Dear Aspiring Writers,
Hello out there. You may not know me, but, just like you, I am a writer. Writing stories and poems is something I love and that I believe I am good at. For all those people out there who are in the same boat as I am, I would like to talk to you about writing. Writing could be your hobby or your desired profession, and I want you to be able to fulfill your goals and dreams.
My first tip is to get your writing out there for people to see. It could be a publishing company, teachers or even your friends.
My first writings were open for my creative writing class to see back when I was a senior in high school. I was very nervous because I just started to write, and my teacher would always call on me to go up to the podium and read my stories to the class. The reactions I would get were positive, and since then, I have not been afraid of getting my writing out there for people to read. With my position on this writing staff, I was introduced to it by a friend who has read my writings and felt I would like to write for The Odyssey. For those writers who are nervous to show what they have written, try and get over that fear by first showing it to a trusted friend because they will be really positive about your writing and give good criticism. Criticism is a writer’s best friend because you will know what you are doing well and what you need to work on; it will help you improve and eventually perfect your writing style.
Along with being a writer, I definitely encourage reading for all writers.
As a writer I am constantly reading, and it helps me formulate ideas in my head for future stories whether it be genres or themes I want to dabble in. You might even find what type of stories you want to write by reading. Books are the allies you want by your bedside when typing your way to the next Great American Novel. Not only books but movies, television shows or plays can inspire you to write stories. Just always have something on hand so you can be inspired from "Lord of the Rings," "The Shining" or "Bob’s Burgers."
For poets I recommend looking at poetry for not content but for structure.
Anyone can write a love poem, but not everyone can write a sonnet. Explore the world of poetry and what kinds of poems are out there. That is how you will find the structure that best suits you. A word of advice to poets: punctuation is key when writing a poem. Punctuation is very important and can even help deliver the message you are giving in your poem.
My final piece of advice is to just keep writing.
It does not even have to be stories or poems but ideas and themes you want in future works. Keep a journal for your ideas, and write in it every day so you can update your thoughts on what you want to write. Writing constantly can help you mature as a writer and help you progress from writing for fun to writing with a purpose. You could write your first piece without any meaning and then, as time goes on, write a metaphysical story. But you just have to start writing.
When you start writing a story, try to write on it as much as possible and also revise it. Whether you revise it when it’s done or revise it every time you work on it, revision is a big thing while writing a story. A draft is what lets your ideas become reality, but revision is the electricity that brings your monster alive. Taking a class on writing at Providence College really introduced me to revision because before then I never really revised my stories. I would just submit them as they were and yes, they were good, but they could have been great. There is a big difference between good and great, and you should always strive for greatness, even if it takes more of an effort.
Writing takes time, and to succeed, you must find your voice and use it. As a writer I wanted to give advice that I thought was important because these tips could help you succeed and become the great writers I want all of you to be. So get out there, and good luck on your journey.
