WRITE NOW (5) – Develop a sense of curiosity

WRITE NOW (5) – Develop a sense of curiosity

Learn to become a people-watcher and listen to conversations without staring or becoming a stalker or eavesdropping in a way that is indiscreet. A writer’s mind is hungry and so you should be interested in everything around you as fodder for your work. Keep a notebook handy at all times for recording things. I have one that fits easily into my pocket and I never put the grocery list in there (unless a grocery list is part of something I’m writing). Neither should you use it as an appointments diary. Think of it as a sacred book that contains seed thoughts.  

When we are writing we tend to draw on our experience and knowledge. It is important, therefore, to broaden your experience and knowledge as much as possible. 

Become an avid reader

An interest in reading literature will help greatly with your writing. It will help if you have some knowledge of the classics of the English language (and classics of other languages, perhaps in translation) - William Shakespeare, Charles Dickens, the Brontës, Jane Austen, Thomas Hardy, Charles Dickens, Milton, Keats, Wordsworth, Coleridge, Homer, Ibsen, Chekov, Hesse, Dostoyevsky, Tolstoy etc. You should also read more modern authors too. Find what you like and read. Try the books that have been nominated, or have won, prizes. Read the book review pages in the Times Literary Supplement, Irish Times, The Guardian…

   Study these writer’s styles. How were things said? What makes a passage interesting and exciting? Why was the dialogue convincing? What makes the characters realistic? But do not try to copy another’s style. Let your style develop naturally from your own ability, opinions and emotions.

Writers are wordsmiths with a good vocabulary. It is important to broaden your vocabulary so that you can express your ideas in different ways. The frequent repetition of some words can be tedious (unless it is intended for some literary purpose) and should be avoided. 

If you are not already an avid reader you should become one. If you want to add to the vast amount of books already in existence you should have a good degree of familiarity with what has already been published. A publisher will want to know what is distinctive and original about your work and how it compares and contrasts with something they or another publisher may already have on their list of publications. If you are not in a position to answer that question you are at a disadvantage. Reading literature gives a sense of enjoyment and stimulates the mind. But there are also practical outcomes to reading extensively. It will broaden your mind and develop your vocabulary. You will get an idea of the quality of writing that gets into print. You will learn from reading how credible dialogue is written to advance plot and how narrative is constructed. In addition to reading widely I would also recommend that you read deeply, that is, analytically. Take one great novel and read it several times, slowly and carefully, observing the craft of the writer as you go along. If a book is well-written you will be able to glean a lot of helpful insight into the techniques of writing. It is also a good idea to read all the works of your favourite writer. But be careful when emulating style and noting technique that you do not become a clone of your this author. If you read widely you will reduce the risk of your writing becoming unduly influenced by the style of a particular author.

Do not be daunted by the brilliance of some great author. It is possible to be in such awe of a gifted writer that you feel intimidated and decide not to write at all because you feel you could never write as well or as beautifully as him/her. That would be a great pity. It would show that you have an appreciation of the genius and a certain degree of humility, but a writer need to learn to be confident in his own, unique perceptions, perspective, voice and style. So don’t walk away, at least not before taking a shot.

Your personal qualities

In addition to the perseverance, determination and personal commitment we have already mentioned, there are certain other qualities a writer requires. Probably the most important of these is organisation. You need to organise your life so as to make the maximum use of your time. This may come naturally to some but the majority will have to make a programme for themselves.

H. G. Wells had one; he called it his schema – an outline of work to be accomplished. His programme was a punishing one, but it enabled him to leap to fame over the counter of the draper’s shop to which his mother had sent him because she wanted him to have a respectable occupation. Set yourself a programme for each day and do not be satisfied until you have done it. This is about exercising self-discipline.

Patience, too, is a very useful quality. It enables the writer to cope with the often very long delays in editorial offices. Editors and publisher’s readers are busy people who probably have a pile of manuscripts on their desks awaiting decisions.

Another quality you will need is resilience. That is the ability to bounce back after a cherished piece of work has been declined by an editor. There is no point in sulking, or flying into a rage.

Confidence is also valuable. No writer is an expert in all fields of writing. Each has to find his own niche – just as you have to. You will need to find out where your strengths and weaknesses lie.

©Kieran Beville