How to Start

I am often asked how should someone start writing. They tell me they’ve always wanted to write. They think about a novel. They would love to write for a living. How did I start? When did I decide I liked writing? Many of these are people looking for Step 1, Step 2, Step 3, then VOILA….arrived. They are writers.

I do not remember when I started writing. I just always have. When I wanted to, I did. Did I start writing because I wanted money? Nope. I wrote because I found writing powerful. I submitted knowing that when I did, I was making a permanent impression. I could open doors or burn bridges based upon how much effort I put into the words.

Writing tells the world a lot of things about you, like:

1. How intelligent you are
2. How creative you are
3. How motivated you are
4. How professional you are

Writing, honestly, speaks loudly for you without you ever meeting people or saying a word. It’s why you don’t publish, post, or submit without having done a lot of writing, a lot of editing, a lot of thinking about the purpose of the writing, and a lot of study as to who the reader is. Throw a badly written piece out there and you’ve alienated a certain number of people forever.

Actually, writing doesn’t let you hide behind it. Instead, it yells on your behalf, giving away who you are. Writing poorly, submitting prematurely, and publishing quickly will tell certain readers who you are and make them come to conclusions about whether to ever read your work again.

It’s why you patiently write, patiently study how to improve, and take a while to publish. To do so prematurely makes lasting impressions you might not want to make.