How famous writers started writing. Tips for Writers: Serious Relationships with Literature

1. Never use a metaphor, comparison, or other form of speech that you often see on paper.
2. Never use a long one where you can get by with a short one.
3. If you can throw away a word, always get rid of it.
4. Never use the passive when you can use the active.
5. Never use borrowed words, scientific or professional terms if they can be replaced by vocabulary from everyday language.
6. It is better to break any of these rules than to write something outright barbaric.

1. Make the most of your time stranger so that it does not seem to him wasted in vain.
2. Give the reader at least one hero for whom you want to cheer with your soul.
3. Every character has to desire something, even if it's just a glass of water.
4. Each sentence should serve one of two purposes: to reveal a character or move events forward.
5. Start as close to the end as possible.
6. Be sadistic. No matter how sweet and innocent your main characters are, treat them horribly: the reader must see what they are made of.
7. Write to please only one person. If you open the window and make love to the world, so to speak, your story will catch pneumonia.

Modern British writer, very popular among fantasy fans. Moorcock's key work is the multi-volume cycle about Elric of Melnibone.

1. I borrowed my first rule from Terence Hanbury White, author of The Sword in the Stone and other Arthurian works. It was like this: read. Read everything that comes to hand. I always advise people who want to write fantasy, or science fiction, or romance novels, stop reading those genres and take on everything else from John Bunyan to Antonia Byatt.
2. Find an author you admire (Konrad was mine) and copy his stories and characters for your own story. Be an artist who imitates the master to learn how to draw.
3. If you are writing story-driven prose, introduce the main characters and main themes in the first third. You can call it an introduction.
4. Develop themes and characters in the second third - the development of the work.
5. Complete topics, reveal secrets and more in the final third - the denouement.
6. When possible, accompany the introductions to the characters and their philosophizing various actions. This helps maintain dramatic tension.
7. Carrot and stick: heroes must be pursued (by obsession or villain) and pursued (ideas, objects, personalities, mysteries).

American writer of the 20th century. He became famous for such scandalous works for his time as Tropic of Cancer, Tropic of Capricorn and Black Spring.

1. Work on one thing until you're done.
2. Do not be nervous. Work calmly and with joy, whatever you do.
3. Act according to the plan, not according to the mood. Stop at the appointed time.
4. When work.
5. Cement a little each day instead of adding new fertilizer.
6. Stay human! Meet people, visit different places, have a drink if you want.
7. Don't turn into a draft horse! Work only with pleasure.
8. Deviate from the plan if you need to, but come back to it the next day. Focus. Be specific. Exclude.
9. Forget about the books you want to write. Think only about what you write.
10. Write fast and always. Drawing, music, friends, movies - all this after work.

One of famous science fiction writers our time. From his pen came such works as "American Gods" and "Stardust". However, they filmed it.

1. Write.
2. Add word by word. Find the right word, write it down.
3. Finish what you write. Whatever it takes, finish what you started.
4. Set your notes aside. Read them as if you were doing it for the first time. Show the work to friends who love something similar and whose opinion you respect.
5. Remember, when people say something is wrong or not working, they are almost always right. When they explain what exactly is wrong and how to fix it, they are almost always wrong.
6. Correct the mistakes. Remember, you'll have to let go of work before it's perfect and start the next one. is the pursuit of the horizon. Move on.
7. Laugh at your own jokes.
8. The main rule of writing: if you create with enough self-confidence, you can do anything. It can also be the rule of all life. But it's the best for writing.

Master short prose and a classic of Russian literature who hardly needs an introduction.

