Writer's Magazine

Writers Magazine 2008

The website for writers

Tips for writers 2

The second set of our new pages of tips for writers

Learn on the job

It’s really difficult to work on your writing on your own, so think about joining a writers’ group. These have sprung up all over the place and offer mutual support, discussion and critiquing. Groups are not for everyone, but for many writers they provide companionship on the lonely road to publication. If you can’t find a local writers’ group which feels right for you and which is open to new members, you could consider starting your own.

Think seriously about going on a course. Good courses for writers have become very widely available over the last few years and can be an excellent way of honing your skills. They range from short seminars to evening classes and even residential courses, weekends or longer, which double up as holidays, and some of them are in lovely locations. Of course the standard varies, but go for reputable institutions or well-established names and you will find a well-taught course which really can help with developing your writing. You will also have the opportunity to get out and meet other writers who are in the same boat as you are, and that ‘s very valuable in this most lonely of occupations. For many writers the more structured environment of a course is also both motivating and congenial, and getting away from everyday pressures helps you to concentrate.

You could also consider embarking on a creative writing course at a college or university. There are different views about how well these equip you to become a published writer but many students find them tremendously enjoyable and they do develop your writing and take it to another level. Only a few writers will be in a position to think seriously about this, because of career, financial and family pressures, but the huge growth in university courses testifies to the enthusiasm students can bring to the full-time study of writing.

Read up on the subject of writing. Due to the growth in the number of people who have taken up writing there are a large number of excellent books published for aspiring writers. If you’re the kind of person who prefers to work away at something on your own, the right book might be the most helpful guide for you. The explosion in the publishing of books for writers means that there really are a lot of books to choose from and you will be able to find exactly the right books for you. Our WritersBookstall has over 200 carefully categorised books for writers and may be the easiest way to get an idea of the range available, but any big bookshop should have a writers’ section. Our book reviews may help you to track down what you’re looking for.