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SO, YOU WANT TO BE A WRITER? Gill Sherry
Writing can be a thankless exercise. You pour your heart and soul into producing the perfect prose and, more often than not, nobody reads it. So why do so many people want to write?
Always make sure you do not exceed the maximum word count and try and come up with an original title. If there’s a theme, ensure your entry is relevant.
It is, of course, a form of creativity, and most people do it because they enjoy it. Some are fortunate enough to make a comfortable living from it whilst others (the few whose names we instantly recognise) have accumulated considerable wealth from their written words.
Beware entering competitions with an entry fee. Many writing competitions are advertised online and, if there’s a financial prize, it’s tempting to enter them all. However, do your research! If the entry fee seems high in relation to the prize money, it’s probably just a money-spinner and best avoided. Genuine, worthwhile competitions will have reputable adjudicators and will show details of previous winning entries.
Inevitably, perhaps, the majority associate writing with novels. But you don’t have to write a book to be a writer. Think of those who write articles for magazines or newspapers, and the people who write specifically for stage or television. There are those who write short stories or poetry, others who write essays or news reports, and those who reveal all in their autobiographies. In fact, the list is endless. When embarking on your writing journey, the first thing to establish is exactly what you want to write. This may not be as obvious as it sounds. You may think you want to write a crime novel but when it comes down to it, you may not have the dedication required to complete a lengthy manuscript. It’s important to experiment with genres. How do you know you don’t want to write a children’s story if you’ve never actually tried? Similarly, you might think you’re not very good at poetry, but how do you know if no-one has ever read your poems?
You may also consider checking the website of your favourite author. They often include writing tips and advice on how to get started. You can sign-up to receive newsletters which may give details of creative writing courses and other useful events.
If you don’t have access to a writing group and you don’t feel able to start your own, you may want to consider joining one remotely. If the pandemic has proved one thing, it’s that meetings and events can work just as well online as they do in person.
I have two main tips when advising new writers. Firstly, read as much as you can. The more you read, the more you learn. While you are enjoying the story, subconsciously you are observing things like sentence structure, grammar and dialogue. You will also quickly learn what type of material you prefer to read. Which leads to my second tip: write what you enjoy reading. If you enjoy reading fantasy novels, for example, then try your hand at writing one! If, on the other hand, you tend to favour shorter pieces, then concentrate on writing short stories (1,000 to 2,000 words) or flash fiction (up to 250 words). There is a market for everything!
Writing groups will usually arrange a schedule of competitions. This is a great way to receive critique and to practice different styles of writing.
Have you ever considered writing a memoir? People are fascinated by true stories and by the lives and experiences
One thing that can really help you to identify your preferred genre is to join a writers’ group. This will provide you with the opportunity to try different types of writing from poetry to short stories and from memoirs to novels. If you can’t find a writing group in your area, why not start one? A new year is always a good time to start something new and you’ll be surprised how many people will want to join. Receiving honest feedback from like-minded, supportive individuals can be invaluable.
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It will help if you know what the adjudicator is looking for. If, for example, they are known for writing romance novels, it’s probably not a good idea to submit a horror-themed entry. You will simply be wasting time and money, so choose your competitions wisely.
JANUARY 2022
