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| How
to become a successful writer |
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| The problem with learning
to write poetry and fiction is the absence of a formula.
Any student willing to learn can master an essay, yet a
two hour lesson on how to write a short story often produces
dismal results. Writers develop their craft much like a
pianist does—through hard work and dedication.
One thing we have observed in working with young writers
over the last dozen years, is that successful writers do
two things: they read and they write. They do a lot of both.
Perhaps because this seems so logical it is often over-looked.
One is not likely to become a successful writer until a
commitment is made to these two elements. Consider the following
routine and think about what it might do to heighten your
awareness and proficiency as a budding writer. |
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| Poetry |
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| Read three published poems
a day |
| When you find one you particularly
like, read it again and again. What elements of style stick
out? What person is it written in? How does it observe punctuation
and line breaks? |
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| Write one poem
a week |
Write about what you care
about. Write in detail, using concrete imagery that gives
the reader a chance. Get it on computer. Edit it. Cherish
it. Love it to death. Then put it away. Imagine at this
point that you are raising a child. You need a break and
the poem needs time to breathe. Send it to summer camp and
accomplish both goals. Make it a two week camp. A four week
camp. When your poem comes back home you will see it for
what it is (or isn't).
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Edit it again |
Is there one line or one
image you could play with that would make a significant
difference?
One poem you are proud of a week doesn’t sound like
much of an accomplishment, until you realize it would constitute
a book of poetry. A whole book’s worth in a single
year. By you! |
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| Fiction |
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| Read three published stories
a week |
| If you find a story you just
love, re-read it, examining the voice, the style, the narrative
point of view, the verb tense. Often a successful story is
the matching of a veritable idea with a style that supports
it. How does the style of this story work? Would this style
fit an idea you have? |
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| Write one story a month |
One fleshed-out, well-developed,
three or four draft representation of a story is a lot of
work and accomplishing one each month is quite an accomplishment.
If you can hammer out a first draft (get it on computer
a.s.a.p.) in a week, let it rest. Carry on with your reading.
Come back to it in a week or any time you have an insight
that will strengthen your story. Raymond Carver was said
to treat his stories to 50 or 60 such drafts. Now one story
a month sounds like an amazing accomplishment, doesn’t
it?
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| Here’s the good news |
| If you wrote one great story
a month, one you are truly proud of, in one year you would
have a book of short stories. Amazing. |
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| Sources |
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| Literary magazines are
an excellent source for several reasons |
| For one thing, they sparkle
with newness, what writers are doing with your favorite genre.
The work contained therein has been culled, likely from thousands
of submissions, and has undergone the guidance of an editor.
What you will read in literary magazines are samples from
short story collections and poetry books soon to hit the bookstores.
You are dealing with avant garde. |
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| Poetry anthologies and
Short Story anthologies |
These are collections of
work gleaned from literary magazines or books already published.
They are one editorial board’s definition of excellence.
Good examples for short stories include The Journey Prize
Stories and The Best American Short Stories. Both come out
once a year and libraries generally stock them. |
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| Books by your favorite
writer |
| Whether this is poetry or
fiction, once you find a writer you respect, read them. Study
them. Analyze their work. You probably like their work because
it contains a style or subject matter that is close to what
you could see yourself producing. Give hints before Christmas,
birthdays. |
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| Other
Strategies |
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| Enroll in a writing class
if you’re not already in one |
| If you are, join another one
when this one is finished. |
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Join a writing group
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| You’d be surprised how
many established writers still do this. Learn from others.
Surround yourself with discerning readers—people who
will honestly tell you what they see. Avoid “friends”
who think your work is “nice.” |
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| Submitting
your work |
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| Research the magazine you
are sending to |
| Subscribe, find a sample in
your local library or write away for a single copy. You wouldn’t
pick just any doctor if you were having vision problems. Literary
magazines vary in their taste and selection process. Some
publish issues according to specific themes. |
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| Only send out your very
best work |
| That means work you have thought
long and hard about, work you have edited and spell-checked
and work that has been read by others. Show them your good
side. Sending out first drafts is an act that only supports
the post office. |
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| Poetry |
| Send out from 3-6 of your best
poems. Do not overlap poems on the same page, give each its
own pedestal to stand on. |
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| Fiction |
| Always double-space your story
and use 11 or 12 point font. Avoid fancy, unintelligible fonts.
Paginate your story and give an accurate word count at the
top of the first page. Most magazines do not mind your work
being stapled, but many prefer them paper-clipped. A small
header or footer with the name of your story on each page
is never a bad idea. |
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Poetry and Fiction submissions
should always be accompanied
by a cover letter |
| State your name, mailing address,
email address, phone number. Give a brief (10-30 word BIO
of yourself. Most magazines report back between 4 weeks and
4 months. |
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| S.A.S.E. |
| This stands for Self-addressed,
Stamped Envelope. If you fail to include one of these, chances
are you will never hear back. Literary magazines are virtually
all non-profit organizations strapped for cash. If you are
dealing with a magazine that is not in your own country, use
International Reply Coupons, unless you have stamps that serve
the country of destination. Otherwise, they cannot mail a
response back to you. |
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| Contests |
| Read the Rules for the contest
you are entering carefully. In most cases, your name must
not appear anywhere on the submission itself. If you are not
meticulous your submission will likely not be entered. |
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| If your submission has
garnered no response after four months, |
| a polite inquiry is suitable,
providing you did include a S.A.S.E. Dogs have been known
to eat submissions. It’s rare but it does happen. |
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If your work does not gain
acceptance the first time around,
DON’T GIVE UP ! |
| It may be your work didn’t
suit one editor. Possibly the magazine just accepted a “grandfather”
story. When your work comes back, read it again carefully.
Is there anything you might change? Have the editors made
any suggestions? If you still have faith in your work, send
it out again. Many times a successful story has made the rounds
of 8-10 magazines before finding a home. Don’t give
up. |
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