by Sarah Flores, Contributing Writer
What’s that you say?
You’re not writing?
You should be working on your craft!
When we see authors like Stephen King pump out dozens of great books, we have to wonder if he was simply born with this incredible talent.
Unfortunately, for the rest of us, this kind of talent doesn’t magically happen.
Our writing skills are learned, and they are skills we should continually fuel with fire.
That fire can be in the form of writing groups, or writing workshops and courses, and even reading; whatever you feel best hones your craft.
As a typically solo profession, writing is mostly spent staring at a computer or a notepad, but it doesn’t have to be a lonely endeavor.
Join a writing group here: Writing Group
It’s a fantastic way to meet like-minded people, and to have trusted sets of eyes review your work with honest feedback.
Once you find your group, or even just another individual to swap work with, meet up with them a couple times each month and prepare to give and receive constructive feedback.
The great thing is that you’re meeting these individuals offline, and they’ll more than likely tone down negative reviews on your work.
It’s hard for some people to look others in the eyes and tell them their short story reads like a third grader’s diary entry.
It’s not hard for some people to anonymously make a mean critique from behind a computer in their mom’s basement.
You may find that you aren’t quite sure about the critiques you’ve been given, and you may be tempted to throw them directly in the trash, but don’t.
Let your pride sit in the backseat, and really take some time to grasp the feedback, appreciate it, and tighten up your work.
If more than one person says a particular area of your story could use some tweaking, well, there’s probably a good reason for it.
No matter how many years of writing experience you have under your belt, the best writers know that there is always more to learn.
How do you learn more?
You take writing courses, of course.
You might think you don’t have time to go back to college.
Or, you might be thinking, Hey, I’m a writer, I don’t have the money to go to college!
Fortunately, we live in a time where free or extremely cheap education is abundant.
(Cheap, that is, as long as you aren’t looking to place initials after your name.)
Some of my favorite sites for online writing courses are Udemy.com, Coursera.org, and iTunes U.
Through each of these websites, do a search for the term “writing”, and you’ll come across a variety of fantastic courses, some beginning at $10.00.
You’ll find courses on creative writing, comedic writing, expository and argumentative writing, and there’s even a course that promises to teach you how to become a bestselling author on Amazon Kindle.
Paperbacks, move out of the way!
Not really, paperbacks.
We still love you.
If meeting people in a group setting scares you, or setting your synapses on fire with education isn’t appealing, maybe spend the time that you aren’t writing, reading.
Open a book by one of your favorite authors, and instead of only reading for pleasure, study the way they write.
Take notes.
What is it about their writing style that makes you come back for more?
When you take time away from the actual craft of writing, don’t let guilt find its way to you.
There are always ways to educate yourself in the same field.
Every step you take towards improving your writing can make a big difference.
About Sarah Flores
Sarah Flores is a book editor who specializes in line editing, copy editing, and proofreading, and she works on almost all fiction, nonfiction, and children’s books. She has helped authors take their books from rough drafts to best sellers. Learn more about her and her editing services at Write Down the Line, LLC.
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