by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig
I was interviewed recently and one of the questions I was asked was what type of preparation or training I’d received to become a novelist. I think the person asking the question thought that I had an MFA (Master of Fine Arts.)
Which, actually, I don’t. I have a BA and was an English major. Although I wrote a lot in school and read and discussed some amazing literature, I didn’t take a single creative writing class.
Writing isn’t a normal kind of job. Well, it is from the aspect that you have to practice it to improve your skill, but it’s not like becoming a doctor where you have to go to graduate school and then intern at a hospital before moving on to private practice. You can go that route, if you’re interested in grad school. But you don’t have to go that route to become a writer.
These things could help:
Reading. Most of the writers I know are avid readers…and would like to spend more time reading than they’re able to. Writers usually love words and playing around with arranging them to achieve different effects.
Looking at the world through a lens. Being an observer. Sometimes I feel like everything is a story—that I frame life like a story. So when the kids tell me about their day at school….I’m hearing a story (hopefully a non-fiction one.) :)
Practicing. It’s really the only way to improve.
Determination. I think we all have to be determined or even stubborn to protect our writing time or to have the guts to submit our writing for publication.
Time management skills. In this age of distraction, time management skills are key.
Discipline. This goes hand in hand with time management.
And I’ll just end this by saying that you don’t need a published book to call yourself a writer. If you write, you’re a writer, plain and simple. And even if you’d rather not tell people you’re a writer (a lot of pressure can come with that announcement), just acknowledging it to yourself can make a big difference in your attitude and approach to the craft.
What skills or preparation do you think are helpful for writers? Can you add to my list?
Image: Flickr user Lawrence OP
Hi Elizabeth – your posts are always succinct – that would be a good art to practise for all writers.
Blog posts could be a good way to develop scenes perhaps – descriptive places – without the fact it is part of your writing story … it’s the background you can draw on later.
Cheers Hilary
Elizabeth – That’s a really interesting question! I agree with you that reading – a lot – especially in the genre one wants to write in – is really important. So is writing. Just doing it. Whether one writes fiction, magazine articles, poetry or something else, just the experience of writing is helpful. I’ve also found that editing, whether for a school newspaper or an online ‘zine or something else is helpful. Developing an eye for awkwardness, smoothness, “power” scenes, etc., helps make one’s own writing better I think.
I think writing improves my writing if that makes sense.
You are so encouraging to all. Your story always helps me to continue on…writing.
Thanks,
Teresa
I agree with Laura about growing a thicker skin. You have to be able to accept those inevitable rejection slips and/or bad reviews without losing focus. It helps to view each as constructive criticism since we can all improve our writing, and to realize that you’re never going to appeal to everyone. There will always be someone who loves your work and someone who can’t stand it.
When I was first starting out I totally underestimated the read, read, read and write, write, write. And now that’s always my advice to beginners.
I like your list and don’t think I could add to it at all, except to say it takes a positive attitude and belief in yourself to keep from giving up before anything happens.
Growing a thicker skin!
Imagination and lensing is vital. I’m always asking “What if” or looking at something or someone from a different perspective. I know people want to show you what they want you to see, so I often try to look past that and at what’s really going on. Lots of inspiration for characters and conflict can come from this.
This is great! I think having a sense of humour is also a job requirement – to be able to take a bigger view and not take things personally and also to see the divine funny in this world. When I take myself or my work too seriously I don’t write well.
And here is a joke for you told to me by a street person:
What did the fish say when he swam into the wall?
Damn!
Hilary–Oh, good point. Blogging is a great way to practice writing. Even tweeting is–just getting that succinct message across.
Laura–And to *keep* reading and writing.
Karen–Being positive is key!
Laura–Can’t believe I left that off the list! You are *so* right!
Margot–You’re so right–any kind of writing can help. You’ve got some good suggestions of diffent things to try for both drafting and editing.
Journaling Woman–Mine too. And thanks!
Barbara–Absolutely! A thick skin is crucial in this business. Thanks for coming by!
Stephen–Nice tip for looking under the surface. And you’re right–there’s usually more to a person than meets the eye!
Jan–Good point. If we relax and remember the fun in what we’re doing (and not be too sensitive), we can really go far.
Ha! I love it, Jan. :) Sounds like the kind of joke I usually tell!
I think this is a great list! You know, I took a couple creative writing classes in college and I don’t think they helped me a FIG for novel writing. One was poetry and was fun, but very different, and one was short stories and I sucked as badley THEN at them as I do now. But I think I am too analytical to have done well with a formal approach. I get stifled if there are a lot of rules about it.
I think the most important thing is persistence and breaking it down. I was only able to do it when i finally realized the importance of DAILY writing and regular goals (a chapter a week, maybe, at first)
One thing I learned early on by being in a critique group is that it helped to critique/edit other people’s writing. Not much emotional involvement there (unless you’re very close to the person you’re critiquing, then need to tread carefully), and when you see how you can help the other writer get rid of excess words, change sentences around so they’re clearer, get impatient with too much exposition or description, you can begin to look at your own work in the same way. You can, of course, also take a published piece of work and do the same thing, but there shouldn’t be as many problems in one of them, so you might not learn as much.
I agree that everything is a story. Sometimes I think ttat life is a game and we’re all players, learing what we can from each situation. My tip is: work to a routine.
Loved the post! I think a lot of writers carry a notepad or small notebook to take notes. Things they see or hear. Jot it down if it interests you or sounds like something a character might say or might make a perfect setting for a scene, for example.
Hi Elizabeth,
I follow you on Twitter, but this is the first time on your site. Very nice, indeed :)
My idea really spurs from your observation about listening to your children. There are so many ideas for plots and characters around us, we just have to be alert for them. Our next door neighbor happens to have an interesting profession, and from our conversations, I came up with an idea for my next novel. You just never know. Stay alert, eh?