Legendary writer Margaret Atwood decided she wanted to be a writer when she was just sixteen years old, a goal she pursued in spite of the lack of formal creative writing classes available in 1950s Canada. She recalls, “I just started doing it and it was more fun than anything, so I changed career paths. I switched from science to writing and everybody thought I was mad.” In an interview with Young Ambassadors Emily Webb and Grace Murray from the National Centre for Writing, Atwood lists her top five tips for writers which, despite being specifically geared towards young writers, are relevant to those of all ages and levels of experience.
1. Get a notebook: And carry it with you everywhere! Make a habit of jotting down anything that comes into your head that you have even the slightest inkling you might find useful later.
2. Read a lot and read critically: All writers begin by being readers, and all writers in the history of writing have learned from other writers. As you read, take the time to figure out what you like and don’t like about what you’re reading and why.
3. Pay attention to your posture: A practical but invaluable tidbit of advice, especially for writers in the digital age. ‘Keyboarding’ is hard on the neck, and will take a toll on the body over time. As Margaret notes, “…it’s hard to write when you’re in agonizing pain!”
4. Writer’s block? Go for a walk or go to sleep: Sometimes all you need is a little time away from the thing you are writing. When you allow yourself, and your brain, time and space to think about something else, or about nothing, the answer(s) you are looking for will probably come to you.
5. Don’t be afraid to throw things out: Treat nothing preciously when you are writing and allow yourself to make mistakes. Margaret reminds us all that when we are writing, no one is seeing it except for the writer, so there is no need to worry about what anyone else might think.
Learn to apply Atwood’s tips and many more to your own work—be it a novel, personal essay, article, or memoir. Sign up for one of our Writing courses this Fall!
WRIT1-CE9113001 Multimedia Storytelling
WRIT1-CE9531001 Interviews and Profiles
WRIT1-CE9053001 Writing Skills: Nailing the Basics
WRIT1-CE9132001 Freelance Journalism: How to Pitch and Sell Stories
WRIT1-CE9027001 Grammar Master Class: Better Sentences for Better Writing
WRIT1-CE9802001 Writers’ Workshop and Tutorial
WRIT1-CE9940001 Witness to History: Personal Essays and Memoirs
WRIT2-CS9002001 Jump-Start Your Novel
WRIT2-CS9302001 Creative Writing for Beginners: Saturday Afternoon Workshop