Module 2 Part 1

(approx. 10 sheets)

Making a Writer Out of You
When to Write
Where to Write
How to Start Writing
Writer's Block
Basic Equipment
Notebooks
Keeping a Cuttings File
Be Organised
The Writer's Approach to Life

Making A Writer Out of You

In this module we are going to deal with the basic approach, organisation and personal qualities that you need to develop in order to become a published writer. This advice applies just as much to the part-time writer as it does to the full-time professional. The difference between the two should not be one of attitude, but simply one of application. Obviously, the professional needs to write more than the part-timer – their living depends on it.

Later modules will give you advice on the techniques and requirements for the specific markets covered, while the assignments and your tutor's comments will concentrate on developing your writer's skills.

So, because it covers such basic information, this module is one of the most important in the whole course. Study it carefully, follow the advice as closely as you can and you should then have a firm foundation on which to build your future writing success.

To be a successful writer you need self-discipline and perseverance. The other side of the coin – your reward – is enjoyment, the immense satisfaction of creative achievement and, we hope, a good financial return for your efforts.

Successful writers do not lounge around waiting for inspiration – they start writing. They write regularly because they have disciplined themselves to do so, and because they want to. Try to write every day, even if it is only for a few minutes. This can be notes for future reference, a synopsis for an article, the plot of a story or simply letters to friends or relatives. This regular writing helps to keep the mind fresh, active and creative. Many writers find keeping a diary very helpful for this and it can have the added advantage of being a rich source of writing ideas when you look back through it.

When to Write

It does not matter when you write. One person may rise early and write for two or three hours before breakfast when they feel most mentally alert and creative. Another may write when most people are asleep. Others may do office hours: 9.00 till 12.00, an hour off for lunch, then two or three hours in the afternoon. Only you will know, due to your circumstances and mental make-up, when is the best time to do your creative writing. So work out what's best for you.

Just as you must decide for yourself when to write, you must also decide on how much to write at each session. This again depends on your personal make-up, preferences and the time you have available. Some writers prefer to work in short bursts, while others are better with more continuous stints. We can't be more precise about when to write or how much you should write at a time.

Where to Write

There are writers who are unable to work unless the environment is suitable, with no distractions. The desk must face a blank wall instead of the view from a window and there must be no interruptions from family or friends.

On the other hand, some people believe that writers should be able to write anywhere, oblivious to their surroundings – lost in their own creative world.

But each person is different and your train of thought can be disturbed by a noisy distraction – especially the telephone. If you are one of those people who can still write whilst surrounded by distractions, then you are very fortunate. For those of you who are not so lucky, you should find a place to write where you are comfortable. A place, in short, that encourages you to write.

It is not a good idea to slog away day and night for a weekend and then take several weeks off to compensate for work done. Better results are achieved by regular daily production.

You may object: I am not a factory worker! I can only work when I feel inspired.

That attitude is unproductive. Excellent fiction and non-fiction have been produced by writers who sat down and dredged up ideas. Any staff newspaper journalist who told their editor that they were waiting to be visited by inspiration would very quickly be told that they were in the wrong job.

Peter De Vries, the American novelist said: I write when I'm inspired – at nine o'clock every morning!

One of the facts of life that most professional writers have to come to terms with is that the only sure way to write is to apply the seat of the pants to the seat of a chair.

How to Start Writing

The ideas, the inspiration to write and the motivation must, of course, come from within yourself. The only way to start writing is to sit down and get on with it. If you have difficulty at first, do not be put off. This is not at all uncommon. A good analogy is to compare the human brain to a car engine. They both work best when warmed up. On a cold morning the engine can be difficult to start and then it chugs along for a bit. The warmer it becomes the better it works. In a similar way, your mind will work better when it is warmed up.

Therefore the answer to your problem is to start writing. Anything will do at this stage in order to get the brain functioning and words on paper. Later, you may well discard what you first wrote, but this doesn't matter if it has achieved its purpose.

Soon you will find that the ideas flow better. You will be able to express yourself more freely and put down your thoughts precisely as you want them. Once again we have to repeat, there is no substitute for sitting down and actually writing. No matter how silly, or rough, or uninspired your first thoughts and way of expressing them might be, the important point is that you have started writing! You can polish and improve your work later when your mind has warmed up.

