So You Want to be a Writer?

Many people tell me they want to be a writer. But my experience is that usually they have no idea how much work it takes to become one. Imagine someone saying she wanted to be a professional singer without realizing that just knowing how to carry a decent tune isn’t enough to make people want to listen. It’s the same with writing — it takes just as much work to develop skill at writing as any other craft.

A couple of ideas to get started:

Read On Writing Well by William Zinsser. Read it again. Put into practice all that he says.

Attend a writer’s conference. There you will meet editors and be able to pitch ideas, be inspired by other writers, and learn the elements of your craft as well as how to market your writing. Mount Hermon is the conference that helped me launch my own career in 1994. Held over Palm Sunday weekend each year, the Writers Conference attracts 300 writers plus an outstanding faculty of editors, authors, and freelancers. If you decide to attend, look for me on the critique team and teaching staff.

Or attend a CLASS (Christian Leadership, Authors & Speakers Services) seminar for extensive training in speaking and publishing opportunities. I learned a lot at the one I attended.

Write short articles. 600–750 words is a good length to aim for. There is discipline in producing short pieces that have take-away value for readers. You might want to try getting a column in your local newspaper. If so, read YOU Can Be a Columnist.

Write for others. It’s not enough to have something to say. Unless it’s of interest to others, unless there is something for readers to take away, you should stick to a private journal.

Don’t withdraw from life — get more into it. The more open you are, the more you’ll have to say!

Love,