Authors! How did YOU learn to write?

[bluerose]

Hello, all! I am preparing to give my first “book talk” at the local public library in a few weeks and another one at the local university bookstore in conjunction with a book signing for my debut mystery novel. I’ve been asked to give a talk on writing and I thought it might be interesting to find out how writers on this forum learned the craft of writing.

Did you take a class? Were you self-taught? Did you have a mentor? What was the most valuable thing you learned? When did you realize that you had “the gift” (for lack of better term)? When did you decide to take the first steps toward publishing? I’d like to hear from other writers across a wide spectrum.

Can’t wait to hear what you have to share!

 

[Beryllos]

Jerry Pournelle once wrote that the best way to learn to write is to write, and write a lot. He figured an author has to write about a million words before he/she can write well. He said you could even throw your first million words away, which is not to say they are worthless. No, they are essential. You need to write that million. Then you might be ready to start your masterpiece.

 

[DaveBj]

It helps to have had a really good foundation in English. For me, that was 5th- and 6th-grade English under Mrs. Slessman, 1956-8 – learning parts of speech, diagramming sentences, etc.

Writing a lot helps, especially if you then read out loud what you have written. I used to do that with the intel reports I wrote in my previous life. It’s amazing how many mistake and just plain bad writing you can discover if you pretend you’re Walter Cronkite reading the item on CBS Evening News.

Reading a lot also helps. Reading good stuff shows you what to do. Reading bad stuff shows you what not to do.