Guest Post - 14 Basic Writing Tips

So, you’re wondering how to get started with writing? So was I! How do you start writing? How do I get obsessed with writing like that professional writer over there? Well, I don’t have all the answers, I’ve only been writing seriously for three years (with the ultimate goal of being an author), I even used to hate writing.

But, you can write, you can start, and you can get to the goal you want to set!

Here are some ways to do that!  

1. Get writing materials. To get started, you need writing materials! Do you prefer using a pen (or pencil) and paper, or using the computer to type your ideas out? My personal favorites are Sharpie Pens! They come in all colors, everywhere, and they are amazing to write with! As well as your good old mechanical pencils. I also have varying sizes of notebooks, but they are lined. Word documents are also so useful, I have been using Google Docs.
   
2. Set yourself a realistic goal (even something small, like writing 100 words a week to start) and schedule writing into your week. Use a calendar to schedule it out for the week, or a checklist to make sure you get it done!
   
3. Start writing! Sit down and get your paper out (or whatever you prefer to write with) pen, pencil, laptop, or even phone.

4. Set a timer to write, using your phone, or a stopwatch or the timer on the oven always works. Setting a time helps with consistency of habit. Challenge yourself. Find out what works for you. Every day? Once a week? Twenty minutes per day? Experiment. Find what time of day works best for you.

5. Find a location best suited for productivity. Write away from distractions, this helps concentration and will help you write more efficiently if you are alone and able to focus completely on your writing. Places such as a private room in your house, outside, or a library.

6. Block off your social media. Blocking off certain sites or stepping away from electronics completely during your writing time is important for productivity, concentration, and efficiency. Too many tabs open can cause your mind to wonder and panic with so many things to think about. Some use an app called Freedom App I just turn off all my tabs or don’t use the computer at all.

7. Get someone to keep you accountable. Make a blog with Wix, Wordpress or Blogger Tell a friend or family member. Start a group either online or in person on a regular basis. Starting a blog and setting a goal of posting every week has really helped me develop the habit of writing consistently. It wouldn't even have to be a blog, just something so that you're accountable to other people to be consistent!
   
8. Take time to brainstorm. This helps plan out what you want to write so you don’t get stuck. To find ideas, ask yourself, what are your interests? What do you want to read? What message do you want to send to your readers? Start there. You can also write what first comes to mind, write your thoughts, a list of ideas. A random story. Just start writing. Brainstorming isn’t for perfection it is just to get your ideas flowing!
   

      9. Look at your surroundings. From your surroundings, you can get  inspiration. Ask, “What are people saying or doing? What’s the weather like?” Was there a particular event happening around you that you could implement into a story? Use those!

      10. Keep writing even if you don’t want to. That’s part of forming a habit. You have to do it repeatedly before it starts to come naturally (and it definitely won’t all the time, even after). So keep going with that pen, motivation comes and goes, but to stay consistent, you just have to write!

Don’t stop writing.

11. Don't be discouraged by age. Writers can be any age! It’s really just a matter of starting.There’s no age limit whatsoever!

12. Read before writing. Discover what styles you like and what things you want to avoid. Read outside your genre.

13. Find a community of writers that can critique your writing and that you can critique. Want to start a blog? Connect with other bloggers, by actively participating in that community. Start your own in person group.

14.  Find a writing mentor (even if he/she is younger). As long as they are ahead of you in their writing path they are perfectly qualified to guide you in your writing goals!

So! That’s it for now! 14 things to get you started on your writing path, no matter how big or small your goals are! As I mentioned I’ve only been writing and blogging for the past three years, and I definitely don’t have everything figured out.

Have questions, or further comments? Post them in the comments section below!

Anne Rhys is a young writer who blogs at Fathers Joy with the goal of inspiring others of all ages in the arts of reading and writing, she also is in the middle of several writing projects with the intent to publish. To find out additional information subscribe to her email list Fathers Joy Writings . 

A New Year

I grew up mostly in a small town. We were one of the larger towns for our area, but still, it was a little place where you knew everyone in school, you saw mostly the same people most of the time, you did business at the same places and, when things happened to someone, it affected everyone.

Its a little different in a city. When you hear sirens, you don't call around to see who was in an accident. When people are hurting or having trouble, you are just glad it wasn't you or yours. When you see an accident, you don't stop to try and help, you just get irritated that they are keeping you from where you need to go.

It's just different here. We are busy.

This morning, as I was heading out while it was still dark to pick Ethan up from some all night thing for teens at the church, I saw a young girl trying to push her obviously not working car out of a busy intersection.

My first thought was, "I hope someone is around to help her."

I had one of those I'm not gonna stop, I'm in a hurry, I'm sure she will be fine, I don't want to scare her, she looks like she's got it moments.

Then I thought, no, that sucks. I've been broke down before, and it feels so frustrating and you can feel so helpless when their is no one to help. If it was me, wouldn't I want someone to just help out a little?

So, I helped her push her car out of the intersection and made sure she had someone coming to rescue her, and felt like a jerk for not wanting to take five minutes to help someone out.

This is a New Year. 
I'm not trying to brag about my good deeds. In fact, I'm a little embarrassed to share how I've overlooked people I should have helped plenty of times, and was going to just leave her there to take care of her own problems, when helping wasn't much trouble at all.

I just hope you will take a moment to consider how you might be able to help someone else if you are able. And how you might bring a little concern for those outside your usual circle, even if they seem a to be giving you a little inconvenience.

Happy New Year friends!