Are you writing?
           
If not, read my first article again and commit to writing. Once you've decided to forge ahead on the writing path, you need to learn the craft. The skills used by successful writers can be learned by anyone willing to put in the time and effort.
           
 
LEARN THE CRAFT
 
No matter how good of a writer you believe yourself to be, there is always room for improvement. However, don’t let that statement prevent you from writing. Write and learn at the same time. The top writers in the industry will tell you that they continue to write and learn.
 
“We are all apprentices in a craft where no one ever becomes a master.”
—Ernest Hemingway
 
1. Collect your own writing library. Even if you have to start your collection by visiting the second-hand bookstore in your neighborhood, find good books on writing. Then read them. Merely collecting the books will not make you a better writer. Study the concepts they teach and apply them to your writing efforts. When you finish your first book on writing, start another one. There are plenty of great books on the craft and here are a few of my favorites.
 
The Writer’s Journey by Chrisopher Vogler
 
GMC: Goal, Motivation, and Conflict by Debra Dixon
 
Plot & Structure by James Scott Bell
 
Save the Cat by Blake Snyder (Written for screenplays, but applies to all fiction writing.)
 
2. Attend classes, workshops, and conferences. Find out what classes on writing are available at your local community college. Check with the libraries near you to see if they have free workshops on writing. Attend any writing conferences near you and network while you learn. The advantage to learning the craft this way is that an experienced writer is available to answer your questions. Attending live events with other writers also is a great motivator. A successful class, workshop, or conference will energize you and leave you excited to write.
 
3. Start with short stories. This is offered more as a suggestion than writing advice. A short story contains all of the important elements of storytelling as does a longer book, but takes less time to complete. In the amount of time that an author could create a story idea, plot it, fill the story with characters, and apply a satisfying ending to one novel, the writer could instead do the same thing for a dozen short stories. Short stories also force an author to trim all the writing fat and get right to the heart of the story/article.
 

 If you are reading this article the odds are good the storytelling bug has nibbled at your creative center. Maybe you woke from a dream and decided the powerful events that unfolded during your sleep would make a great story. Or it might be a matter of having read a published novel that left you disappointed and feeling you could write a better story. Whatever the reason, you have an interest in writing. All you have to do now is figure out where to start.

 Fortunately, the solution is rather simple. Write. Sit down and write. Or stand at your kitchen counter and write if that works for you. What matters is that you make the decision to write and then do it.

“Write. Start writing today. Start writing right now. Don’t write it right, just write it –and then make it right later. Give yourself the mental freedom to enjoy the process, because the process of writing is a long one . . .” ― Tara Moss

 Of course, there’s more to writing than the Nike slogan of “Just Do It” suggests. Good writing requires skill and effort, but here are a few suggestions for getting started.


     COMMIT TO WRITE

1. Pick a genre to write. The most important writing advice I can give any new author is to write what you love. If you read romance on a regular basis, then write romance. If your search for reading material always takes you to the memoir section, then write memoir. If you love science-fiction, then write science-fiction. The writing process should be a joy for the author and writing what you like to read makes the process more enjoyable and rewarding.

“Start telling the stories that only you can tell, because there’ll always be better writers than you and there’ll always be smarter writers than you. There will always be people who are much better at doing this or doing that – but you are the only you.” ― Neil Gaiman

2. Give yourself weekly deadlines. A reasonable writing goal can help motivate you to write. This can either be a minimum number of words you plan to write during the week or an amount of time you are willing to set aside specifically for writing.

3. No excuses. It may be difficult at first, but make a commitment to write and then resist all distractions. Make a list of all the reasons why you want to write and when your resolve to sit down and compose fades, bring out the list and read it.

I've decided to make some changes to the website, but they may take a while. Check back later and eventually you will find posts on the writing process. Little tips I use in my writing that I hope will help you to craft better stories. It's important to keep in mind that all of us have room to grow.