Dear Writer,
I know from experience it can feel a bit lonely when starting out. The constant feeling that nothing you pen down is good enough, so you’re left writing and rewriting without ever publishing. That’s why I felt compelled to share some wisdom I wished I’d gotten in my early days.
1. First and foremost know that just like your story, you are a WIP (Work in Progress). No one is expecting you to get it right on the first try. In fact, I feel you should fail so you can learn how to be better each time you do. Like a good WIP, you need the work in order to shape up and be molded into what you ought to be as a writer. So my advice is, keep learning, keep reading and most of all keep writing
2. If it’s not stated, word count does not matter. Personally, I think word count was devised by the devil himself to restrict creativity. Let your words flow as they may. Do not worry about whether or not it’s long or short because you need to find your voice, and the only way to do that is to lose the chains of word count. So, write as much as you can, flesh out that story until there’s nothing left of it. The idea is you’ll eventually get better the longer you write.
3. Writing is from the soul, do not adulterate or water it down in order to sound like anyone else. I would urge you to write the way you’re so inspired. Sound like you. Write like you. Be you and those who appreciate your authenticity will gather and read that which you’ve written.
4. Stay strong. Trust me I know it’s hard to work without getting recognition for your work but don’t worry cause you sef go blow one day. With persistence, dedication, and hard work, success will surely be yours. After all, Rome wasn’t built in a day.
5. At the beginning of this article I spoke of reading and I’ll reiterate again that reading is a big part of being successful as a writer. The more you read, the more extensive your knowledge will become, and knowledge is always welcomed when crafting a story or simply drawing up a character archetype. So read, read, read. Reading comprehensively sharpens the parts of your brain that love writing as you can get inspiration from the words of others. This will help make you a sound writer.
6. Finally, do not be afraid to share your work. It is only by getting feedback and reviews will you get better. Feedback is every artiste’s best friend. So start small, start big, it doesn’t matter, just share your work with the world, you never know who is watching and waiting for your next.
Finally, as a beginner writer myself, I know how easy it is to get into the trap of second-guessing your talent or work but don’t do that, instead, focus on the beauty of the journey and be grateful for every experience as it will only go further to make you a well-rounded writer.
