Not another set of writing tips!!!

Every writer has their own set of tips and thoughts and just about everything, on how the writing thing gets done. I know this because I think I've read them all.

The thing about writing is you just have to do it. No amount of reading about what you should, or shouldn't, do is going to get it done. And just because these 10 things work for some bigshot writer, doesn't mean they're going to work for you.

Do you really need someone to tell you that to be a writer you also need to be a reader? If you don't read books, how can you write readable books? Do you really need someone to tell you that show is way better than tell? Really?

I went once to a creative writing course. It was the worst experience of my life. All these budding writers vying to show off their skills and tell their stories. They didn't need to impress me, I wasn't there for their writing I was there for my own. They willingly crunched their thoughts and ideas into the formats demanded of the course leader. Now, I have to come clean and admit that I learned more about me as a writer at that course than I had in the years of writing in solitary in the proverbial darkened room. I didn't learn how to construct a story in 30 minutes - I learned that I was a slow burner, taking ideas, logging them, allowing my brain to sift the good from the bad, reconfiguring and eventually coming up with an idea that might lead to a story.

I learned that sharing my half baked thoughts is something I'd rather do with my partner, than half a dozen strangers - no matter how into writing they might be. And that I don't think in the same way that that particular group of individuals all seemed to be able to do. I also didn't want to please teacher. When I write I want to come out the other end with something that I want to read.

So my writing tips.

1. Know what you like to read and why.
2. Write for you first and foremost - afterall, you read other peoples' books so there must be an audience just like you out there.
3. Listen to what others have to say, but make your own mind up.
4. Share your thoughts and writings with those you trust to tell you what they really think, preferably non-writers themselves they won't feel the need to compete.
5. When you do find that writer buddy who helps you without comparing your work to theirs, treasure them.
6. Write, write and keep on writing. Then read it over and over, editing it until it looks like something that might interest you if you were to pick it up in a book store.
7. Try turning it into an e-book and read it on your kindle or ipad - it's amazing how this changes your view of what you've just written.
8. Above all, enjoy the person you are.