A writing career is not for the faint-hearted. It is a process that takes focus, energy, dedication, consistency, resilience, prayer and so much more. Creating a unique story that can hold the interest of others can be an immense struggle, however the rewards of actually doing so are incomparable. With my digital series, Tough Love, I was able to take my own ideas and create an entire world involving characters that thousands of people say they can relate to. A world that was recognized by the Academy and nominated for a Daytime Emmy. The process took lots of time and devotion, but the payoff has been incredible. Thus, I urge you, if you want to begin a career in writing, do it and give it your all! Below are 5 Easy Habits That Will Make You A Better Writer.
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Writing
Don’t wait until you are given a task or hired on as a staff writer to actually put your pen to paper. If you you are truly passionate about writing and actually want to make a career out of it, you should be working at your craft as often as possible. Great writers, write.
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Reading
Read almost as often as you write. Reading helps you properly structure your writing. It shows you what works and what doesn’t. It also sparks new ideas in your brain and inspires you to create storylines you may not have thought of previously. (Note: I’m definitely not encouraging you to steal ideas! Just use what you read as a tool to come up with your own.)
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People Watching
As often as you can, get out of your bubble and go somewhere that allows you to observe the interactions among people you don’t know. If you live in a metropolitan city – take a ride on the public transit, sit in a busy coffee shop, pretend to shop in a chaotic department store, etc. Put yourself in places that give you the opportunity to watch the way others live their lives. The more you know about various human beings, the more capable you are of creating realistic characters in your stories.
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Watching Movies & TV
This may seem like just a fun pastime, but for writers, this is studying and research. Watching and really taking in the way shows and films were developed by experienced writers is one of the the most enjoyable resources we have right at our fingertips. It is important as writers for us to watch what came decades before us and even what our peers are writing currently. It truly helps us figure out what we should and shouldn’t be doing.
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Connecting with Other Writers
Writing is an extremely hard job, and no one can possibly understand the difficulties of it like other people who are crazy enough to embark on a career in this field. Reach out to your peers, ask them for tips and assistance, send them encouragement and listen to their stories. Bounce ideas off of each other. You’ll need a strong circle of support while on this journey, so be sure to actively work at building one.
If you need any other tips or guidance – I can be your peer! Contact me via email @ mrsronidavis@gmail.com. I’d love to hear your stories!