Writer's Block

We know of one writer who thinks that writer's block is a myth. He believes writing is a trade like plumbing, and you don't hear of plumber's block! But if you don't agree with him, here are some tips for overcoming the problem.

Occasionally, you may find that your enthusiasm to write makes you overdo it. This can cause you to become mentally tired and stale. When this happens the mind refuses to go on processing new material. You are jaded. Your writing becomes harder and the quality suffers.

It is not a particularly serious condition, unless it lasts a long time. Most writers seem to suffer from it occasionally and readily overcome it. In fact, now that you are aware of it, this in itself will help you to recognise and combat it.

When it strikes, there are several remedies. One is to take a rest from writing for a short while. It may only take a change of activity to restore your creativity. Go for a long walk, do some gardening, watch television, play golf or anything that will give you a mental rest and help you to relax.

Another successful remedy is to go to your local reference library and simply browse. Do not set yourself a time limit or force yourself to do particular research – go with an open mind. This works equally well for writers of fiction and non-fiction. Glance through local history material, comparative religions, art and literature. Anything, in fact, which catches your attention or imagination. Make notes, if something really takes your fancy, or follow up ideas that seem particularly interesting. You may get some inspiration straightaway or the facts you have picked up may stay in your subconscious and only surface later. Whatever the result, it will have been a relaxing time and one which may help to cure your block.

An alternative to browsing in your local library is to use the Internet. You really will have the world at your fingertips.

Or go wild with the Sunday papers. Have a lazy morning in bed seeing what other writers are producing – nothing is new and it might just trigger some ideas.

If that does not appeal to you then get out and about. If you are part way through a novel, where better than a place connected with the action to soak up the atmosphere and watch the people around you? For non-fiction writers short of ideas somewhere busy and bustling might be better – a town on market day, a seaside resort. What is important is that you watch and listen, relaxed but receptive all the time.

If mental block still persists why not give yourself a holiday? Read your favourite authors again, or do whatever else is necessary to make you relax. For the time being forget about writing. When you return to it, start with something easy. Remember our car analogy of a few moments ago. This is even more appropriate when you have had a longish lay-off.

If writer's block does occur, don't let it worry you. Follow the above advice and you should have no difficulty in overcoming it.

Basic Equipment

All writers require some basic equipment. This includes pens, pencils, paper, a typewriter or computer, notebooks, a diary, a filing cabinet or other means of storing cuttings and copies of correspondence – and various reference books. Editors will no longer consider hand-written manuscripts – an understandable point when one sees the handwriting and spelling of some people!

We will still accept hand-written scripts for your assignments. However, it is much better if you can type your work right from the beginning. Ensuring that your work is properly presented at all times is another step in acquiring that essential professional attitude to your writing.

It is not necessary at this stage to spend a lot of money on equipment, but it is essential to present your writing as neatly as possible. This is dealt with in more depth in Module 6. For the time being, our advice is to shop around carefully to see what would best suit your purposes.

A filing cabinet is useful to file cuttings on subjects you think may be helpful to you in your future writing. But do not let clipping them out and filing them become so time consuming that you spend more time on these tasks than you do on writing. Another cabinet is useful for filing copies of your own correspondence and that received from editors and publishers, so that these are kept in order and readily accessible for reference. Cheap filing cabinets can often be obtained secondhand through advertisements in local newspapers, office equipment sales, on the Internet etc.

Some of the reference books that you will find most useful include an encyclopedia such as Pears, but there is no need to go to the expense of obtaining a grand set of encyclopedias as you can always use those in your local library. Also, there is now a huge amount of reference material available on CD-Rom and on the Internet – though with the latter you should always check the source of the facts carefully.

A good dictionary is essential – it not only helps you with the spelling and meaning of words but can also help to suggest synonyms. Consider all the dictionaries available and then choose the one you think meets your needs.

If you feel that your spelling is weak, make sure you study the Handbook on that subject very carefully. Also, if you use a word processing package always use the spell-check facility. But don't rely on this completely because it won't show up misspellings which are bona fide spellings of other words with different meanings, such as 'aloud' and 'allowed' or 'there' and 'their'.

