GETTING STARTED
Our Quick Guide on taking your first steps in the world of writing
You
know you want to write. Perhaps you already have an
idea. But you've never done it before. There are a million
things you don't know. You're thinking of joining a
course, a writing group, a distance learning programme.
But where do you start? And what should you avoid?
Most writers find themselves faced with questions like these at the outset. This Quick Guide provides some answers. It covers:
Of these, the last section, Getting Started, is the most important. And if you read all this and still have questions, then give us a call. We're always happy to help - for free, whenever possible.
We are big believers in creative writing courses. A good course will give you some really helpful insights into the techniques and pitfalls of writing. It will also lessen the fear surrounding that empty page. Both things are invaluable.
Before signing up for a course, do try to make sure that it's a decent one. We are fairly well plugged in to the creative writing scene, so do give us a call and ask our advice. (Which is free: we're just nice people). But also check out our tips below, as they may save you some heartache.
Residential
courses
The Arvon Foundation offers some absolutely first class residential courses. They have a stellar reputation and we know people who have been blown away by the experience. This will give you a very intensive, very exciting introduction to the art of writing. Lots of our editors teach at Arvon, so quality is guaranteed.
Distance learning
Many people will find the option of distance learning (that's Newspeak for corres-pondance course) easier to fit into their daily lives. But it isn't as good an option. The creative buzz of being with other writers cannot be replicated over the internet. And there are lots of sharks out there too - poor quality courses, set up to part the gullible from their cash. Avoid these!
One excellent distance course is provided by the London School of Journalism. (Don't be put off by their name; they do plenty of creative writing work too.) They've been in the business a long time and have a strong reputation in the field. The Open University also runs an excellent programme, and we recommend them with equal gusto.
Local
courses
Where you live will determine the quality of your local resources. But there is certain to be a course of some sort close to you: try the listings at Writing Courses as a first step. If you can't find anything there, check out your local university - or even city council.
But before signing up, do some homework. Find out the name of the tutor and use Amazon to find out what (if anything) they've published. Buy the book, read it, and see if you like it. A bad tutor may be useless or worse than useless, so don't go for it unless you're confident..
What a great idea these are! But how disappointing in reality.
The
idea is that a group of like-minded writers get together
to support each other, lend encouragement, offer criticism
and share experiences. Sounds great. But the reality
is much more often one of backbiting and cliquiness
- or (just as bad) gushing enthusiasm for all work,
no matter how bad. If you want to spend time hanging
out with writers, then a writing circle may be a great
idea. If you want serious help in improving your work,
then you probably need to go elsewhere.
If this hasn't put you off for ever, then just click the link to see a listing of Writers Circles in the UK.
There are some great books about writing. There are certainly a lot of them. We've selected a few recommendations below. Four of these are books on technique - none of them the final word, but all of them a useful place to start. The last book, by Julia Cameron, isn't about technique but about unlocking your inner creativity. This is a love-it-or-loathe-it idea. If you need help accessing your creative drive, then give her book a try. If your inner drive is all just tickety-boo, then don't waste your money.
Oh, and one last recommendation. Don't be timid. Go to Amazon and browse their books about writing. You'll find all the ones below, and plenty more too. Order a handful (or two, if you're petite). Get a boxload of books delivered to your home. See what appeals and what doesn't. Keep some and send the rest back.
And if you find something wonderful that we haven't mentioned, then let us know and we'll add it to our list.
| Writing Fiction | Janet Burroway |
| How to Write a Damn Good Novel | James Frey |
| The Complete Handbook of Novel Writing | Writers Digest |
| Immediate Fiction | Jerry Cleaver |
| The 38 Most Common Fiction Writing Mistakes | Jack Bickham |
| The Artists' Way | Julia Cameron |
But we've left our most important advice to last. You want to start writing? Then start! Do it. Begin now. This minute.
You don't know where to begin? You're scared you'll make a pig's arse of it? Of course you will! Everyone does. Do you honestly think that Picasso's first painting was a masterpiece?
The
simple fact is that there is no training you can get
that is better than just plain writing. Courses and
books are helpful - but they will be much
more helpful if you have already begun to grapple with
the problems at first hand.
You will make mistakes, need to rewrite, etc - but this will
be true whatever you do. The fact is that rewriting
is the name of the game. Even Dickens and Jane Austen
revised heavily, so you are certainly allowed to. And,
if you want to get started, we suggest you start as
follows:
1. Plan the book before you start
That means covering at least 2 pages with an outline sketch of your story. You don't need to know every last twist and turn of plot, but you do need a feel for the broad shape of it. Do read our notes on plot before you start.
2. Develop your characters
An essential exercise even for experienced novelists. Luckily for you, you've got our Ultimate Character Builder to tell you what to do.
3. Read our other notes
From our work with countless first time writers, we know what mistakes are most commonly made - and how best to put them right. Check out our Quick Guides on all the most essential topics before you start.
4. Begin!
That's it. That's all you need before you start. Of course you're not yet the perfect novelist, but you will get better and better the more you write. And whatever else you do - books, courses, circles, anything - you will get more out of them if you have already started writing.
5. Get help.
Once you've written about 10,000 words or so, it's very well worth getting a reality check on your work so far. What's working? What's not working? And how to fix the things that aren't? We can answer these essential questions - plus we can give you a rough guide to how near or far to publishable quality you are.
Our advice will cost you something, of course (see fees for more), but it can save you absolutely masses of time and effort by identifying critical issues early and giving you the tools you need to address them.
If you need any other info or advice, just get in touch. Otherwise, happy writing!
