This week’s video answers a question I’ve been getting from multiple sources: about how yours truly went about learning to write.
Video Transcript:
Lately, I’ve received a lot of emails asking the question, “How did I learn to write?” So today, I’m going to do my best to answer that. But first I’d like to throw out two thoughts.
The first is that this is a great question. I know that I personally have learned so much about perfecting my own process by studying the processes of other authors.
The second thought is that you shouldn’t get too hung up on this question. Great to know how others do it, but ultimately you have to create your own process, based on what optimizes your creativity.
How to Write Step #1: Write
Okay, so how did I learn to write? I came into writing totally backwards. I never intended to be a writer. But stories have always been my language, and I started writing my stories, just so I wouldn’t forget them. So that’s Step 1: write! In high school, I wrote four novels and hundreds of short stories. And I had a blast!
How to Write Step #2: Study the Craft
But about the time of that fourth novel, I realized I had no idea what I was doing, so I got a bunch of books on writing and started learning there’s actually more to this than just putting words on the screen. So that’s Step 2: study the craft.
How to Write Step #3: Read Fiction
Now Step 3 was something I’d been doing all along—so I guess that makes it Step 0?—and that is reading fiction like a madwoman. I read probably a hundred novels for every one I write.
Beyond that, I also took a brief course from Writer’s Digest early on, benefited hugely from critique partners and editors—and, of course, wrote about writing, which has probably taught me more than anything else.
What I did not do was go to college and get an MFA. I think they’re great for a lot of people, but I also see a lot of writers wasting their time on them instead of just writing what they were meant to write.
So as you can see my journey hasn’t been that revolutionary or unusual. If I have one secret to impart from my experiences, it’s this: just write. Sit down and write hundreds, thousands, millions of words—and read twice many as that. That’s all it takes. You’ll be surprised: every word you write will be better than the last one.
Tell me your opinion: How did you learn how to write?
