How to write

I wanted to know how to really get down to serious writing.. won't say the ideas are all original.. bt yes, an extension to what has been said abt writing.

“Words, once they are printed have a life of there own,” said Carol Burnett. Many of us have a burning desire to write, what wouldn’t we do to see our name in the list of great authors and our work read by readers worldwide. But in reality we don’t get down to the act of writing.

Gertrude Stein wrote, “To write is to write is to write is to write is to write is to write is to write”, so well the most important thing to get started with writing is doing just that – write.

According to Judy Reeves, the author of Write Alone, Write Together, it is most important to first accept that you are a writer. “Until you name yourself Writer, you will never be a writer who writes. Speak your name out loud followed by, “I’m a writer.” Let yourself experience the sensations you feel when you sound out the words.” Whether you are published or not is not the question. Take pride in saying that you are a writer, and write.

First, find an idea for yourself. Don’t write thinking how much you can earn if it gets published. Instead, think of why this story must be told. Think of a basic plot and the major characters. Jot that down. Give life to your characters by giving them a face, a body-type, a personality, and some flaws. It may sound like painting but then, writing is like painting, you keep stroking the canvas with a brush and soon you’ll realise it has taken shape of an image. That image is your story.

Think of the city and the country the story needs to be set in. Carry out some research about the history of that place, the timeline of your story and major events that occurred in that period in history, because your characters will be affected by those events.

Another, important thing would be to observe people, at your workplace, college, in the bus or at the market, anywhere. It’s well-known that J.K. Rowling used to write her books sitting at a restaurant. Observe people and their dialects, their movements, actions and reactions. It could give you some good ideas to work on.

Now start with a rough draft. Never for once imagine that your first draft would be the last one. Writing comes with a silent suffix called rewriting. So keep up with writing and improvising.

Writing and keeping up with it is not as easy as it sounds. What with so many other things going on in our lives. So it is advisable to set some timing for when you write and sit down with your computer or notepad and write during that time. Three or four times a week will be fine. Slowly you will form a routine and it will not be difficult.

At other times, continue with your reading. Read good books, old books, great books and not-so-great books. Go for walks when you get tired of writing and come back with a new idea.

Perhaps John Hersey, American writer and Journalist summed it up when he said, “To be a writer is to sit down at one's desk in the chill portion of every day, and to write; not waiting for the little jet of the blue flame of genius to start from the breastbone – just plain going at it, in pain and delight. To be a writer is to throw away a great deal, not to be satisfied, to type again, and then again, and once more, and over and over.”