Start Writing and Keep Going: Tips for the Beginner

Say you’ve got an idea for a novel or memoir that’s been percolating for weeks, months, even years. You know you need to get comfortable with the practice of writing before you can confidently embark on a big project. Or maybe you’d simply like to explore writing for its own sake, without any expectations of where it’ll take you. In either case, where do you begin? 

You visit the writing section of your local bookstore—and you get that ball-of-lead feeling in your stomach, the kind you had when your high school teacher or college professor kicked off the semester with a speech about how hard you’d have to work just to pass her course. Some of the titles sound encouraging. Others practically scream at you: Novelist’s Boot Camp. 78 Reasons Why Your Book Will Never Be Published. Some Writers Deserve to Starve. Yikes. You didn’t exactly have “boot camp” in mind; and you’re not even close to thinking about publishing. Is this what the “writing life” is about? You think to yourself, “Why should I bother? I’m not any good. Who do I think I am, calling myself a writer?” Et cetera, et cetera.

Sound familiar? Then begin by putting those negative thoughts aside for a while, and keep away from external sources of discouragement. I’ve been writing for most of my life, and I can assure you that the “boot camp” attitude is disastrous for beginners or for those who want to begin again. In fact, I’ve never been a big fan of the military-style approach, regardless of experience. I’ve managed to produce writing I’m proud of, and I’ve helped my students do the same, all without yelling, punishment, or name-calling. 

Let’s take a look at some simple ways in which you, as a unique and decidedly worthy individual, can enter the realm of writing. 


1) Make a plan to write regularly…