Jan Christensen-Free advice for wannabe writers

Trust your instincts. Listen to your gut. Good advice for the corporate executive. And good advice for the writer. Every time I've veered away from my original idea, the idea that comes from deep within the subconscious, the story hasn't turned out right. But when I listen to my muse, I have a winner.

Sounds effortless, doesn't it? Just write down your ideas, and there you have it, a story ready to go. Of course it's not that easy.

I think successful writers have found a balance between perspiration and inspiration. I've met some writers with great ideas. They can tell you all about the characters, the plot, the setting, the beginning, the middle and the end. They've written copious notes, even some scenes, and probably begun to write the beginning of the piece. But they never finish. They have a wonderful plan for the story, but no plan for getting it on paper. They don't say to themselves, "I'll write five hundred, or a thousand, words each day until this is done." They just keep it in their heads and dream.

Other writers are worker bees. They're at their computers every day, slaving away. Some of them can't write a decent sentence. Others can't punctuate or spell or use correct grammar. They don't think that stuff is important. The idea's the thing, get it down. What are editors, readers in their writers' groups, friends and family for but to correct those minor problems? These writers can't be bothered learning their craft. They think, "True artists shouldn't be hemmed in by such mundane concerns." They don't realize that their carelessness about craft spills over into the writing itself, making it flabby and chaotic.

Most people who love to write love the craft, too, and it shows.

Still other writers I know work hard almost every day, but they don't have that spark, that extra something that makes the writing take off. They know their craft, they have story ideas, and they work most days at it. They're in it primarily to make money, and some of them will. They'll write to formula, perhaps even become best selling authors.

Certain writers cannot take criticism and use it to better their work. Insecure, they don't realize that the way to become secure is to become better writers. And a great way to become a good writer is to listen to what others have to say about your writing. You're too close to it. You think it's wonderful. Probably a lot of it is. But it all has to be terrific to sell. No, you don't have to change anything you don't want to. But if four people in a writer's group think there's a problem on page seven, you might want to consider it. This does not make you a bad person, or even a bad writer. We all have trouble spots in each piece we do. They're trying to help you. And they want your help in return.

Technique, on the other hand, can be learned. Books are plentiful, classes and conferences are everywhere. Stories are broken down into elements--theme, plot, character, setting. Most of us can write dialogue because we've had thousands of conversations over the years. Developing characters can be harder, but there are systems for doing so. Picking a setting and describing it can be difficult for some, easy for others. But again, it can be learned. Plotting, with a theme in mind, I think is the most difficult. But there are even several books which can teach you how to plot. It helps if you start off with something to say, some point to make, some universal truth. "Friendship is wonderful." "Some politicians can be good people." "TV and sugared cereals are bad for kids." "Love conquers all."

It's been said that a writer has to write a million words before he or she is really good. That sounds like a lot, and it is. But if you write five hundred words a day, that's 182,500 words a year. In a little over five years, that's a million words! You can halve that time, of course, if you write a thousand words a day. Many professional writers make a thousand words a day their goal. It takes, usually, four years to get a college degree, five for a master's, seven for a PhD. Some people take longer to do it than that. It's up to you how fast or slow you go, either for the degrees or for your writing career.

So, if you feel inspired, help yourself. Learn your craft, join a group or two, promise yourself you'll write every day, rain or shine. In the beginning, try things that others suggest. Learn to accept criticism and use it to help your work. Experiment. Find out what pleases you. And read, read, read. Read Writer's Digest and all the books on writing you can find. Read in your genre. Read out of your genre. It's all fodder for your write brain.

I hope I've inspired you. I hope if you see yourself in any of the examples that you can attack the problem and overcome it. I hope you use planning and inspiration to further your writing career. It can be difficult. When the muse doesn't sit on your shoulder, you may be able to force her to arrive by just writing anything that comes to mind. Let it flow, and you might be surprised at what you produce. Read, write, join a group, learn your craft and write. That's all there is to it! Good luck, and may I see your byline soon.