Learning to Write

            As a lifelong bookworm, I learned how to write stories because of the books I read. But when I was in fourth grade, I had to take a class at my homeschool group that discussed writing and grammar. Yes, I had been writing little stories since I was seven, but I didn’t fully understand the importance of punctuation and sentence structure. This class taught me the basics. and little did I know at nine years old that I would soon take off.

            Throughout my school years, I learned a little more about writing because my mom edited my papers. By the time I was 16, I thought I knew it all. I wrote my book and figured it was probably good enough to send to an editor (thank goodness I didn’t). However, I still had a lot to learn.

            Maybe you’re looking to pursue writing. Or maybe you’re already writing but you want to find ways to improve. The number of writing resources can be overwhelming, and you may not know where to start or which is best for you. In this post, I will detail ways you can learn how to write better so you can determine which route or routes are best for you.

Books / Articles

            One of the bookshelves in our guest bedroom (which used to be our schoolroom) is dedicated to my mom’s writing books. When I began trying to write full-length novels, my mom gave me permission to read her books so I could learn more about the craft. At the time, I didn’t plan to pursue writing at all. It was just something I liked to do in my free time, because why wouldn’t I want to create my own worlds and characters like my favorite authors?

            Even though I have never been a fan of nonfiction, especially books that resemble schoolbooks, I devoured those writing books. James Scott Bell was my favorite because he provided exercises to help with planning a book. I also read Strunk and White’s Elements of Style in school. Though Elements of Style is all about English grammar and punctuation, I loved reading it.

            That’s when I knew I needed to become a writer. Who else would read books about writing and English grammar for fun?

            Reading books about writing is beneficial in many ways. Like any other textbook, you can take notes and highlight important sections. You can also skip over to an area you need more help in. If the books are like James Scott Bell’s, then they can offer exercises for you to do so you can think through what you’re writing. These things can help you understand at your own pace how to write, plot, create characters, etc.

            Articles and blog posts do the same thing. They may even be easier to understand because they are bite-sized pieces rather than whole chapters (unless they’re just as long). You can explore other articles on the topic you’re searching for and even print them out to keep in a binder. Sites like Writer’s Digest (writersdigest.com) and Jerry Jenkins’ blog (jerryjenkins.com) are amazing sources of writing information.

Videos / Webinars

            I spent the summer of 2021 writing and learning how to write. During that time, I attended Jerry Jenkins webinars and watched all of Brandon Sanderson’s BYU lectures (he actually has new ones out from this year that I want to watch). The webinars and videos gave me useful information and pieces of advice that I still remember to this day.

            Like with books and articles, you can write down any helpful information you learn. Another benefit of watching someone teach is they work through examples. For instance, Jerry Jenkins sometimes takes writing pieces writers have submitted to him, edits them, and then talks through his edits in the video. This helped me understand the reasoning behind certain writing rules.

            The other good thing about watching videos and webinars is you can do other things while listening. I have done laundry, a good amount of cross-stitching, and some drawing while listening to these!

College Courses

            Because I loved reading books about writing and I knew I had the Internet at my fingertips, I didn’t think I needed to go to college to learn about creative writing. Thank goodness I did! Within one year of starting my writing courses, I noticed a major improvement in my writing. Yes, I read a lot and watched videos, but I also had my professors show me where I could improve. They were my editors (some of them actually used to be editors or literary agents, so that really helped).

My fellow students and I also had the opportunity to critique each other’s work. My editing skills improved during these exercises, and I also received feedback from different perspectives from my peers. Though college is expensive and time-consuming, it is a great way to receive feedback and be in an environment with other writers.

            These three options are just a few ways to help you get started learning how to write or to help you improve your writing. Writing conferences, writer’s groups, and podcasts are other ways, though I have not tried them. Though there are many options, it depends on what is best for your learning, how much time you have, and how much money you’re willing to spend.

            Learning to write can be a long and tedious process, but it is worth it. It also gives you a better chance at being published. Remember, editors often do not look past the first paragraph, so you must demonstrate your best writing skills and do so from the start! As someone who wants to put my best foot forward into the publishing world, I want to learn all I can about writing and apply those lessons to my book as soon as possible.