As A Writer
You are told when you first start out that you will need this special pen, this neat desk, these important advice books, this lamp and so on. As a budding new writer, one who has decided to take their scribbles and do something with them, or at least try to, you get a lot of advice as to what you will have to have, what you must have to undertake this path.
First off, most of these have to's are pure bullshit. You really only need a notebook and a pen. Really. Seriously. That is it. A good paperback dictionary is also a good thing.
When I first knew I wanted to write, I was about 9. After several years of doodles and scribbles and really awful stories, I pursued art for awhile, then returned to writing. By the age of 15 I knew what I wanted to do with my life. I wanted to write. I wanted to entertain with stories. I had no grand dream of writing the great American novel, that always seemed pompous to me. I simply wanted to tell good tales.
For many years I wrote everything in spiral notebooks and on college ruled loose leaf notebook paper. Thick three ring binders were my best friends. It takes years to learn your craft, to grow and develop as a writer. When you reach that point where you are ready to submit to an editor or agent or publisher, you need two things: a typewriter (way back then) or a computer today and a copy of Writer's Market for short stories & novels. The basic manuscript mechanics are detailed in the WM. But you can also go to your local library and save yourself $28. These are the basic tools, nothing else. With so many publishers accepting electronic submissions, you are spared the expense of postage, mailer bags, good paper and carbon for copies.
Today's new writer has it a lot easier than those of us from the 80's or early 90's had it. With the ability to keep track of submissions and manuscript copies, and saving a copy of outgoing mail in your email it makes taking writing seriously a lot easier. It still does not hurt to keep a ledger on hand so you can jot down what you sent where and to whom. I find that is a good way to keep track of all my submissions in one easy to find place. But it isn't a have to have.
Anyone tell you a whole long list of things you need, is full of shit. Your biggest tool and asset is your imagination and creativity. Learn to check your spelling and grammar, use your spell check often and consistently and you have overcome the hurdles. Oh, and try to cultivate a professional manner, it will take you farther than anything else.
First off, most of these have to's are pure bullshit. You really only need a notebook and a pen. Really. Seriously. That is it. A good paperback dictionary is also a good thing.
When I first knew I wanted to write, I was about 9. After several years of doodles and scribbles and really awful stories, I pursued art for awhile, then returned to writing. By the age of 15 I knew what I wanted to do with my life. I wanted to write. I wanted to entertain with stories. I had no grand dream of writing the great American novel, that always seemed pompous to me. I simply wanted to tell good tales.
For many years I wrote everything in spiral notebooks and on college ruled loose leaf notebook paper. Thick three ring binders were my best friends. It takes years to learn your craft, to grow and develop as a writer. When you reach that point where you are ready to submit to an editor or agent or publisher, you need two things: a typewriter (way back then) or a computer today and a copy of Writer's Market for short stories & novels. The basic manuscript mechanics are detailed in the WM. But you can also go to your local library and save yourself $28. These are the basic tools, nothing else. With so many publishers accepting electronic submissions, you are spared the expense of postage, mailer bags, good paper and carbon for copies.
Today's new writer has it a lot easier than those of us from the 80's or early 90's had it. With the ability to keep track of submissions and manuscript copies, and saving a copy of outgoing mail in your email it makes taking writing seriously a lot easier. It still does not hurt to keep a ledger on hand so you can jot down what you sent where and to whom. I find that is a good way to keep track of all my submissions in one easy to find place. But it isn't a have to have.
Anyone tell you a whole long list of things you need, is full of shit. Your biggest tool and asset is your imagination and creativity. Learn to check your spelling and grammar, use your spell check often and consistently and you have overcome the hurdles. Oh, and try to cultivate a professional manner, it will take you farther than anything else.
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