I love writing but I'm terrible at it. Any tips for beginners?
Hiya! Thanks for your question! Welcome to the wonderful world of writing!
Tips for New Writers
Everyone is terrible at writing when they first start out. So, don’t feel bad! The best thing you can do is read and write every day.
Read your favourite story over and over again. If you’re writing fanfiction, read your favourite fanfic. Figure out why it’s your favourite. What do you love about this story? The characters? The narration? Everything? Reading other novels is a great way to inspire yourself to write. Try to mimic your favourite author’s style. Obviously, you should avoid plagiarism, but there’s nothing wrong with using another author’s voice to practice the ebb and flow of a good story. Over time, you’ll develop your own unique style.
Practice makes perfect. Write every day. It doesn’t have to be a full story, but make sure you write at least 100-200 words a day. You need to build up the habit to keep yourself motivated. Here are some good 30-Day Writing Challenges you can participate in to inspire you to write every day: Challenge 1, Challenge 2, Challenge 3.
Get involved in writing communities. Join NaNoWriMo or befriend other writers on tumblr. Writers are always looking for people to share their work with, and you might end up making some really good friends. Talking with other writers will give you someone to bounce your ideas off of and keep you inspired to keep writing. Browse the “writers of tumblr” tag to find some new friends!
A few more mini-tips:
Have fun! Writing is an artform, and if you get stressed and start to hate what you do, it’s going to show in your work. A good novel takes time to write and even more time to edit.
Be patient, and don’t get discouraged when your first draft comes out like crap. All first drafts are terrible.
Let go of any fears you have about writing. I promise you, it will all turn out okay.
Thanks again for your question! If you need help with anything writing-related, feel free to send in another ask. Happy writing!
- Mod Kellie
If you need advice on general writing or fanfiction, you should maybe ask us!
