I have been obsessive in my pursuit of literature, to the point of selling all else cheap, since my mid teens (thirty years ago)! I consider myself very lucky to have published 9 books, with more in the pipeline. I assure you, however, it did not happen overnight or appear out of thin air; I’ve been carrying these books, in embryonic form, inside me, for decades.
So, I suppose this would be my advice for young writers:
Don’t glamorize the art of writing, do the work, write.
Try, at every turn, to test your responsiveness to the world, as well as the elasticity of the language, early on;
Treat life's experiences (good and bad) as writing prompts.
Prior to writing, and alongside it, read, deeply and widely.
Feed your imagination a varied diet: philosophy, psychology, ancient cultures, science, the natural world, mythology, world religions, pop culture, art in all its manifestations.
Read the Masters, see what can be achieved (we’re as good as our teachers).
Cast an eye at what your contemporaries are doing – even if you don’t agree with it, you need to be aware of it.
Don’t decide early on what type of writer you are. Push against the parameters of your creativity, and try your hand at as many genres, and genre-bending, as you can.
Continue to live, attentively, so that you are one of those people upon whom little is wasted.
Everything that happens to you when you’re awake, even your dreams, is material for your writing. This includes all the places you visit (real or imagined) everyone you love, everything you are and become . . .
Once you find your Voice as a writer, you must commit. None of this nonsense about not having time to write, or energy. It’s a matter of priorities. If you have time to breathe and eat, you have time to write.
Write as if your life depended upon it because, in a sense, it does.
Past word games, readers expect writers to lay their hearts bare, to say what most other people cannot or will not say. You need to practice the courage of vulnerability, and the state of emotional and spiritual nakedness in public; it’s expected of you.
Also, share your work with writers you respect, if they are willing to take a look at it. Lastly, don’t assume that the world is waiting for your work and will embrace it once you decide to release it from your clutches. If you feel you have good work, then it should be able to withstand criticism.
Stop fantasizing about your unwritten books-to-be and start doing the hard work of trying to getting your work out there, in print and online journals or magazines. Now, brace yourself for rejection, years of it, or sublime disinterest. If you discourage easily, either develop a thicker skin or, if you can, choose a safer, saner existence.
From all the advice for aspiring writers I've read on Hive, yours is the simplest and best.
Simply write. Write frequently. Everything should be written about!
Very well put.
I believe your post did not receive the recognition it deserved. But it does happen from time to time.
Thank you for the helpful advice!
Thank you, for this encouraging affirmation, @izicoins :) Yes, you summarize it very well:
So long as my post was helpful to one reader, you, it received sufficient recognition 🙏
Exactly right! I love it and will take it to heart. Vulnerability must come with the thick skin you talk about, too. I told my wife a couple days ago that 33% of people will hate you, 33% will love you, and 34% won't care either way... focus on the 33 who love...
Haha... That's a good formula and good advice. Again, grateful for your attention, Bob, and feedback.
Writing down your dreams is a good idea. We often forget them hours later. Sometimes minutes later, or even immediately after waking up.
Yes, I can understand the value of keeping a dream journal. 1/3 of our lives is spent in these unconscious hours & there is much valuable information that we might benefit from in our waking hours, if we pay attention 🙏🏽✨