Writing as a Craft - podcast

Each of us has felt at least one as if we were foundering in a sea of writing advice, not knowing which is valuable and which is not. How do you choose which advice to listen to and which advice to ignore? While we all find our way, sometimes it helps to take a more formal approach. Author Eric Penz likes to think of writing as a craft, because it is a skill that one must practice to improve. And while apprenticeships may be scarce, there are other opportunities to learn, which he discusses.
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  • I totally agree with you on this. Here are a few things you can do to learn the craft of writing: 1. Read the types of books you want to write. 2. Read articles and books on the craft of writing, such as Victoria Crayne's articles, "Elements of Fiction Writing" books, Writer Digest books, etc. 3. Practice writing. Write a lot, using freewriting, writing exercises, writing prompts, etc. You should be writing about 2000 words several times a week. 4. Join a critique group, such as Fiction Factor or Writers Village University. WVU is one of the best places where you can improve your writing craft. 5. Plan your story / book. 6. Research thoroughly (if you have to). 7. Start writing your book. 8. Rewrite 9. Revise Hopefully by the time you're done with the first draft, you'll have learnt the craft of writing too! *Kokab Rahman is the author of ARABIC MADE EASY, ACCOUNTING FOR BEGINNERS, and SHORT STORY COLLECTION I available from amazon.com. She writes fiction, nonfiction, and articles on the craft of writing. Several of her articles on the craft of writing were published in the Kansas Writers Association Newsletter . Kokab also helps aspiring writers improve their writing by pointing out problem areas. She can be reached at kokab_rahman@ymail.com . http://www.kokabrahman.com .
  • Everybody knows what a craft is. Is that the only advice? Find a person?