Greetings everybody! It’s a busy day at the Loft – the second week of classes are in full swing – so I thought I’d take some time to post some most excellent writing tips from teaching artist Carrie Mesrobian. She recently shared them in Of Wizards and Words: The Wonderful World of Harry Potter, and I thought they were so great that I should pass them on. So, without further ado…
On Writing – Tips from Carrie Mesrobian
- You need some friends who write, too.
- You need to read. Constantly.
- Do not think about publishing, marketability or fame.
- Follow what genuinely delights, fascinates or frightens you – and write about it.
- Find a vocational or recreational activity other than writing and reading.
- Make space for your work, physically and mentally.
- Be ready for inspiration – keep pen/pencil and paper near you whenever possible.
- Don’t wait for inspiration, though. There will be days when it is not easy to work on your writing.
- Find a job you enjoy that will let you a) pay your bills b) let you work with words.
- When working on a piece of fiction, read something that is completely unrelated and unlike the fiction you are writing.
- Give your work only to people you trust and even then, though you might feel eager for feedback, wait a bit longer before letting anybody see it. Let your writing marinate for a bit while you mull things over.
- Never apologize for your work.
- When asking for feedback, be specific.
- Become satisfied with your own company and find activities that allow you to think without distraction. Walking, running, biking, gardening, listen to music and staring at the ceiling are all good examples of this (though physical movement is good when you are frustrated or having difficulty with your writing).
- Collect stories.
- Practice telling stories to people out loud.
- Research things you find fascinating.
- Beware of enlisting the help of English teachers. They know grammar and literature – not necessarily anything about the creative process.
- It’s nice to have a sympathetic spouse/partner who supports your writing. They don’t need to be a writer or an artist, necessarily, but he/she should be a reader, at bare minimum, or you are going to drive each other crazy.
- Know that the world needs good writers. Be proud to belong to this ancient tradition.
Weren’t those tips absoutely awesome?
Over and out,
-SB
Word of the Day: Attercop – a spider
Young Writers @ The Loft 