Day 11: 3 Simple (But Effective) Pieces Of Advice I’d Give Anyone Who Wants To Become A Novelist
Follow along my Ship 30 for 30 journey as I learn what it means to be a writer in this digital age.
Advice #1: Start Small
Starting out, I wanted to write a crime fiction novel. But since I had never written one, I fell hard on my face. There was so much to learn and process.
A couple of years ago, I realised that I should write short stories to practice my craft and build my self-confidence.
20 (crappy) short stories later, I finally found my storytelling voice.
Advice #2: It’s Okay To Be A Panster
All books, blogs and videos I was studying suggested that I have to be Plotter. According to them, that is the only way to be a disciplined and successful author.
Not true.
After trying to plot through my novel for the last 5 years and failing, I finally gave pantsing a shot earlier this year. Let me tell you, I have the best writing sessions I have ever had in my life so far.
Don’t feel less than if you are a pantser. You are not alone. You are in the great company of Stephen King, Diana Gabaldon, George R R Martin, Issac Asimov, Tess Gerritsen and Neil Gaiman, to name a few.
Advice #3: For The Love Of God, WRITE!
No amount of learning is of use if you don’t put it to practice.
You have to write to learn where you can improve.
Before being a writer, you are a reader. You know what good and bad writing sound like. So when you write your own stories, you will intuitively find out which aspects of your writing needs extra care.
You won’t find these lessons until you write your stories.
