8 tips for aspiring writers
AP
8 tips for aspiring writers
By Arlene M. Paredes
(This article was published in the Philippine Daily Inquirer in March 2003.)
IF you're a persistent, determined and resourceful writer, there are a lot of opportunities for you, especially in this age of information technology when your works may even be sought by international magazines.
While you're starting, the money may not be enough to pay the bills just yet. But with any luck, and once you've established yourself as a writer, opportunities would follow you and projects would abound.
Eventually you'll realize the money becomes mere icing on the cake because the true reward in writing is the joy of being paid while you're not really working but merely expressing yourself. It will definitely make you feel you're luckier than any other employed person in the world.
The question now is: How do you start?
Know your strength (or your genre). Although there are writers who can comfortably shift from fiction to features to other genre, it's good to concentrate on one field while you're starting. This way, you can improve your writing, one field at a time. I was 17 when I started writing for a local komiks in 1997. But I realized the competition is quite stiff in the komiks, so I shifted to writing feature stories for women's magazines. I realized I was more comfortable in writing features, and there were unlimited topics to discuss. So I continued to write features and somehow grew from there.
Study your prospective market in bookstores. Once you've learned what your strength is, you should know the publications that publish such genre. And the best way to do this is to hit the bookstores and explore available publications. Remember, too, that you should familiarize yourself with the general tone of the publication you're eyeing so you'll know whether or not your style fits with them.
"Meet" the editors. You'll find their names and contact information in the staff boxes of their publications. You will submit your articles to them so they're the ones who'll judge your works. They're the ones who'll either crush or challenge you, depending on how you take their words. If I were you, I'd choose to be challenged than crushed. Don't forget there are more editors on the Internet and there are websites where you can "advertise" yourself as a writer. You just have to search "wanted+writer" on the Internet and you'll be overwhelmed with the demand for writers all over the world.
Write and submit queries and articles. Honestly, I didn't know what "queries" were when I started. Gee, I didn't know anything then. I just knew I wanted to be published. So I wrote a komiks editor and asked for a sample script. Two out of three editors replied and I'll forever be thankful to them.
Queries are basically proposals with a brief introduction of yourself and a synopsis of what you intend to write about. There are editors who prefer queries but there are others who would rather read your full material. So back to the tip above, call/e-mail the editor first so you'll know what her/his preference is.
For tips on how to write effective queries, search "good+query" over the Internet. After you've submitted your query/work, don't bombard your editor with phone calls and visits. Don't submit multiple works at the same time. Dealing with solicited materials is difficult enough. Reading unsolicited materials can really be straining so give them ample time to review your work.
Improve yourself. After receiving good feedback, don't rest on your laurels (if it's bad feedback, don't give up). A good writer always finds ways to write better. For inspiring and motivating articles for writers, log on to http://ewritersplace.com or search "tips+writers" over the Internet. You may also attend writing workshops and seminars if you're serious about improving yourself. Goodwill Bookstore offers such seminars, so the next time you hit the malls, go to Goodwill and ask about this.
Surround yourself with writers. Even if you don't thrive in competition, being surrounded by writers is a very effective motivating force. Experienced writers, especially the kind and generous ones, would give you tips on effective writing and even tips on prospective publications. If you haven't heard of one, log-on to and join http://groups.yahoo.com/group/pinoywriters.
Read, write, read, write... daily. Read books, magazines and newspapers (even if the news is invariably bad). Write about an interesting news and challenge yourself to make a stand regarding a national issue. Keep a journal. If you haven't heard about online journals, you may want to visit http://www.blogger.com, where you can easily maintain your journal online.
As you read and write more, you learn more about yourself, you develop a more distinct style, and you challenge yourself to write better each time. The truth is, you don't have to pressure yourself to write better. It will just happen as you write every day.
Be a social person. Did you know that Emily Dickinson was such a recluse that she would only talk to visitors from inside her room? I don't know how she got her ideas, but I got mine from interacting with friends, people, and even strangers. Everyone has a story to tell. If you listen closely, you'll never run out of things to write about. If you read constantly, you'll learn both the bad and effective ways in sending out your messages to your readers.