1. It is assumed that the writer, in addition to ordinary mental abilities, must have experience behind him. The highest remuneration is received by people who have gone through fire, water and copper pipes, the lowest - nature untouched and unspoiled.
2. Becoming a writer is very easy. There is no freak who would not find a mate for himself, and there is no nonsense that would not find a suitable reader for himself. And therefore, do not be shy ... Put paper in front of you, pick up a pen and, irritating the captive thought, scribble.
3. Becoming a writer who gets published and read is very difficult. For this: be and have a talent the size of at least a lentil grain. In the absence of great talents, the roads are also small.
4. If you want to write, then do so. Choose a topic first. Here you have complete freedom. You can use arbitrariness and even arbitrariness. But, in order not to discover America a second time and not to reinvent gunpowder, avoid topics that have long been hackneyed.
5. Let your imagination run wild, hold your hand. Don't let her chase the number of lines. The shorter and less often you write, the more and more often you are printed. Brevity does not spoil things at all. A stretched rubber erases a pencil no better than an unstretched one.

1. If you are still a child, make sure that . Spend more time on this than anything else.
2. If you are an adult, try to read your work the way a stranger would. Or even better - as your enemy would read them.
3. Don't exalt your "calling". You can either write good sentences or you can't. There is no "writer's way of life". What matters is what you leave on the page.
4. Take significant breaks between writing and editing.
5. Write on a computer that is not connected to the Internet.
6. Protect work time and space. Even from the people who are most important to you.
7. Do not confuse honors and achievements.

Beginning writer- 17 secrets of success:

1. Never leave your best for last. Reveal yourself immediately and then see what happens. How better start, the better the sequel.

2. Opening a paragraph, sentence, line, phrase, word, title - is the beginning of the most important part of your work. This sets the tone and lets the reader know that you are a commanding writer.

3. The first duty of a writer is to entertain. Readers lose interest with descriptions and abstract philosophies. They want entertainment. But they feel cheated if they have not learned anything while having fun.

4. Show, not tell or tendentiously state.

6. The work is much more important than anything. Readers (and publishers) care less about skill than content. The question they ask is not "How did you get to be a writer?" but "How well is the work written?".

7. These rules are rather contradictory. Such is the nature of rules in art.

8. All entries create a conflict. Give quality attention to opposition and good lines. The power of the antagonists should equal the power of the protagonists.

9. Switch frequently. Try sentences of different structures and types. Create good combination narratives, descriptions, expositions and dialogues.

10. Be careful with the word. One word, like a drop of iodine in a gallon of water, can change the color of your manuscript.

11. Provide the reader with a closing. The last sentences of the story echo something that happened before. Life goes in circles. “If your first chapter has a gun, then the book ends with a gun” (En Rule)

12. By the end of the work, the conflict should reach some resolution. Not necessarily a happy ending.

13. Correct, correct. You will never get good result on the first try.

14. Avoid excessive use of adjectives and adverbs; trust the accuracy of your nouns and verbs. Verb form: The shorter the better. Avoid the passive form, clichés and hackneyed phrases.

15. Be interested in every offer. Be concise. Hemingway's first editor at the Kansas City Star gave him following rules: “Use short sentences. Use short paragraphs. Use emphatic English. Be positive.” Hemingway later said of this advice: best rules writing skills that I have ever known."

16. If you can be misinterpreted, you will.

17. There are no rules for writing well. The one who successfully breaks the rules is a true artist. But: first, learn the rules, practice, bring your skills to mastery. “You cannot step over what you do not know.” - Sri Nisargadatta Maharai.

The profession of a writer seems amazing: a person creates the world, publishes books, and if they seem interesting, then he gets good money. Domestic practice shows that literary creativity It's more of a calling than a profession. In this article, we will figure out how to become a writer.

Who is the real writer?

Is it a hobby or profession

Able-bodied - between the ideas in the head and the book in the cover there are hours of work. Competent - not a single proofreader will fix great amount mistakes. Assiduous - the ideas that have arisen need to be able to present them beautifully. To do this, you will have to spend many hours at the computer. Educated - many authors keep diaries in which they enter beautiful speeches, sensations, skits, etc. They will need this material for work. Be able to express their thoughts, feelings, mood.

