Yesterday I was doing a book signing at Chapters in Calgary, promoting my new children’s picture book, McKenzie’s Frosty Surprise, and was surprised by the number of people that inquired about, ‘How to get started [writing]‘. Most admitted to wanting to always write, but not quite knowing how to begin.
I didn’t want to be rude, but I felt like saying, “Just sit your butt down and write.” But, that’s not as easy to do as it sounds, and silently I re-thought the idea. If you’ve never been one to sit and write, but feel the urge to write, but don’t know where to start, you need a prompt- something to get you going.
One way to get started is to check your local community leisure center, library, or event newspaper and see if there are any places offering workshops or classes on creative writing. Take the beginner class, and go prepared with a pen or a few pencils and a scribbler. Don’t be worried that you will have to share. Sharing is totally optional in most all of the classes I have been involved with. Be prepared to go with an open mind and willing to try something that may be new to you.
You can also pick up a Writer’s Digest magazine at your local bookstore. To learn about writing, you need to start reading about writing and writing resources. Your local librarian can suggest a number of books on the subject. Pick up a few and start reading about writing. A plumber handyman wouldn’t start tearing apart pipes without a bit of knowledge first (okay, so there might be some wives out there that might disagree with this concept). But you get the idea.
Immerse yourself into the world of writing and learning about it and soon, the stories will be flowing across the pages.
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