The Flip Side

What's the number one piece of advice all New Writers receive:

R-E-A-D !

To write in a particular genre , ideally you've read tons of it . You can't develop your own ideas , voice , goals, plots etc until you've stumbled across really good writing and really bad writing (often even more entertaining)--both are inspiring in their own way.

A good story line is essential. Perspective is primary e.g. that of a subjective narrator or perhaps a 3rd party observer -- defend against switching viewpoints throughout the story.

Well defined characters and locations will colour and bring life to your canvas -- often a few broad strokes can speak volumes where too much detail can distract or put off the impatient reader (think Hemmingway's spare language/phrasing).

WARNING : If you're an avid reader AND writer, take care that nothing from your previous pursuits subconsciously worms its way into your own material. Recently I found that the term: Boggart ---coined by J.K. Rowling in 1999 to describe a demonic creature Hogwarts' students had to learn to control -- turned up in a 2005 Young Adult Magyk- oriented book, but was referring now to a long haired friendly and heroic swamp creature. I'm sure this 'similarity' was purely unintentional on the part of the second author, however perhaps something a knowledgable editor might have ferreted out and requested a change of name---easy enough to 'conjure' I'd bet.

Of course , you can get addicted to just reading when you should be writing your own stuff. I recommend moderation in every thing ... :)