Tuesday, July 26, 2011

Learning to Write

I've been reading a ton this summer. I've read some great stuff. And I've read some not so great stuff. Adult. YA. MG. Like I said, tons.

And I've realized lately, as I've been reading, how much I've learned about writing over the last few years. From my crit group. From professional critiques at conferences. From books on craft. From online classes I've taken. From editors at Capstone Press. From my own agent (the fabulous Vickie Motter). Every one of them has helped me improve my writing. I know I still have a long way to go.


Here are some links to some of the online courses I've taken.

Margie Lawson
Rose's Colored Glasses
Writer University

Six years ago, I was a reasonably good writer. I'd always been a reasonably good writer. But I had no idea what I didn't know back then. And I'm sure I have no idea what I don't know still. But every rejection, every beta reader, every critique--has taught me something about my own writing.

As I bang out this WIP, I'm trying to put all my knowledge into practice. Use what I've learned. Maybe.

If you're a writer, you have to be open to what you don't know. Be confident in your ability, but not so cocky that you can't learn to be better. No matter who you are, you can always learn to be better.

And you can quote me on that!

4 comments:

Donna Shields said...

That's very true. I've been writing for several years. I'm still buying how to books. I just bought the following:

The Novelist's Boot Camp by Todd Stone

Getting Published

Writing a Novel

The last two are from The Complete Idiot's Guide. These are wonderful resources.

Laura Josephsen said...

I agree--there's always something new to learn! Even looking at my writing a year or two years ago, I can see things I've learned and ways I've grown.

MTeacress said...

I've been reading a lot too, and paying a lot more attention. I wish I could re-take all my high school and college classes with the information I have now. I think I'd get a lot more out of them.

:)

Anonymous said...

Can't agree more with you. I've been doing this seriously for about 8 years and I'm still learning and love it! Thanks for the links to the online courses :)