According to a report by the Guardian “There’s been a rapid rise in submissions from would-be authors since the coronavirus outbreak”, and frankly, we’re not surprised.
Though our recently acquired quill didn’t produce anything more than ‘’once upon a time’’, it seems others have been more productive. Isolation has encouraged many would-be authors to follow their dreams and put pen to paper on their first novel in the hope of securing a publishing deal and a career weaving wonder throughout the imaginations of the country.
It’s often posited that some of the most interesting art and creativity emerges from times of national or global crisis, and whilst we’re yet to see if this is true of COVID-19’s impact on the world, it does present an opportunity for new writers from diverse backgrounds to smash the glass ceiling.
But just how do you hone your skills in a field where balancing discipline and nurturing a roving imagination is required?
To become a great writer, you have to practice the art. This thing won’t just jump from mind to pen to page without first nurturing the creative process. You also need to get a keen grasp of grammar, prose, and structure whilst developing your own sense of style and voice. With so much to consider, we thought we’d dive in a little deeper; if you’re aspiring to be a great novelist someday, then here’s how to hone your craft.
READ, READ, READ
The world’s greatest writers don’t always have a pen in their hand. Rather, they are never without a book; a constant source of inspiration and grounding and the key ingredient to honing your craft.
Before you begin writing, it’s essential that you consume words in every available medium and style, in order to develop your own unique voice.
Immerse yourself in print, from old, unfamiliar novels uncovered on the dusty shelves of a charity shop all the way to the latest candid confessionals unique to the nether regions of Reddit’s most esoteric forums.
From a simple shopping list to a Wikipedia entry, everything is nourishment for an insatiable soul, so spread your net far and wide when looking to land inspiration for your writing.
WRITER’S ESSENTIALS
What do you need to write? It seems almost coarse to consider the mechanics of writing when so much of the important stuff occurs in the mind, but you’re going to need to create a peaceful space conducive to long sessions of writing, editing and ideas-forming if you’re going to be properly productive moving forward.
Most writers will have a laptop, desktop, or a writing pad in the modern era, unlike before when people used writing pads, pen and paper. Many find that both work, with a screen more efficient but equally, full of distraction, and a pen and page slower but more measured, and possessing of a certain, quiet majesty.
You also require a writing space. It has to be a calm, conducive place that will support your writing. Let’s get clinical here; for the long stretches of putting all of your ideas in print, you’re going to want a decent desk with an ergonomic setup that allows your screen to be at eye height, your arms bent at the elbow and arms at a right angle, your back positioned upright against its chair…you know the drill.
In tandem, you should ideally have a separate space for contemplative moments; place a writer’s chair in a quiet corner – your ‘happy place’ as it were – where you settle in for inspiration. You’re going to be spending huge amounts of time both in your writer’s chair and at your desk, so make sure they’re comfortable and supportive of your posture and process.
PRIORITISE PRODUCTIVITY
It pays to invest in productivity. Without having a productive space, you won’t go far with your writing. You leave yourself prone to procrastination (come to think of it; is this procrastination?) and risking writer’s block, which will make your story lack flow and authenticity of voice.
Your space must prepare you for writing, both mentally and physically. To hone your productivity, you need to create a separate writing area, as we mentioned, keeping things clutter free and minimalist.
Writing from a computer, laptop, or other smart gadgets, ensure they are disconnected from the internet and all distractions disabled. For your mental space, you need to develop some good writing habits which deter procrastination (a curious tautology of sorts, we think). A quick walk outside to clear your head, or even simply counting down from ten before returning to the page, can help you realign your focus.
BE ALERT TO CHANGING TASTES
According to a report published in the Guardian in May of last year, “tastes have changed since the outbreak of Covid-19, with their (reader) interest in crime and thrillers, and other popular fiction, increasing”.
Unsurprisingly, there is currently little appetite for dystopian fiction or stories based around the ongoing global crisis, and experts predict that we may well never want an influx of art which references this bleak time. In fact, many art commentators have referenced how the previous global pandemic, the Spanish Flu of 1918, and pointed to the fact that ‘’Nobody Made Great Art About the Previous World-Shaking Pandemic’’, as well as the emergence of the Roaring Twenties and its associated hedonism and escapism, as clues to what we might expect from the public mood as the decade progresses.
DEVELOP YOUR VOICE AND REFINE IT
Your ‘voice’ on the page is what defines you and sets you apart in the literary world.
According to the guys at Masterclass, ‘’Certain authors’ voices can be recognized in a single sentence. Novelists like Ernest Hemingway, Toni Morrison, and Joseph Conrad each have a defined narrative voice that leaps off the page—an experienced reader wouldn’t confuse Morrison for Hemingway, or any other famous author for that matter’’.
They go on to offer a definition of voice in writing; ‘’In literature, “voice” refers to the rhetorical mixture of vocabulary, tone, point of view, and syntax that makes phrases, sentences, and paragraphs flow in a particular manner. Novels can represent multiple voices: that of the narrator and those of individual characters.’’
So far, so straightforward. But developing your own unique voice is a fine balancing act; a clumsy, overly deliberate voice can feel jarring, and often a recognisable voice which reveals the author requires nuance and craft. Take your time, then, to develop this voice, taking inspiration from everyday life – snippets from overheard conversations, exchanges on social media, memories of curious turns of phrase or revealing confessions – which will all feed into a more authentic, well-rounded on-page persona.
THE BOTTOM LINE
Phew, it wasn’t easy to write this, and novel this ain’t. If you’re going to become a successful author, it’s going to take guts, determination and the all-important development of that unique, instantly recognisable voice. How did you like ours?
If your ambitions are somewhat more modest, then check out these 4 of the best blogging practices for content producers.