Practical English Usage by Michael Swan (OUP) and the Longman Guide to English Usage are helpful if you wish to check construction and points of grammar which people often get wrong. They are both easily obtainable. If you feel that your grammar could be better – or your tutor feels you need to work on this aspect – then Discover Grammar by David Crystal (Longman) and How Grammar Works by Patricia Osborn (Wiley) both give clear, simple explanations.

A thesaurus such as Roget's or the New Collins is handy, as is a dictionary of synonyms. English is such a rich language and there are usually more ways than one of saying something. Experimenting with words as you write can be a great pleasure and also a way to enhance your style.

A copy of either the Writers' and Artists' Yearbook (which we refer to throughout the course) or The Writer's Handbook is essential and should be updated each year. Willings' Press Guide and Benn's Media Directory, which lists every publication in the world, can be examined in your public library's reference section.

Finally, you should consider the Penguin or Oxford Dictionary of Quotations, a world atlas and possibly a literary encyclopedia which gives details of major writers and their works.

Try to build your own library of books on subjects which are of special interest to you and which you may write about in the future. Car boot sales and secondhand bookshops are good sources of reasonably priced volumes. Don't waste money buying a lot of expensive books you may never use in the course of your career. Books in your nearest public library can always be consulted. You should make full use of your local library – if they do not have a book you require, they are usually most helpful in borrowing it from another library for you.

And as we mentioned earlier, the Internet now provides an amazing reference library that you can access without even leaving your own home.

Some writers have letterheads printed with their name and address and writer, journalist or author on them. A few even list the writing organisations of which they are members, such as The Society of Authors. This isn't essential but it does look professional. If you have a computer it is easy to create your own letterhead, but do make sure it is clear, uncluttered and always use reasonable quality paper to make a good impression.

Remember to include your home and mobile phone numbers, plus fax and email address (if you have them) so that you can be contacted quickly if necessary.

Notebooks

All writers should carry a notebook and pen or pencil wherever they go. Even leave it by your bed at night. Otherwise you might have a wonderful idea but by the time you get round to making a note of it, it has disappeared from your mind.

You should also keep notebooks or files for your writing ideas, and for any pieces of incidental writing you do. You never know when you may be able to use them.

Whenever an idea comes to you for an article, story or plot – write it down. Should writer's block strike, such notes and ideas can be invaluable.

Some writers use a compact dictating machine for making notes when they are out and about and an idea occurs to them. They can also be useful if you want to do a quick interview. But always ensure you have a spare tape and batteries.

More and more people are using laptop computers. These are getting smaller and more convenient all the time – though prices are still quite high.

Keeping a Cuttings File

Most writers have a cuttings file. Cuttings are items clipped from newspapers and magazines and retained for their factual usefulness in future writing. Look for relevant, amusing or unusual items that tie-up with subjects which interest you. File them under their respective headings. They can be used in addition to books on the subjects.

When an idea occurs to you for an article you can take out your collection of cuttings. Sort through these, selecting the items which will make an interesting, readable article. Alternatively, if you are struggling to find something to write about, searching through your selection of cuttings might trigger ideas. It is also a good idea for those of you who intend to write short stories or novels to clip out pieces concerning people or events around which you might weave a story.

Naturally, you will only keep cuttings of those subjects in which you have a special interest or are likely to write about. Otherwise, you would soon be inundated with paper as well as spending too much time on your cuttings.

A simple method of making a cuttings file is to use a number of 10" by 12" envelopes. Write the subject's name on the top of the envelope. These can then be filed in alphabetical order in a large box. Eventually a filing cabinet may be needed to house your cuttings envelopes.

With a little use, you will soon realise the importance of a good cuttings file to help you to produce a steady output of articles. And you can, of course, also collect information from the Internet.

Remember to bookmark and add to your favourites any useful sites you find, in case you want to refer to them again at a later date. Give the site a relevant title otherwise the bookmark will pick up the name the original author gave to the site or the first few characters on the site – which you might not recognise when you're searching for it again.

Go through your list of bookmarks regularly and delete ones you no longer need otherwise the list gets unwieldy and it could take you ages to find the site you want.

