This guest post is by Matthew Turner. If you would like to win a digital copy of his romantic drama Beyond Parallel, be sure to leave a comment!
I’m a hack, a fake, a silly little dreamer! I have no right calling myself an author!
This is what goes through my mind on a daily basis. I’m no writer, just a marketer who happens to share stories. I’ve always loved being creative. I adore creating something from nothing, crafting a tale, and turning the bland into an excitable journey. I would say I’m a decent storyteller, but a writer . . . hmm, I’m not too sure.
A Writer Who Can’t Write
The last time I took a writing class was when I was sixteen years old. To give you an idea of my strengths and weaknesses, I received an A for my English Literature Class, but only a C for English Language. Like I say, I love being creative, but when it comes to analyzing and understanding what lays beneath the surface . . . less so.
Grammar . . . show vs. tell . . . punctuation and structure . . . these were all skills I had to teach myself when writing Beyond Parallel. I’m by no means at the top of my game, and I have a great deal to learn, but I’ve managed to take my novice mind and transform it into one that understands—slightly—the world of writing.
This Is How I Learned to Write
Everyone has a book in him, that’s what they say, right?
Everyone also has his own opinion as to what does and doesn’t make a good writer. I don’t want to start a heated debate, but I believe almost anyone can write—so long as they have something to share.
One thing I’ve discovered is that writing is no easy feat. It takes hours and hours of useless words before discovering anything resembling the right ones. With that in mind, here are four aspects that have helped me go from storyteller to writer:
1. Online Communities
My first tip is to join one or two communities full of writers of varying types and stages. The amazing part of the online world is the means to connect and share—and guess what, it’s full of
amazing folk!
Head to Google and start searching for writing communities. There are many to choose from, and you may have to kiss a few frogs before finding your prince. But the perfect community is waiting for you. If you find it, your writing will transform into something fantastic.
2. Read a Lot
I didn’t read nearly as much as I should have done growing up. I regret it wholeheartedly! I suggest you up your reading vocabulary to intense levels and devour as much as you can. It’s not all about quantity, but range.
Don’t stop at one genre, instead unearth everything you can. Join Goodreads Book Clubs or local book clubs, or ask your friends to recommend something . . . anything. Read the good and the bad and the weird and strange. Be open to anything and take in as much of it as possible.
3. Hire an Editor
I learned a great deal reading articles online, but it wasn’t until I worked with a professional editor that my skills began to mature. The next stop on my list is to find a local mentor who can work with you one-on-one, face to face, red ink and all.
Reading blogs and forums is great, but it isn’t until you hire someone to rip apart your baby that things click into place. It hasn’t been cheap, but it’s by far the best investment I’ve made in my writing.
4. Get Writing
Start a blog, write non-fiction, guest post, take part in short story competitions, or start a journal. Whatever you choose to do, write it down and do it often!
It’s rare that a day goes by in which I don’t write. It’s amazing the progress I’ve made. As well as becoming a better writer, I’ve learned what it means to be writer. It isn’t easy, and you quickly discover how to motivate yourself and push forward.
You Can Become an Author Too
Self-publishing has made it easier for people to live the dream and write their own books. This means a whole new generation of writers is being thrust into the world today. Some will have been born to write, but others will have discovered it along the way.
You could be one of them.
You need to work hard, you need to keep trying, and you need to push yourself through the self-doubt and insecurities. I still finished my debut novel Beyond Parallel, and I’ve already begun novel number two. I have a long way to go before I can call myself a writer at his peak, but I’m loving the journey. Will you join me?
About the Author: Matthew Turner is a writer from Yorkshire, England. His debut novel Beyond Parallel is out now, and if you like coming-of-age tales, it’s the perfect book for you. In the same mold as Sliding Doors, Beyond Parallel flips between two parallel tales. Grab yourself a copy and be part of an emotional roller coaster that everyone can relate to.
