Friday, June 5, 2015

How to Be a Writer: A 10-Step Guide, By Me (A Writer)

STEP 1: Read a lot. All the time, in fact. Read the classics, read the modern. Read the popular and the unpopular, the good and the terrible. Read what you love, and take note of what you hate and why you hate it. But don't turn reading into a chore--if you don't enjoy reading, you certainly won't enjoy writing.

STEP 2: Dream. Dream big, dream small, dream far and wide. Dream at night, while you sleep and before you drift off. Dream of the impossible and make it so. Create fantasies and goals. Dream your dreams and write them down.

STEP 3: Make a list. Turn your dreams into something tangible. Cross them off. Not next year--today. As soon as you can.

STEP 4: Look for inspiration everywhere. Bookmark quotes you love and pin things on Pinterest. Take pictures of amazing sights. Take mental notes of the people and conversations around you.

STEP 5: Motivate yourself. Nobody will do it for you; even if they try, they won't succeed. The best motivations are internal motivations--yourself.

STEP 6: Avoid distractions. No, you can't work with the TV on. No, checking Twitter won't take two mintues. Lock yourself away. Turn off your phone. Unplug for an hour.

STEP 7: Stop procrastinating. You're doing it. Right now.

Stop.

STEP 8: Don't get it right. Don't get it perfect. Get it down. Break it first, fix it later.

STEP 9: Yes, your writing sucks. See above. It won't suck forever.

STEP 10: Ignore everything. Just write.


Until later,

- Justyne

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