It's also a good idea to save any important material as websites come and go, crash or links get broken and you might find that the site no longer exists or you can't access it if you return to it for information at a later date. You can do this in a number of ways:

• Print out the information you want. Remember to write the website address and page location on your printout incase you need to go back to the site again, or to quote it as a reference in your book or magazine article.
  
  
• Save the page as web page to disc. You can do this by clicking on the area of the page you want to save then selecting File: Save as and saving it as a web page.
  
  
• Copying information straight to a Word document. Highlight the text or image you want to copy, right click with your mouse, select copy from the menu then paste it onto a Word document.

Whatever method you use to save work on the Internet always make a note of the website where it came from and the author. Remember that copyright laws protect material on the web just the same as printed material. Never copy anyone else's work and pass it off as your own, or select images from the web and use them in your own work without permission from the copyright owner. If you quote directly from a website then put the text in quote marks and state its source. Always write up any information you've researched in your own words. To copy someone else's work, even if you change a few words, is plagiarism.

Occasionally, students write to us saying that they have tried keeping a cuttings file but it does not seem to help them. If you find this method isn't for you, then experiment to develop something that suits you and is more convenient. But do try it first – you don't know how useful it is until you've tried it.

Over the last few pages we have given you suggestions for organising yourself but, in your enthusiasm to get started, please do not rush into it in such a way that you find yourself overwhelmed. Plan the organisation of your writing carefully and at a pace with which you feel comfortable.

Be Organised

If you are going to be a successful writer you must treat writing as a business. Maintain records in a ledger book, on a card system or on your computer. You should keep a postage book in which all post out is recorded: to whom material is sent, if a sae (stamped addressed envelope) is included, whether rejected or accepted and the cost of postage. Here is an example:

Another book should be kept for income with suggested headings like this:

In this way you can keep a check on sales and chase up editors who are slow in publishing. You will also have an approximate figure of monthly income through acceptances and work published.

A third book should be maintained for expenditure. Note down items bought and how much you paid. These books have to be totalled at the end of your financial year when you submit income and expenditure to the Inland Revenue as a part of your Tax Return. All money spent on your writing, such as postage, pens, paper, printer cartridges etc is legitimate expenditure which, for tax purposes, can be set off against your income. However, the Tax Inspector may require to see receipts, so always obtain and keep them. Remember, these records are part of your writing business.

If you don't want to keep manual records, one of the easiest methods is to use Microsoft Excel spreadsheets. You can name the columns in exactly the same way as you would a manual record and save each sheet under a separate title.

According to the Inland Revenue you should register with them as self-employed as soon as you sell your first piece of writing. This applies both to those who have no other source of income and those who are currently employed in a part-time or full-time job.

Even if you are working for a company and having your tax and national insurance deducted by them you must still register as self-employed for anything you earn separately from your writing.

However, it's always best to contact the tax authorities to find out how you should go about this. Also, regulations vary from country to country and this advice might not apply outside the UK.

We feel this is enough about the organisation of your affairs at this stage. If, when you find yourself becoming successful, you are not confident about keeping your finances in good order you can choose one of two paths – either take a short course in managing the money side of your business (these are now widely available) or employ an accountant to do it for you. What is important at this stage is that you keep the basic records we have just suggested. You may be interested to know that there is an excellent section on finance (Income Tax and Social Security) in that indispensable volume the Writers' and Artists' Yearbook.

The Writer's Approach to Life

As you aspire to be a writer you should view life itself as a writer would. All experiences – both your own and other people's, whether happy, sad, frustrating or tragic – should be seen and examined as potential material for you to use. This is especially important for students who plan to be novelists or short story writers.

In order to make the most of what is happening around you, you should try to use all your senses all the time. Nothing should escape your keen observation and scrutiny. You should become an enquiring person. Ask yourself questions about why things are being done, the background to events, the circumstances that surround them and the reaction of both those involved and those merely observing. There are ideas for stories, articles and news items all around, if only you can recognise them.

What is important is the ability to analyse an incident in order to use it as the basis for an article, news item or short story. Observation plus questions should stimulate your imagination into creativity.

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