I started writing books when I was thirtyish. Some people start when
they are much younger or much older. It’s never too late or too early
to start practising the skills needed to become a writer. Here are some
of my suggestions:
Read as much as you can. Any kind of books. Find the types of books that you like best, that you enjoy the most. What makes them good? How do the writers shape their stories? Do they start at the beginning and work through? Or do they start at a dramatic moment and then have flashbacks? By reading books and asking questions you will soon begin to see the way that writers work.
Write stories about yourself, your family, your friends. Write a journal or a diary of your everyday life. This way you can begin to record the things that people do and say; the way they act, their facial expressions. Think of these things as a kind of sketch pad. Artists are always practising their work. Writers should do the same.
Write for a certain amount of time every day if you can. If that’s too much then have a target of –say- two hours a week. Spread it over the week but keep it going for as long as you can. Then writing becomes a part of your life. Always carry a small notebook round with you in case you get stuck on a train or in a queue.
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Use some of your autobiographical work to write a short story. Write
about yourself as a character, using the third person ( ‘she’ rather
than ‘I’). Change the names and other details, make yourself older
or younger. Invent a situation, for example; the character suddenly
remembers a birthday present they’ve forgotten to buy. They rush to
the shops but it’s almost closing time. What happens?
Use a computer to type out your work. You don’t have to be a proper typist. Most people use two fingers at first and then they get faster. Save your work on disc so that if you want to change it it’s easy. Print out a beautifully neat copy that’s easy for people to read.
Buy a folder and build up a PORTFOLIO of your work. This is a collection of your stories and poems or journals. It will give you a really good feeling about your work and sense of achievement.
Get other people to read your work and comment on it: mum, dad, family, friends, teachers. Take their comments seriously. If it means you have to rework a story or add bits to it or cut bits out then this is good. It means you will become more self critical and this will only help your work to improve.
Try different genres (types) of writing. Instead of writing about a sixteen year old girl who is bullied at school write about a girl warrior in the year 3000 who is shunned and tormented by others in her sector. Or write about a pre historic princess who is mocked by others in her tribe and given a quest. Or write about a sixteen year old girl who goes out for a walk, is caught in a storm and has to shelter in a deserted old house. While there she stumbles on some other kids from school who don’t like her. She decides to pay them back for their past insults......
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Find other people who like writing. There is nothing worse than being
the only person who writes. Join a writer’s group or set one up. Meet
regularly, read each other’s work, talk about it.
Don’t give up. Writing is a lifelong pastime and pleasure. If you think you’ve got stories to tell then think of yourself as a writer. Share your work with other people and eventually share it with a publisher.
