Val Dumond

Author

Publisher

Editor

Consultant

Articles on Writing, Grammar, and Publishing
by Val Dumond

So You Want to Write
by Val Dumond
©2008

You want to write a book, a story, a poem, a letter, a memo, a... whatever, but how do you get started? Here are some questions to nudge the mind into action:

• What is your passion? What gets your attention?
• Why does this interest you?
• Is it a serious matter? Can you approach it with humor?
• Can you think of an example to explain your passion?
• Can you write out that example in the form of a story?
• Do you have the patience to pound out 70,000-or-so words?
• What do you want to do with the results?

Here are more questions to ask yourself.

• Why do you want to write?
• Do you wish to spread your words out around you? or send them out to the world?
• Do your friends consider you a storyteller? (Do you keep their attention when telling them something?)
• Would you like to become a full-time writer? (Slow down and give this some thought!)
• Do you have the persistence and patience to look for publication?
• What would happen if you became well-known as a writer?

Most published authors, particularly of fiction, are first-time novelists. You may notice that, more often than not, they are one-novel wonders - which supports my contention that everyone has a story to tell. Some authors who write many books just re-write the first book and slap on a new title (Writing For Beginners, Writing For Business, Writing For Fun, Writing For Teenagers, Writing For Children, etc. or Cowboy Bob Rides to Montana, Cowboy Bob Fights Rustlers, Cowboy Bob Looks For Love, etc.).

The phenomena are writers like J. K. Rowlings who write an ongoing story over several books, then move on to something else.

Then there are the professionals. Many artists (yes, I believe they are artists) need to write to explore their world. You can identify them by comments such as, "I have to write or I'd wither and die!" or "If I don't write for a while, I begin to shake." These are the authors who develop a following of readers who look forward to each new book because they know it will offer the same fine level of writing while it tells a new story.

Some of these artists are those who simply want to record their ideas, spread their words around them, and know they have significant thoughts. They have little desire, or need, to share their writing. They are the journal keepers, the diarists, the self-recorders, and usually they have few emotional problems; they have talked them out on paper (or computer) and dumped the stress.

My favorite writers are those who have a story and want to write it, just to get it out of their heads or to explain their ideas to others, who know something they want to share, or record their story for family and friends. I would call them hobbyists, but writing is a bit more than a hobby. To do it well takes practice, guidance, purpose, and will - a lot of will!

So, do you still feel like writing something? Answer those questions (above) and be honest with yourself. If you feel that writers automatically become glamorous, rich, and famous, go back and face the truth! If you are serious, sit down and start to write!

Back to the main Articles page

"Please feel free to contact me. I welcome your comments and any specific questions you may have. "