What should I do to become a writer?

@mclendon (308)
United States
June 16, 2008 1:51pm CST
I'm pondering how I could embark upon a second career (or third- after HR and Mom) as a writer. I need to "find my voice" as a writer and get some more education or training. I have always been told I write well and that I should write a book. I don't think I have a book in me right now, but I would like to go in this direction. I don't want to just write online, but do that in addition. I'm wondering if I should just take a writing workshop or two, take some college classes (already have a B.S. in Communication), or get a second degree in Journalism, English? What? I don't know where to start.
1 person likes this
10 responses
@mscott (1923)
• United States
16 Jun 08
Practice writing and have others read it. The other part is you need to read. Read articles, books, whatever and find a style that you feel comfortable with. All of the great writers read a lot as well.
2 people like this
@mclendon (308)
• United States
17 Jun 08
Thanks. I'm definitely a reader. I call myself a compulsive reader.
@cher913 (25782)
• Canada
16 Jun 08
well there are plenty of good books in the library that may be able to help you, but if you are willing to go back to school, look into a local college that offers night classes and take some writing courses there, but otherwise, start writing! just write what you feel right now.
2 people like this
@cwilson26 (2735)
• United States
16 Jun 08
I am a writer but so far have only published online with Associated Content. They pay people to write articles. I am in the middle of revising my short stories to get them ready to be published in print, off line because I don't want to be just published online either, seems too easy to me. I have been thinking of taking a writing course also to make me a better writer. Creative writing and English are the main ones I have been thinking of looking into. So I do think it is a good idea to take a writing course or two but I don't think it is absolutely necessary. If you're a good writer, you're a good writer, simple as that but since I need help with grammar, a writing course is necessary for me to be a published author. You can check out this forum for writers if you aren't already on there. http://www.accentuateservices.com/xmb/index.php This forum will help you with your writing. You can get advise, meet other writers, find paying writing jobs, post your writing for critique and feedback and so much more. My user name on there is cwilson26. Hope to see you there! Good luck with your writing career! :)
1 person likes this
@mclendon (308)
• United States
17 Jun 08
Good for you! I checked in on that forum and I'll definitely look at it some more.
@ShepherdSpy (8544)
• Omagh, Northern Ireland
17 Jun 08
You're on the way to becoming one if you want to take that next step! I don't know if I have a book in Me,but I feel the Internet has many outlets for budding authors with the options of online publication,ebooks,and sites that seek out storywriters in many different genres.. Someone said "Writing is 10% inspiration,and 90% perspiration!" If You have your Idea,research the subject,and prepare for some serious keyboard bashing...Good Luck!
• United States
16 Jun 08
Well what you need to do is keep writing and not stop. That's what everyone else has told me. Keep writing and do and try to find that inner voice of yours. I've been writing for a long time and I have finally written a story that I am proud of. I've finished five chapters the most I've ever written. Keep writing and good luck.
1 person likes this
@mclendon (308)
• United States
17 Jun 08
Well, good luck to you! I'm sure you'll be published someday.
• China
17 Jun 08
Read more n write more.Ask someone else to give you some advice adout your writting.I think to be a good writer you should write in your own style,it's really important.
1 person likes this
@fifileigh (3615)
• United States
17 Jun 08
i think just do it...start with... 1. keep a daily journal and write anything that comes to your mind...you might just get a story idea from free-writing about anything... 2. you dont need more education to be a writer...you have enough already...maybe take a creative writing class or publishing workshop to get feedback from other people about your writing and the novel that you would be working on at the time...to help steer you to the right direction in your career, and maybe see who your target audience would be... 3. also do some blogs for feedback from internet people because you will be getting feedback from a broad range of people all over the world...and that is good market research for your future novel, as well as future ideas. 4. buy on of Natalie Goldberg books. i have one with writing exercises for when i have writer's block...it is called Wild Mind: Living the Writer's Life 5. do some meditation for ideas. 6. do some internet research 7. read a lot, magazine, novels, nonfiction, newspaper, etc, whatever you are into 8. Go out and live...ideas come from living and experiencing life, watching people and recording interesting ideas and people you might come across. 9. chatrooms are interesting place to get ideas and characters... 10. talk to other writers and see how they did it.
1 person likes this
• United States
26 Jun 08
Finding your voice is the most important part of becoming a writer. You should also decide what you want to write. For example, children's books, how to guides, novels, etc. After that you can check around online for ways to help you in that direction. Taking a workshop class would help you too. And I've heard that stuff like that looks good on paper later on.
• United States
28 Jun 08
Okay, Okay! first and foremost, writting is not about the comunication, the letters, the words, the adjectives, the nouns, or verbs. It is neither about education, or journalism, or English. Writting is about your feelings way, deep, inside you. It is about putting the figurative wind in your sails, and it is about you storming up a brilliant idea. You don't need to stress over education, you don't NEED to get another degree. and finding you voice isn't a chore. Writting is freedom. There is something with putting your quill to parchment and letting it flow, or even if it doesn't come to you right away, it will. After all, the great characters of literature weren't written in a day. And, start whever you want. You could novelize a day in your life. You could practice by writting little stories for your children to read. You could do anything, fly away on a bed, or a lamp...it's all up to you.
• United States
20 Jun 08
I've written for a while and ideas tend to spawn from social situations or from stories I read. It depends on what I'm attempting to write. If I am creating a poem I tend to resort to current events topics, for a screenplay I usually do research with other films so on and so forth. Inspiration is everywhere, try to keep a pen and pad around or maybe a tape recorder to capture things when you aren't able to take the time to write, these are usually the best ideas.