A writer can be a person who has talent. Appropriate skills can be developed, a sense of style can be instilled. However, teaching a person to beautifully transfer an idea from head to paper is very difficult. But probably.

Is it possible to make money on this

How to start a writing career

Determine which part of the name you want to leave, for example, instead of Alexander - San. Choose a name that matches the genre. Initials are more suitable for a fantasy author, and “soft” names that will sound beautiful for a literary work. Think of a few beautiful aliases and give yourself time to study each one. Choose the one you like best.

It is not necessary to describe events in chronological order. The writer is the creator! First you can come up with an ending, and then the story itself. The Russian language is very rich. Try to use unexpected metaphors and comparisons when creating works. It is very difficult to keep more than three characters in your head. So it's better to create short description to each of them. Names should be chosen that are different from each other, but at the same time characterize the characters. Works with unexpected endings are strongly embedded in memory and evoke a lot of emotions. The finished work should be given to someone to read. If it is not possible to use the services of proofreaders, it is better to give the work to friends and acquaintances, but do it anonymously in order to get an objective assessment.

How to quickly want to write if the muse has left you

Are you worried about some burning question? Try to understand it yourself and help others to do it. Stephen King recommends writing for one ideal reader. After all, it is no coincidence that the books that have come down to us from ancient times are a letter to one person (“To Myself” by M. Aurelius). There are no bad sketches. The task of the writer is to polish the text well. The source can be anything. Trust your intuition. Inspiration can come at any moment. Try to grab onto it and use it to the maximum, and then work with the result. One more nuance: inspiration comes during work. Work at 110%. Write about what interests you personally. Then other people will find something familiar in the written.

Develop your literary talent all the time

How to be a good children's writer

I want to become a famous writer, how to achieve this

Make sure you really want to be a writer and are willing to work towards it. Without self-confidence, it will be very difficult to move on. Read as much as possible. alternate short stories with serious masterpieces. This will greatly expand your vocabulary. Write a 10-page story in 10 days. Use your imagination to the full. Start a diary for the future "bestseller" and fill out one page in it every day. It doesn't matter if it's fiction or documentary. The diary is needed to hone your skills. Provide your creations to the general public. You can start promoting the book yourself, via the Internet. Listen to constructive criticism. Write down short abstracts for yourself and leave them in a conspicuous place. Try to create real heroes and love your characters. Write about anything that interests you!

Writers are not born, they are made. Do you think that Leo Tolstoy or Jack London just sat down at their desk one day and created their first masterpiece? By no means!

To be a writer great work, and if you decide to embark on this difficult path, get ready for a serious fight. In this article, we will talk about what every aspiring author faces.

Now many people earn by writing articles and texts. However, if you decide to become not just a reviewer, but want to publish your book, you need to understand what you may encounter in the process of working on your brainchild.

1. Daily hard work. Most beginners think that you only need to write when the muse visits you. This is fundamentally wrong! You will have to write every day, and not be limited to a couple of pages, but at least a dozen. Moreover, it is quite possible that out of these ten pages, only half of the sheet will remain in the end - this is completely unimportant! The main thing is to do a certain amount of work every day.
2. Forget big money. For a while. Perhaps on for a long time. Until you become popular writer, you will be paid mere pennies. So, the average fee for the first book is 15-20 thousand rubles. Moreover, sometimes the author does not receive a penny - in such cases, publishers can come up with hundreds of excuses and feed you breakfast until the second or even third book is released. Sooner or later the money will come, as long as you don't give up and keep writing.
3. Learning is light. Some aspiring writers consider themselves very talented and think they don't need to learn to be a writer. As a rule, they do not publish a single book. Even if you have a good style and style, do not shy away from the advice and recommendations of experienced authors. Also, it would not be superfluous to take some kind of training course like the “Money Webwriting. From A to Z ”- you may not be able to release a book, but you will acquire useful skills and, possibly, a second profession.
4. Trolls and witches literary world. In the book business, as in any other field of activity, there are many unpleasant personalities. Get ready to meet fraudulent publishers, vicious critics, lazy editors, slackers from the administration and other actors who will put a spoke in your wheels, trying to ruin your mood along the way.
5. Prepare for defeat. Unfortunately, our life is such that there are much fewer victories in it than defeats. Be prepared for anything: as a novice author, publishers don’t need you a priori, editors can throw your novel into the trash without even reading the introduction, readers will not want to buy your book, although they will read it with interest via the Internet. Even your family will consider you a loser and repeat that you can’t earn money writing. However, as well as fame. This period can be the most difficult for you - you just need to survive it, because everything will go much easier after that!

