Great Advice From Influential Writers About Their Writing Routines/Processes
If you could ask a famous writer for any piece of advice, what would you ask? To learn from people who have been in your shoes before, would make all the difference. To be able to learn from them about the art of writing in itself, if they had any tips that they wish they would’ve known when starting off, or even what resources or activities did they find helpful for them during the writing process. There have been and currently are so many influential writers that could provide great advice to beginners or even people that have been doing it for years and years.
One of the most influential writers that I would’ve loved speaking with is Maya Angelou. Her work was so profound that it’s still quoted to this day, and I can see it being quoted for years to come. During a 2011 interview with O, The Oprah Magazine, Angelou was asked how someone writes a poem. Her answer was very simple but the way she phrased it painted a picture in your mind: “like a pianist runs her fingers over the keys. I’ll search my mind for what to say. Now, the poem may want you to write it. And then sometimes you see a situation and think, ‘I’d like to write about that.’” The few times I have written poems and written recreationally, this is how my process has been. That has been the work that’s made the biggest impact to me personally.
There is no simple answer for how to get started when attempting to write. Do what works for you, but you should keep one thing in mind: you will eventually have to get the words out. Stephen King is another writer that I would describe as influential, and in his book “On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft”, King talks about some of the experiences that have shaped him and his work. In a quote about how to start off writing, King says you just have to start. “Amateurs sit and wait for inspiration, the rest of us just get up and go to work.” In the beginning stages of a writing career, I can agree that the process can be intimidating and sometimes you just have to wait for inspiration to strike if you’re drawing the blank, but as you get more experience the best route is to just writer even if it’s just a rough draft or outline.
Something that I will always advocate for is keeping your writing simple. There’s no need for extra words when one will suffice or in some cases even flamboyant wording. One writer that agrees with this is Beatrix Potter, author of The Tale of Peter Rabbit. Potter has said ‘the shorter and the plainer the better.’ This way the audience will have no trouble understanding. You’ll leave no room for interpretation if the message is clear and concise.
These are some of my favorite quotes that I’ve come across, but there is no singular way to write, but there is advice that can be helpful no matter what’s happening. Try looking into what other writers have to say about the writing process to see if there are things that you can adopt in your process.
Happy Writing :)
