10 tips for aspiring writers from Ann Lamotte

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

There will soon be more tips for writers than cats and funny pictures. It is difficult to find really useful information among the large amount of garbage. I have picked 10 tips from Bird by Bird by Anne Lamotte, which I consider to be the most useful and interesting book for writers.

Anne Lamotte's book "Bird by Bird" was remembered by many. Firstly, Ann managed to tell the story of her life in a very interesting way. Secondly, the book really has a lot of useful tips for writers that can be applied in practice. It would be foolish to believe the advice of a writer whose book has frankly failed or would have been uninteresting.

Finding tips for aspiring writers isn't hard at all. Only on Lifehacker there are already much more such articles than a few. Therefore, I tried to choose the most interesting, and most importantly, previously unknown tips. I had to re-read the book almost a second time, but it was worth it.

You may not always like what you write

Nine times out of ten, I don't like what I write. When I re-read the drafts and articles that were written on the desk, I feel a little uncomfortable. Unfortunately, there is no other way to get better. In order to improve, you will need to write a lot. And you will not always like the result. This is fine.

Publishing is not as important as many people think

It's like thinking that the tea ceremony is for the sake of tea. In fact, the ceremony is needed for the sake of the ceremony. So it is with writing.

Creativity is necessary for a writer in itself - in order to write. You shouldn't strive to get your book or article published.

Publishing should clearly be on your priority list, but don't put it first. Write for the sake of writing.

Writing well is telling the truth

It seems that the truth is the easiest to write. After all, it is much more difficult to first come up with something, give it a shape and write. In fact, this is not the case. Writing the truth so that it is interesting and understandable to the reader is as difficult as bathing a cat.

If you don't know what to write about, start from childhood

Write about the very beginning. About the time when you just began to be aware of yourself and the world around you. If your childhood was bad, you will get a dark story, if it was good, you will get a bright and colorful story. However, no matter what your childhood was like, at first the result of your labor will still be terrible, but the main thing is to start.

Anyone who has survived childhood has amassed enough material for the rest of their lives.

Flannery O'Connor

When you start remembering all the details of childhood, there may be so much material that you will not understand how you can write about everything. If so, narrow the scope and write about specific events, time periods, or people.

Sit down to write at the same time every day

Lamotte says that such a ritual will teach the subconscious to engage in creative activity. Sit down at the table at 9 o'clock in the morning, or at 7 pm, or at 2 o'clock in the morning - whichever you prefer. For the first hour, you will probably just stare at a white sheet of paper or a computer screen like an idiot. Then you will start swinging from side to side. Then you will want to dig your nose - you shouldn't avoid it. You will begin to crunch your fingers, stretch, pet your cat, bite your nails, or bite your lip. And only then can you possibly start writing. Be patient until this moment.

It is better to write in small portions

If you are planning an incredible job, then fear of its size can lead to a stupor. Write in small portions. Don't be afraid to take breaks and rest.

Writing a novel is like driving at night. You only see what the headlights pick out of the darkness, and yet you can go all the way that way.

Edgar Doctorow

You don't have to see the entire road right away - the nearest couple of meters is enough. So it is in writing: do not try to master everything at once, but write in small portions - so you will not go crazy.

Don't be afraid of disgusting sketches

When you read a book by Stephen King, Charles Bukowski, or Salinger, you think they get stories like this the first time around. But this is not the case. All good writers have their first disgusting sketches. And then the second, third, fourth. Then comes the turn of a passable draft, and only after it comes something sensible.

Almost everyone, even great writers, has a hard time writing. And the only way to start writing is to jot down a weak, disgusting draft.

Perfectionism is the enemy of the writer

The desire to make perfect will haunt you all the time. On the one hand, this is good, on the other hand, perfectionism kills life in the text. Trying to get rid of unnecessary junk, you will scribble, shrink and change the text until it becomes dry and lifeless. Know when to stop.

The author must have

Think about your favorite actors. Each of you will definitely have a couple. You're probably ready to watch even the worst movie if your favorite is filmed there, right? What is really there, you would also watch the weather forecast without stopping, if your favorite actor was driving it.

It's the same with writing. You, as an author, should be nice to you.

If your outlook on life coincides with the views of the reader and you manage to express those thoughts that also entered the reader's mind, then it is no longer so important for him what is happening in your book. He will read it anyway.

Try your material on someone

Find a good friend, relative, or colleague and ask them to impartially evaluate what you have written. They don't have to be writers either, because you probably write for ordinary people. It is much easier for an outside eye to see all the flaws and gaps in your text, and they are there, do not hesitate.

Writing well is a useful skill, and it's not that hard to develop. The best way is through "", a free and cool writing course from the editors of Lifehacker. A theory, many examples and homework awaits you. Do it - it will be easier to complete the test task and become our author. Subscribe!