Before you start writing a book, think carefully - do you really need it? Maybe better

How to be a writer? This main question which is of interest to many.
English-language blog for aspiring writers WriteToDone compiled a list of 201 tips that are designed to help a young author, and divided them into thematic blocks.

Block one: How to develop a successful attitude in yourself?

1. Be open, curious, involved in life and living every moment of it.
2. Accept all forms of criticism and learn to grow from it.
3. Live with passion.
4. Tell everyone: "I'm a writer."
5. Admit your fear and overcome it.
6. Rethink the concept of "normal".
7. Check if your conclusions are correct.
8. Don't accept excuses.
9. Break out of your comfort zone.
10. Approach writing with gratitude rather than as something that “must” be done.
11. Take risks - don't be afraid to shock. You are not who you think you are.
12. Always think about your readers.
13. Learn to LOVE writing and reading.
14. Text like you're on a first date.
15. Just let things be what they are.
16. Acquire as many new experiences as possible in the shortest amount of time possible.
17. Love your tools. In the words of the famous bumper sticker: "My a fountain pen writes better than your excellent student!
18. Accept your shadow side. Learn what traits and characteristics you don't want to reveal.
19. Write to excite the mind and nerves.
20. Remember: if you are not sure about something, then you do not know it.
21. Know when to leave - and when to return.
22. Believe that you are a writer.
23. Destroy something regularly. Picasso said: "Every act of creation is, first of all, an act of destruction."
24. Never take a routine experience for granted.
25. Keep yourself in good physical form. Healthy body promotes creativity.
26. Be yourself. There is no need to look for inspiration in someone else.
27. Never give up.

Block two: How to develop the skill of a writer?

28. Use simple, declarative sentences.
29. Avoid the passive voice.
30. Limit the use of adjectives and adverbs.
31. Keep it simple.
32. Don't pour water.
33. Don't write too much.
34. Don't overdo it with descriptions (places, people, etc.).
35. Check each long word to see if it can be replaced by a simpler counterpart.
36. If you have a rough idea of ​​how you want to end the part you are writing now, try starting from there and see how it turns out.
37. Avoid three weak words, in addition to direct necessity: "If", "But", "Can't".
38. Never save your hero.
39. Practice single-tasking. Set a timer to write without interruption.
40. Work on powerful headlines.
41. Start with metaphors and stories.
42. Write the first sentence or headline last.
43. Write exclusively from your heart and avoid copying others.
44. Think twice before including a swear word in a text.
45. Ask yourself: “Can this be turned into a list?”. Come up with at least five things you can list about what you write.
46. ​​Use the miniskirt rule: keep your story long enough to cover everything important, but short enough to be interesting.
47. Write in small paragraphs to get to the point faster.
48. Imagine the person you are addressing in front of you: what is reflected in his eyes when he reads this? What would be the first thing he said to you in response?
49. Do what works for you.
50. Always call a shovel a shovel. And in no case - a garden tool with a long shaft!
51. Try to write sloppy. If you stop worrying about mistakes (for which left hemisphere brain), thoughts will flow more easily (right hemisphere).

Block three: How to develop good writing habits?

