back and polish the draft and then check all the spelling and punctuation so you don't look stupid. While you're doing this you may want to change lines and cut something out. (All lot of good writing is hacking and burning your first draft). I generally go through six to ten versions of a poem.


Six: Let it sit. Unless there's a deadline put it away and have a look in a few weeks (or months). I get so caught up in my writing I can't really be objective about it unless I've left it alone for a while. It really pays to follow this rule. Some people just write and blog nowadays but I think there's a lot to be said for letting it sit.


Seven: Accept rejection and take criticism. Don't pout. Keep at it. Ask yourself what you have learnt from the criticism. If you really want to be a writer than you handle rejections and criticism. Brush yourself off and try again. And don't feel shy about trying a second opinion. Just keep your faith in yourself.