Today it's my pleasure to hand the blog over to Daisy James, author of
There's Something about Cornwall, to talk about her top tips for Growing as a Writer.
No matter what stage you are at with your writing - whether you write for pleasure, or in the hope of achieving your publishing dream, or are busy writing your third bestseller - there’s always something new to learn. Here are my suggestions for making the most of your journey as a writer:
1. Join a creative writing group.
Writing is a lonely exploit; sat in front of a keyboard bashing away at your manuscript with only the cat for company. There’s also the risk that when you do decide to escape into the real world, those friends who still recognise you glaze over when you start talking at length about your latest project. That’s where writing groups come into their own. They provide a ready pool of supportive friends who instinctively know how you feel and are happy to talk about books and writing until the tea and biscuits run dry. Just one word of advice though – choose your group wisely and don’t be afraid to move on if you feel uncomfortable.
2. Enrol on a course.
Creative writing courses are available in most towns and cities, even in village halls, and are aimed at a variety of levels from beginners to advanced and all stages in between. Guided study can be of immense value when trying a new skill, such as poetry or travel writing, or simply to refresh your knowledge of grammar and increase the depth of your characterisation. A formal course can also offer the same social benefits as a writing group by enhancing your circle of like-minded, creative friends.
3. Branch out
No matter what genre you write in, there can come a time when you crave something different. There’s no reason why you can’t spend a rainy afternoon ditching the hard-boiled detective story or the sweet romance saga to have a go at writing a short urban fantasy story or a non-fiction article about your favourite hobby or sport. It doesn’t have to be brilliant, it’s just for fun after all, and it could spark an idea that can be used when you sit down to write the next chapter of your work-in-progress.
4. Try writing in a different place.
We all have a favourite place to write, whether it’s the local coffee shop, the library, our home office or the kitchen table. Why not shake it up a bit and write at the local museum or art gallery, or better still, wrap up warm and sit in the woods or at the seafront or a bench in the park. Perhaps a garden centre will get the creatives juices flowing.
5.Try using a different medium.
If you usually type your stories straight onto a word processor, why not grab that gorgeous stationery your friend bought you for your birthday and sit down with a gel pen or coloured pencil and scribble something by hand? Or vice versa, if you prefer to write in longhand, have a go at bashing out a few pages of prose directly onto the screen. Which did you find easier? Which produced the more creative piece?
