Advice for New Writers

On the 17th, I will be 22 years old. 

As I progress through my twenties, I am becoming more and more aware of myself - where I have been, what has made me into who I am today, where my own mother was at this point in her life - and I've been wanting to do a post about this in regards to writing for a while. 

I am particularly inspired to do this now as my NaNo cabin has recently acquired four new members - young writers at the very beginning of their careers. I feel very lucky to have them in my cabin; it's amazing to watch them work, and a privilege to offer my own advice in the hope that it will be something that sticks with them. 

I was thirteen when I first started publishing online and writing seriously, and the experiences I had then have most certainly been important influences on what I am doing now. 

Although I have changed and developed throughout the nine years since then, I can clearly track everything I have done and can see precisely how each point in time links back. A long story short: If I had never been a Draco Malfoy fangirl, I would not be here now. 

A list of well-meaning tips for would-be writers - 

• Copy. Shamelessly copy something that inspires you, word-for-word. It doesn't matter, no one else is going to see it, but it is important to you. Don't be afraid of copying - that's how artists learn, isn't it? It's the same for writers.

• Emulate. Take those elements that made you feel and use them. Over do it; be cheesy. Again, it doesn't matter. Inspiration is the heart of writing, so milk it for all it is worth! Write something that you want to read. Other people don't matter.

• Own it. Now make them your own. You've learned what works for you, now make it better. Treat everything as a competition. If angst is what you love, be the best angst-writer out there - twist those emotions shamelessly, and make your reader come back begging for more. Now is the time to learn your market, even if it's only minimal. Always strive to be the best you can be. 

• Experiment. Find new ways of doing it - it's still, fundamentally, the same thing, but push yourself and experiment. Don't be afraid of failure - it doesn't matter. This is where you find your own, unique voice - make it so that there is no-one on earth like you. People will copy you, and when they do, take it as the highest compliment (but don't stand for plagiarism!) 

• Be Alert. You will never know everything, but that is part of the fun of it! Always keep yourself open to new things; take advice when it is given, and know which advice to leave - not everyone's words of wisdom will be relevant to you. Absorb everything around you; it's amazing how much from your real life gets absorbed unwittingly into your writing without you even realising it! Quite terrifying, actually... 

• Be Selective. Of everything. As a writer, you are playing God - no-one, and I mean no-one, can tell you categorically what to do. Take the praise, take the criticism and use it all to your advantage. If you don't trust what someone has to say about your writing, then don't take it. Simple as. You will always be your own worst critic. Of course, learn the fundamentals and strive to be better, but trust yourself above anyone else. Never let anyone tell you writing isn't a worth-while past time. Set out to prove them wrong.

• Be Competitive. That doesn't mean be aggressive or bitchy, or even letting everyone know that you're being competitive, it means working hard to be the top of your game. Working very hard. If your ambition is to become a writer, you will gradually surround yourself with more people who are exactly like you - and they will be competing too. Learn from them, learn from yourself, and don't let their successes get you down - rather, use them to push yourself onwards. Always push yourself onwards. There will be days when you think 'What's the point?' but they are the moments that define you. It is the people who push through those moments and come out the other side that succeed. Writing is half talent and half pure determination; hanging on when other people are giving up and letting go.  

• Finally, stay true to yourself. Be honest in your work, and right about subjects that inspire you, and you won't go far wrong.