52. Exercise or at least warm up in between writing.
53. Create a schedule for your project and stick to it.
54. Tag ideas for further development plot before leaving work until tomorrow.
55. Find time to write anywhere, anytime.
56. Keep a copy of Strunk and White handy.
57. Keep a work log to be able to analyze your progress.
58. Write on ugly paper to trick your brain into believing that not everything has to be perfect.
59. Write when you're tired.
60. Rewrite from memory some good story that you once read, and then compare it with the original. Appreciate the difference and learn from it.
61. Practice contraction. Write a summary of your story and then shorten that too. Then press the summary summary. It helps a lot to get to the core of the story and discover what it's really about.
62. Make writing a priority in your life. If you claim that it is so important to you, prove it by how you allocate your time.
63. Write when you don't feel inspired.
64. A little trick to get yourself started: you only need to spend 15 minutes a day writing.
65. Use a deck of cards to start writing a book. On each write an object or idea. Then arrange and describe each one in order to create the first sketch.
66. Every day force yourself to disconnect from outside world at least for a while: turn off your phone, player, music, email, twitter - any conversations with other people.
67. Set a limit for each writing session, as well as a goal for how much you have to get done in that time.
68. Do not be afraid to rummage through the dictionary in search of the very Word that will fit the sentence better than what is there at the moment.
69. Buy a small notepad and pen to carry around with you everywhere.
70. Stop clicking on links - go write! Right now.
71. Set a timer and force yourself (even if it won't be yours) best job) write a story for a strictly set period of time.
72. Read good literature.
73. Write at dawn.
74. Read Saul Stein on Writing cover to cover.
75. Regularly read the WriteToDone blog (or our group =) - approx. per.).
76. Use the voice recording feature on your phone to record unexpected ideas or the right words - but not in the shower.
77. Write in a simple text editor.
78. Engage strangers in conversation. Then write about them from memory, describing the person, the setting, and the conversation itself.
79. Always ask yourself the question: "What if ...".
80. Have a dialogue with your characters.
81. Join writing challenges.
82. Write 15 minutes a day. Every day.
83. Drink more water to avoid weakness.
84. Turn on opera music on the background - or any other that suits your story.
85. Start writing early—not hours before a deadline.

Block five: How to become a writer?

101. Set word limits for yourself and write within them.
102. Outline your work. And then fill it out.
103. Discover a new word every day.
104. Write in collaboration with someone.
105. Read "Words That Work" by Frank Luntz.
106. Read more about copywriting and content marketing.
107. Mean what you write and write what you mean.
108. Write about something that someone else has already written about.
109. Stretch your fingers while writing.
110. Learn foreign language good enough to think about.
111. Write your life story.
112. Sleep at night as much as you need.
113. If thoughts are confused, take a nap for 15 minutes.
114. Draw strength from emotions.
115. Write like you have to stand up and read this article in front of a thousand people. Would they listen to her, or would they go home?
116. Write to various genres: blog posts, short stories, essay.
117. Read grammar books.
118. Allow yourself a poorly written first draft.
119. Try to eat well. If you only eat fast food and processed foods, your thinking skills also suffer, and you are not able to write as well as you could.
120. Be sure to read The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron.
121. If you can't write a book, write a blog post.
122. If you can't write a post, write a comment.
123. Write without being distracted by anything.
124. Tell the truth - then you will not have to remember everything that you wrote.
125. Pay close attention to how successful writers construct sentences.
126. Write about what you want to write, not about what you know.
127. Watch a movie. Could you write this story better?
128. Write in a crowded cafe.
129. Write in the toilet.
130. Write for 24 hours.
131. Write. And then write more.
132. Read, think, read, write, meditate, write - and read again.
133. Listen to people talk.
134. Read a lot of books. Both good and bad.
135. Listen to podcasts for writers.
136. Get inspired by other art forms: music, dance, sculpture, painting.
137. Reread your old work and recognize how far you have come since then - and how far you will go.
138. Make writing your priority in the morning.
139. Keep squeezing words out of yourself, even if you don't feel inspired.
140. Read the works of people belonging to different cultures. This will help your work avoid a smack of stagnation.
141. Write at the time of day when you are most productive.
142. Set aside time for the necessary searches and research.
143. Take part in Nanoraimo.
144. Go to the supermarket, football, school, construction site. Write down all the details and feelings, fix the atmosphere, people.
145. Parse and analyze books and articles that you enjoy.
146. Read "Read Like a Writer" by Francine Prowse.
147. Find your own unique voice.
148. Write different articles on the same topic, first for, then against it. This will help train your thinking.
149. Write about what you would desperately like to read about yourself.
150. Read as much as humanly possible.
151. Be in the flow of time: how do your headlines resonate with your audience?

