Getting Started Writing

 

A reader of this blog recently asked me if I had any tips on how to start writing. I’m far from being an expert on the issue, especially since my own success has been extremely modest, but I’m happy to share my own experience.

Conventional wisdom says to start with smaller pieces—magazine articles or short stories—and that’s what I did. I started with non-fiction articles for Christian magazines and published several before attempting my first non-fiction book. And it was years before I expanded into fiction.  

Beyond that, my first major step was to attend writers’ conferences—lots of them. Until this year, I’ve made it a practice to attend at least two writers’ conferences a year, including a multi-day one. That is how I sold my first article, my first devotion, and my first book, which are shown in the photo at the head of this post. But it isn’t all about trying to get a publishing contract. In fact, the main reason I attend writers’ conferences is to improve my craft. I also go to network with other writers, including those who can’t get me a book contract but who have gone through the same things I have. As with everything else, misery loves company. But at writers’ conferences it also provides encouragement.

This year, Covid-19 interfered with my conference plans. Yes, there are online alternatives, and I “attended” several sessions offered by the Society for Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI). It isn’t the same, though, and I pray things will be back to normal soon.

Talking about SCBWI, it is also important to join one or more writers’ associations. In my opinion, anyone who wants to write for children should join SCBWI and take advantage of the many resources on its website—most of which are available to members only. I also belong to the Chicago Writers Association, and it was extremely helpful recently when I looked for beta readers for my murder mystery. I put out a call for help and was flooded with responses.

Both SCBWI and CWA hold in-person conferences in better times and offer online resources now.

I also have an extensive library of craft books. There are significant differences between types of works, and I seek out craft books that focus on what I want to write. Fiction is especially complicated since readers expect to be drawn into the story, and that requires more than just good writing. Here are a few recommendations:

·       On Writing Well by William Zinsser (for nonfiction),

·       How Fiction Works by Oakley Hall (for a quick look at fiction),

·       The books in the Write Great Fiction series from Writer’s Digest Books (for a more in-depth look at the many characteristics of good fiction), and

·       A Writer’s Guide to Crafting Stories for Children by Nancy Lamb.

Learning about writing is extremely important, but you must also apply what you learn. The number one rule for getting started is, to quote a cliché, “Just do it.”

That’s the subject of next week’s post.