Takeaways by a Young Writer

This week we read a series of letters written to young authors giving them advice about how to write their books, get published, etc. As a young writer myself, some points stuck with me, and I feel I will utilize in the future should I choose to go further with the book I am currently working on. So here are my top five takeaways from Letters to a Young Writer

5. Reading Time: The best time to read is at the beginning of a project, and then the amount you read should decrease as you reach the climax. This allows you to make sure the conclusion is all your own. Also, when writing a research paper, this advice is crucial. You should do most of your reading in the beginning so that you aren’t looking for sources at the last minute and you know your claims are supported.

4. Music Everywhere: Inspiration can be found almost anywhere in the world. You just need to be open to listening to the music of the world. So many of my friends like to do their work in specific spots on campus because of the sounds in that environment. The world has so much inspiration to offer, and there are no rules about what can and can’t inspire you. I specifically like the idea that music can influence writing, and one of my favorite authors includes her inspiration playlist on the front inside cover of each of her books.

3. Lovely Last Line: I have spent hours trying to think of the perfect way to end papers because of how important the last line is. The last line is what people will remember, it is what people will takeaway from your work. You want to give the reader satisfaction and create a concluding tone that leaves the reader feleing like they learned something, which can be stressful. My advice: think about what the point you are making is and then turn it into a chessy instagram caption. Use your last line to create a lasting impact.

2. Read Aloud Alone: Everyone has been told to read their wiriting aloud to see if it makes sense, and while I completly agree with this statement I would like add that it should be done alone, at least at first. Whenever kids follow the advice of reading their work out loud they do so by reading it to their friends. This is not helpful. The friend cannot concentrate enough on just you talking to give you adequate edits of your writing, and you won’t be able to catch the things you are actually supposed to be editing because you will be to busy looking at your friend’s reaction.

1. The Bus Theory: The Bus Theory is a motivation technique in which you use your impending death as a reason why you have to get your writing done. First of all this is a wild idea and I absolutely love it. Will it work for short term projects? No. Will it work for daily activities? No. But will it work for writing books, or thesis projects? One-Hundred Percent. I think however you should limit yourself to using it for only one thing at a time as to not overwhelm yourself or decrease the importance of your project.