Block six: How to edit what you have written?

152. Reread what you have written again and again until your eye has nothing to catch on.
153. Never blindly trust automatic check spelling in a text editor.
154. Show what you have written to a trusted friend and ask for feedback.
155. Edit and edit again.
156. But don't get stuck editing to death.
157. There is a time for writing - and there is a time for editing. Do not combine one with the other, otherwise you will be too critical of what you write.
158. When in doubt, cut out.
159. Take a break between the end of writing and the beginning of editing.
160. Read your work out loud to anyone who can stand it - including your cat.
161. Cut out 10% of the total number of words.
162. Doubt again? Cut it out too.
163. Kill all overloaded sentences.
164. Let your work lie down and then return to it to look at it with fresh eyes.
165. Ask someone else to do proofreading and proofreading.
166. Don't be afraid to cut out a sentence that seems brilliant to you but doesn't really make much sense.
167. Read more aloud - it's easier to catch mistakes.
168. Love the words you write while you write them - and be suspicious of them when you edit.
169. Take on the role of a reviewer and write a review of your own book, article or story.

Block seven: How to become more creative?

Creativity is the most important thing when it comes to writing. The following tips will help you boost your creative energy.

170. Capture all your brilliant ideas: they are easily forgotten.
171. Keep a journal to keep your writing energy cool.
172. Use this diary to sort out your thoughts and feelings.
173. Watch people.
174. Write, trying to keep within 101 words.
175. Start writing down your "stream of consciousness" and see where it takes you.
176. Let your mind wander.
177. If there are no other ways to spur inspiration, try to find it at the bottom of a glass ...
178. Meditate regularly to put your mind in order.
179. Mow the lawn, go for a walk or a run, anything that keeps your mind focused while your subconscious mind is in the creative clouds.
180. Copy this list to your wall so you can refer back to it when you need inspiration.
181. Write down all random quotes, story ideas, thoughts on your phone when you are on the road.
182. Group data by various features look for comparisons.
183. Study nature.
184. Write while writing. If something spurred you on, don't stop.
185. Write with a pencil instead of a laptop for more inspiration.
186. Check news and social media feeds to find inspiration in the current.
187. Get to know someone who is not at all like you and use their experience.
188. Try new things, take up new hobbies: the more variety in your life, the more likely you will be able to continue to generate new ideas for your creativity.
189. Set aside time for reflection.
190. Write where the action is in your scene. If you want to write about the beach, take a basket of food and go to the sea.
191. Use mind maps.
192. Collect words.
193. Write everything down. Don't trust your memory, especially with new ideas, especially at night.
194. Trying to convey some emotion, but not sure how best to do it? Listen to music that reflects that feeling as you write.
195. The cure for writer's block - read an article by your favorite author or other favorite publication.
196. Try writing with the other hand. The inconvenience and complexity of the process will allow more thoughts come into your head.
197. When you feel like you've reached a dead end, get distracted by something that doesn't require much thought from you, whether it's ironing or walking.
198. Write outdoors.
199. Write when inspiration strikes.
200. Don't wait for ideas. Find them yourself.
201. Read the comments on your blog and appreciate those who take the time to leave them for you.

Be a writer!

Based on materials from the VKontakte group