Creative writing by Roy York

Getting started

The first in a series of articles by Roy York.

You are thinking of becoming a writer - good for you. In the next six articles are some dos and don'ts to help you move forward on the long path to becoming a successful fiction writer. It will not guarantee instant success but it will help guide you towards your chosen goal.

Creative writing must rank as one of the most satisfying occupations in the world. Like most things the greater your skill the more satisfying your work becomes. It deserves to be studied seriously. At times you will find it demanding but the rewards - in pleasure and often in money - are well worth the effort.

Fiction writing is a craft. A few people are natural writers, but for the majority of us it is like other crafts, something we have to learn. To start, all you need is pen and paper, but once you are ready to submit your work for publication you will need a computer and printer, or at least access to those tools. Professional editors will not read handwritten work - it is likely to end up in their waste-paper bin.

You do not require any formal qualifications to become a writer. If your work is good enough and aimed at your target market, it could be published. All you need is a bit of luck, a lot of hard work and an editor that likes your manuscript.

So what does it take to become a writer?

Motivation

What motivates you towards becoming a writer? Some people want to be writers because they yearn for the kudos they believe it will bring, rather than the knowledge that they have successfully communicated their ideas to others through their writing. If a genuine interest is not there the motivation will soon fade when you discover how much hard work is involved in achieving success. But you can be well rewarded; it is a wonderful feeling when you see your published work in print and when you receive a cheque for something you have written you'll find that is a pretty good feeling as well!

Commitment

The amount of time you commit to your writing is up to you. In this day and age most of us find our spare time is limited, we have other commitments and occasionally, problems crop-up that demand our immediate attention but if you intend to become a writer you must find time to write. You will never learn to be successful unless you are prepared to put the time in. Try to write something every day - if you only have ten minutes to spare get something written down. Too many wannabe writers say they don't have enough time; they are always too busy doing other things. They use it as an excuse for their lack of achievement. The ones who attain success are those who make time for their writing.

Vidal Sassoon (British hair stylist) got it just about right when he said; "The only place where success comes before work is in a dictionary."

To become a writer you should work at it daily. It is no use saying I can't write unless I feel inspired, inspiration will visit those who are ready to work.

Perseverance

The Oxford Dictionary gives the definition of perseverance as 'the steadfast pursuit of an objective'. Writing can be a long, hard but extremely interesting slog, so be prepared to persevere, the end result is worth it. It is similar to studying other skills, it is something we have to work at and learn.

If you want to be successful, be prepared to keep going if your early work is rejected. We feel aggrieved if this happens and what makes it worse is that you are seldom given a reason. All you get is an impersonal rejection slip. If however, the publisher gives some positive comments and/or a reason for returning your work you should see that as a sign that the editor has seen some merit in your work and will be prepared to consider other material you may send.

A standard printed rejection does not necessarily indicate your work is not competent, you may just have sent your story to the wrong market - it is no use sending your story about a fashion designer to Exchange and Mart. So study your market and aim at the right target. Most writers, however experienced, still receive occasional rejections. The successful and dedicated writers will check through the rejected work to see if it can be improved, then they will get on with their next piece of writing.

Please don't be discouraged by an initial failure, persevere and learn from it. If you do this and keep on writing while at the same time learning your craft, you will eventually achieve success.

If you have a desire to become a writer - go for it. Learning to write may turn out to be the most rewarding and satisfying venture you have ever undertaken.

By now you will realise that if your aspiration is to become a successful writer you have to be prepared to put some effort into learning the craft. It is interesting, rewarding and satisfying and overall the positives far outweigh the negatives. So if becoming a writer interests you let nothing stop you - there are plenty of people waiting to give you encouragement and help.

Next

2. Finding ideas

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