Stephen King’s book On Writing is a pretty good resource for advice for aspiring writers.
For the high level points, writers should write. A lot. That’s his biggest piece of advice.
Writers should also try to “expand their toolbox”, meaning they should be able to use different methods. Just keep practicing writing with the tools you have and the techniques and tools you discover. Eventually, you’ll find what works for you. You can’t just expect to use a tool proficiently without practice. But everybody is different, so in the case of outlining, for example, if you practice with it and it just doesn’t work, then you’ll eventually know that it won’t work for you.
The last big point is to develop writing habits. Like, follow a specific daily schedule. Write a certain number of words each day.
IIRC, in On Writing, the bad habit he spends most of his time talking about is his drinking. And he claimed that when they took his booze away, he started drinking mouthwash. He was so blackout drunk for so long that he doesn’t remember writing one of his books. I think it was Cujo.
Stephen King’s book On Writing is a pretty good resource for advice for aspiring writers.
For the high level points, writers should write. A lot. That’s his biggest piece of advice.
Writers should also try to “expand their toolbox”, meaning they should be able to use different methods. Just keep practicing writing with the tools you have and the techniques and tools you discover. Eventually, you’ll find what works for you. You can’t just expect to use a tool proficiently without practice. But everybody is different, so in the case of outlining, for example, if you practice with it and it just doesn’t work, then you’ll eventually know that it won’t work for you.
The last big point is to develop writing habits. Like, follow a specific daily schedule. Write a certain number of words each day.
I love to write but I also love doing lots of things so I only end up just writing verbose internet comments sporadically instead.
Sometimes I don’t even have time to
Time to…what? Sell me your book?! I’m a publisher, sell me your book! Sell me- gah, just missed him.
Wait really? Because I have a half finished book I’ve never had the heart to finish because that style of book has gone out of style
It’s a bathroom reader about bathrooms. I have STORIES. Everyone has phones now
I remember a coffee table book about coffee tables that did pretty damn well, make it!
The secret to how King achieved those three objectives (especially the first one)…? Cocaine!
IIRC, in On Writing, the bad habit he spends most of his time talking about is his drinking. And he claimed that when they took his booze away, he started drinking mouthwash. He was so blackout drunk for so long that he doesn’t remember writing one of his books. I think it was Cujo.