I'm an aspiring writer - what now?

So you're an 'aspiring writer'?

No, you're not. You're either a writer, or you aren't. And do you know how you can tell? If you write, you're a writer. What you are, is an aspiring author. (Or possibly journalist. How would I know? I'm just a keyboard monkey).

To make the leap from 'writer' to 'author' you need one thing - to be published. Of course there's plenty of steps between the two, and plenty of ways to get lost and distracted on the way.

But where do you start?

By writing, silly.

There are no set rules for how to hammer your book together. I personally prefer to just power through the first draft, figuring out plot lines and characters as I go, without worrying too much about the gaping plot holes I leave in my wake. Others prefer to work out their plots meticulously, point by point, then cobble them together in a first draft later. Still others work on their characters long before the story even starts to evolve, and let their characters tell them where to go.

How you work is up to you, and your first step is probably figuring out what works best for you. Do you draft? Do you plot? Do you dream up characters? Do you mess around on the internet hoping fairies finish the book for you?

That last one doesn't work. Trust me.

I take it back, there is one set rule for writing. WRITE! Every day. Whether it's 100 words or 3 000, write. Because before you can get your book published, you have to finish it. And we really want to see that finished manuscript. Go write. We're waiting.