How to Become a Writer
How to Become a Writer: First Three Steps
Like any craft or way of life, you have to collect the tools necessary to begin creating. Reading is the greatest tool required to be a great writer. Simply as infants, we did not walk by configuring in our tiny brains the act. We were taught. And I believe that books are our teachers; the good and the bad works guide us to become great storytellers. Reading can awaken your vocabulary, enhance the rhythmic patterns of prose, and help you assemble a completed arc for a story. Below are some vital points as to why you need to read to be a distinguished writer.
Disclaimer: This post may include affiliate links. If you purchase through my link, I will receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. See my full disclosure policy, here.
As the infamous Stephen King said in his memoir, A Memoir of the Craft: On Writing,
"If you want to be a writer, you must do two things above all others: read a lot and write a lot."
Reading helps you learn dialogue, character development, world-building, grammar, etc. I've put together three important steps to follow to enhance your writing journey:
Understand the Fundamentals of Building a Story
Study Diction
Adjust and Practice, Practice, Practice
Step One: Understand the Fundamentals of Building a Story
You need to learn how to assemble a story. Structure comes into play here. Study story structure and apply that to your ideas. The truth you need to share with the world demands to be heard, learned, and expressed.
What is the most effective way to study a story? Reading.
Reading enables you to study the difference between a story that is fleshed out and others full of fluff or hold no real meaning. When I finish a book that didn't follow through on metaphor, character arcs, or overarching theme— I'm deeply unfulfilled. You don’t want to be that kind of writer. When you conclude a book that leaves you empty, it's because the writer didn't do their job. Most of the time, it all comes down to character development. Learn how to set up your character arcs to convey a full story. Ask: why should we care about these characters?
My recommendation is to start with The Hero’s Journey. This has helped aid my storytelling, and it could help yours as well! Check out this video from the Netflix show “Myths and Legends''— if you haven’t watched it, I highly recommend it!
Where do we learn stories? From the myths, tales, and books that came before us!
Step Two: Study Diction
While reading, I have cultivated a wider vocabulary and encountered the melodic flow of pacing within sentence structure. I could not have gained these understandings without reading.
For example, take this sentence from the classic novel, The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde:
“His eyes deepened into amethyst, and across them came a mist of tears.”
The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde
Oscar Wilde’s prose is poetic, and I found myself in awe reading through this story at his descriptions. This creative expression of crying opened my eyes to the impact words cultivate within the experience for a reader.
For an even more profound example of his magnetic prose,
“His nature had developed like a flower, had borne blossoms of scarlet flame. Out of its secret hiding-place had crept his soul, and desire had come to meet it on the way.”
The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde
Oscar Wilde paints a portrait with his words. The diction engulfed me. Upon reading it, I learned how strong and appealing this style is to me in stories.
On the other hand, the diction doesn’t always have to be poetic. Some people call this purple prose; you will find your style and tone through what you enjoy reading. Don’t avoid any one type of writing because of what people say, follow your creative intuition and what you love to read.
For example, Ernest Hemingway’s diction is direct yet powerful.
“The old man opened his eyes and for a moment he was coming back from a long way away.”
The Old Man and the Sea, Ernest Hemingway
This sentence is still just as profound as the prior example by Dorian Grey. Why? Because these writers created an atmosphere through their characters, themes, and tone.
Step Three: Adjust and Practice, Practice, Practice
Reading has become a more fluid habit in my daily life, which has exponentially reconstructed my writing. I have completed more poetry because of the mere inspiration. But more than that — reading has awakened my vocabulary, enhanced the rhythmic patterns of prose, and aided me in assembling a completed arc for a story.
This leads me to another point, be particular about what you read. There are plenty of books that do not imbue the essence of great storytelling. Yet— we can learn from those in what not to create as well. But as Oscar Wilde said,
“It is what you read when you don’t have to that determines what you will be when you can’t help it.”
—Oscar Wilde
If I continued on the same reading journey I was on five years ago (maybe two YA fantasy books a year). I would not have rounded out who I am as a writer. My writing skills would be underdeveloped because I didn’t spend enough time with the craft. I would never have learned style, tone, metaphor, etc. to tell a story with catharsis. Or at least, it would have been a longer journey to get where I wanted to be.
My reading has rapidly increased, and it has changed my creative writing tremendously. I am currently finishing a second draft of my first poetry book. Stay tuned for more on that in the future! I try to read three books a month: one is solely dedicated to the book club, the other is typically a classic, and the third is for pure enjoyment! I also listen to at least one audiobook in a month.
You have stories to tell, so don’t hinder your capabilities by not learning through reading. To be a GREAT writer, educate yourself with the books that came before you to create a work of art.
“The reason one writes isn’t the fact he wants to say something. He writes because he has something to say.”
— F. Scott Fitzgerald
Can I become a writer without a degree?
Let’s be honest, this is the greatest pitfall writers face when endeavoring in the craft. For generations, we’ve been told that in order to succeed, we need a piece of paper to tell us we are good enough.
You can throw that advice right out of the window. Save yourself thousands of dollars of debt by just writing.
What makes a great mechanic? Practice.
What makes a great musician? Practice.
What makes a great writer? That’s right. Practice.
If you want to be a writer, you have to write. Putting in the time to sharpen your craft will get you the book deal, or the confidence to self-publish your novel. Do you know why? Because you will have a written book.
Don’t let money and societal pressures stop you from fulfilling your calling. If you want to be a great writer, you need to consistently read and write. Also, put yourself out there. Seek out writing communities and get your work critiqued; not only will this thicken your skin, but it will help you hone your craft by getting human feedback.
We are opening up a writing community Discord here at Humming Hearts Publishing. Get live feedback on your work from other writers. We’d love to have you in the community! Join the waitlist below to get information on how to access this server.
Good luck fellow writers!
