So, you want to be a writer. You know, that person you see who has read twenty of Shakespeare’s sonnets, has memorized countless classics, always wears glasses at the end of their nose with a perpetual “the Thinker” gaze on their faces? But, let me tell you there are countless other ways for you to be a writer, without all of the pizazz. Especially, a HerCampus writer.
1. Firstly, you need to always write, write, write, no matter where you are. Bring a small notebook or pen and paper with you always. You never know when you will be inspired, or wish that you had written down something that happened in your day. You don’t want to forget exactly how those strawberries you had for breakfast tasted like.
2. Being a writer isn’t always flashes of inspiration (although those are nice). Power through that “horrible” piece of poem or prose that you have been working on. Vomit all of the things you need to say without fixing yourself. Go back later and reread. You can find the best out of the garbage if you look deep enough.
3. Being a writer that enjoys satire, I like to write things that are challenging and funny. Bring out your amusement and personality in your pieces, whether it is a blog post or a letter to your dad. You want to bleed onto the pages, not just some orchestrated and seemingly “cooler” version of yourself. Heck, even in those constant robotic emails you need to send during your time at University put a meme or joke in there.
4. Make sure to use images. When people read, they don’t want a telling of the time you met your true love, but a showing. For example, instead of saying “their hands were sweaty” say “their palm was slick and sticky against my own smooth skin”. You can more vividly imagine the uncomfortable situation of holding an anxious partners hand.
5. Lastly, read, read read. Every writer is also an avid reader. Partner your love for reading with a love for writing. You can learn a lot of things about creating your own sense of style in your writing by reading everything. No, I don’t just mean the classics.