New To Fiction Writing? Here’s How To Start.
I have distinct memories of writing as a child.
In one memory, I’m in my bedroom, sitting on my orange carpet as I fold three or four pieces of paper together to make a book. I remember transcribing one of my favorite books onto those pieces of paper but changing the narrative around a little bit as I went. The story had something to do with a rabbit, and I even drew illustrations to go along with the plot.
In another memory, I’m in sixth grade and writing a ghost story for English class. It was set in my elementary school, and a few different teachers read it and seemed surprised that I’d come up with something so vivid and detailed. And spooky. But honestly, I was a huge Goosebumps junkie at that age, so of course, I was channeling R.L. Stine just a little bit.
I also remember a few times, as I got older and more attuned to stories being “good” or “bad,” that I’d quit a project because it seemed like the worst thing ever written. Or I’d start writing a novel (at sixteen or nineteen or even twenty-one) and then abandon it by chapter three when I realized how long it would take to write an entire book.
A lot of writers have stories like these, personal mythologies they can trace back to childhood that remind them they’ve always been a writer. That there’s something about writing that’s just in your bones from the start.
But what if you didn’t start writing until you were older? What if you haven’t even started yet, but it already feels like that ship has sailed?
You can still write. It’s never too late to start.
Here are my top three recommendations for diving in without getting overwhelmed, discouraged, or totally defeated.
1. Read as much as humanly possible, and read widely.
I’m sure you’ve heard this before, but there’s a reason so many writers repeat this advice over and over again. The best way to become a better writer is to read. A lot. Read novels in an array of genres by an even wider array of writers (bonus tip: reading the canon is fine, but it’s even better if you make an effort to read marginalized and underrepresented voices, too).
Read nonfiction about any subject you can find, read essays, read short story collections, read magazines about writing, read blogs and newsletters, read books about the craft of writing. Read it all. One of my very favorite quotes is by Jane Kenyon, where she says, in part: “Read good books, have good sentences in your ears.” Even if you don’t think what you’re reading is all that good, that’s still a valuable part of the process because it teaches you something new about your own writing and your own taste.
2. Learn how to freewrite without any expectation.
This, in my mind, is just as important as reading voraciously. Get yourself a notebook that doesn’t feel too precious (trust me here. Don’t buy the pretty or expensive one. You’ll never want to actually use it.) and make it a habit to open to a blank page and write as often as you can.
Instead of staring at the blank page with mounting anxiety that you need to produce something brilliant, practice the art of having zero expectations.
Tell yourself, “Whatever happens on this page is good enough. It doesn’t have to amount to anything. I don’t even have to look at this page ever again if I don’t want to.” Think of freewriting as clearing out the pump before the water starts to flow. Who knows how long you’ll have to clear the pump before you see clear, cool water? Doesn’t matter. Just write.
Set a timer and start with simple prompts, like the phrase “I remember” or a list of some kind, and keep your pen moving until your time is up. The two keys here: keep your pen moving, and write without any attachment to a specific outcome. Then close the notebook and go about your day as normal.
3. Find at least one other writer you can connect with regularly.
This might not seem like a writing tip, but it is. It really, really is. Writers love to talk about how solitary the act of writing can be. It’s because we spend long hours alone in a room with just our thoughts and our words (and usually coffee), sometimes never actually sharing those words with anyone else, ever.
I’m an introvert by nature, but one of the most important parts of my writing life is the connection with other writers.
I’ll tell you honestly that it took me a long time to find the four women in my writing group, but it was worth the many other failed writing groups and attempts at forming writing partnerships that came first. Once you find a trusted writer friend or group, make time to talk about your current projects as often as works for you.
My writing group started by meeting on Skype every two weeks to workshop short stories. We’ve evolved over the years, and now we meet about once a month and workshop plays, short stories, novels and even use some meetings to just catch up with one another or freewrite together. We don’t live in the same city, and in fact, I’m the only one not in Canada, but it hardly matters.
Bonus tip: Take a great writing program if you can fit it into your budget.
This is a bonus tip because you absolutely do NOT need to spend money to get started as a writer. If you want to, though, there are endless options out there for learning. Aside from actual MFA programs, there are many ways to learn writing online. I’ve done both: completed an MFA program and also taken numerous online writing classes.
My favorite online program is Sarah Selecky’s The Story Course. I was first a student in this program back in 2012, then went on to study in The Story Intensive (a live version of The Story Course), and ultimately become a teacher of the Intensive.
This course is what connected me to my writing group and helped me start my novel and also write many short stories. If you’re new to writing, this is a fantastic way to get started with zero pressure and lots of idea generation.
Just remember: you can start writing today even if you’ve never tried to write before.
If you’ve dabbled or even wrote seriously for a while, but stopped for whatever reason, you can write again. Read (and read and read), freewrite without any attachment to a specific result, and find yourself a trusted fellow writer or writers to share with, and you’ll be well on your way to developing your voice and writing life.
What are some of your favorite writing suggestions for new writers? Share below!