A Need to Need
To be a writer there a three things you need to need: to read, to write, and to live. When I say to live, I don't mean needing to take a breath, everyone has to do that. I mean to go about the world in a way that wants, that wants to see, to learn, to feel and then to write.
The Steps to Amazing
First you have to get over a shyness to see the world they way it sees you. You may find disappointment, happiness, and unexpected feelings. You may find home. Inspiration. A special feeling of belonging. You may not. Anyway that is what you need to nurture you.
You then have to wait, or look. Wait for inspiration to hit while you try to coach it out from somewhere. Some of you realize you would like to be a writer when you have these highs so you may already have one.
During a high you start a story get through the first pages and then stop and don't know what to write next. This is usually because you were so excited to start that you forget to plan properly. Or you just lose interest and start on something else. Then the same happens and you have a pile of unfinished work. So after this high has finished, you need to carry on. Except let yourself avoid it sometimes.
If you need a little boosting send your work to the third eye address on the contact us page. We can help with ideas (although not always) and edit your work. Or at least give another opinion. Next after you've got through the main bit and maybe had another high you're almost finished. It should be rather simple. you write the end and then forget about it. But your excited about it being finished and then get depressed at the fact you now have to rewrite it all during the editing stage. Leave it and start something new. Let that new story get you excited. Now go back to the first and try to edit while getting distracted. Make yourself work on editing the first work. Slowly in between little great ideas for the new one edit the old one. Then again. Keep editing until you've finished the second story's first draft is finished. It should be perfect for you.
Now show everyone, or at least the people you are willing to let see. Make sure they aren't family and then get them to be honest and tell you is it good. If it isn't get the little mistakes you made written down. If it is still do. Now remember you do not have to go with what they say. You can, but don't because you think they must know better, do, because you agree it is a great change to make and will improve the story.
How to: Read
If you don't read, you can't write. Read a variety of stories. Even the ones you hate. First read for the sake of reading. Then think about what happened, what you remember strongly, what didn't seem believable. Analyze the story, read it again if you want. Make sure you just read first though. Otherwise reading will become a chore. Read classics, what made them famous? Read your favourites, what makes them good books? Read books you hate, what makes it so awful? Is it too unbelievable for you? Just make sure you read.
How to: Write
Set aside a writing time which you can rely on. It doesn't have to be too frequent but the more frequent the better. Try to write as much as possible. Spew write if you want (Spew writing is when you set a timer for around 5-10 minutes and just write as much as possible).
Always keep your writing even if it is the worse ever. You never know when you will need it. Just keep a bad folder somewhere. Don't forget about it either. Read all your writing over when you've forgotten what it is. You may become inspired to change or add something.
Try all different writing styles until you've found your own. It can take a while to truely develop one certain writing style.
How To: Live
Try a little dose of everything. Take up any offer (unless it is killing yourself). Feel it through your body and record how you felt. The feeling of someone you know dying, the feeling of meeting a star, the feeling of someone forgetting who you are, or even the feeling of eating porrige in pyjamas. Just live, but live unusualy.
Mix it all together and you're a writer!
Inkblossom
