The Writer's Starter Pack

Every great writer you know today started out just like you - hopeful, enthusiastic, teachable, naive and with big dreams. Of course they must have had some level of creativity, strategy and sorted out what kind of writing interests them.

And to some extent, you have those too.

More than hope, enthusiasm and dreams; you need awareness, knowledge and certain skills that would speed up the rate at which you move up the ladder from novice to big gem. All these are what I’m calling the Writer's Starter Pack. 

Think of the writing world as the WILD. It can get dangerous out here but more than the harsh weathers to survive or predators to run from (these could be other creatives who have no sense of ethics), you have to THRIVE after a season of SURVIVING. You need tactics, tools and resources that would set you apart, help you hit your goals and achieve those high dreams you have. 

I have passed through this wilderness too and sometimes, I still get some wilderness vibes in my tiny nursery.

I wrote this to prepare you for the journey you’ve chosen to embark on. This journey would be a roller coaster - there would be high and exciting moments and there would be low and uninteresting moments but you mustn’t lose sight of the plan, the dream and your why.

The most important things to always remember are:

• YOUR WHY - Finding your reason isn’t as hard as we make it to be. The challenge is crafting it and being able to communicate it in a way that it seems exciting and like a big deal. Some of us are stuck discovering our whys because we think of what others would think of us and this is a wrong way to build a foundation. You can’t build your house based off what people would say or think; rather you should consider your needs and your wants.

Your why is usually hinged on a lot of things but most times those things are internal; they are constantly in your thoughts and in the ideas that pop in your head. Your why is usually behind the passion and zeal you feel or experience when writing is discussed. Take time out to answer the questions:

“Why do I want to write? Why do I want to be a professional writer? What does writing mean to me?”

These would evolve over the years of course but it’s good to have them sorted out before you start to journey on. 

• YOUR DREAMS - We may not appreciate Motivational Speakers enough but they drop a lot of gems relevant for life and career success. I’ve heard them say that "the impossible is the untried" and I agree with them. In this modern world, a lot of things we have come to love and enjoy now were perceived to be crazy and impossible at some point. 

Your writing dreams might be crazy, way out of your league and just insane - that’s exactly how dreams are supposed to be but they are possible. 

They can happen; you need to keep believing and keep making moves in the right direction towards their realization. 

On this journey, take the vision along with you. Carry along the feats you want to achieve. This would help you make decisions and guide your path. Your dreams are going to propel you when the going gets tough and you feel like packing up your backs and going home. 

• YOUR GOALS - Now, these are different but are very important as well. They are the baby steps you’re going to take to reach your high dreams. They are the little wins you’ll be celebrating. They are the unknown blog articles, unread Medium posts and stories. They are the day to day and intentional acts you take toward realizing the big thing. 

I know you have probably heard about the SMART technique - a process of setting goals that are Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic and Timely. 

Your goals need to be specific and it doesn’t always have to result in writing.

It could result in better writing - learn a skill, work on a challenge, attend a class, etc. Don’t just say ‘I want to get better at writing’ - be detailed enough to know what better writing means to you. Highlight the challenges you currently face and find solutions to each one. Don’t stop there, make sure you can measure the change. For example, if your challenge is using the right tenses and it throws your entire work off balance; a goal might be to reduce the number of tense errors in your writing from 20 per page to 10 in 2 weeks. Now, that’s success. 

I’ll suggest you read up on the principles of SMART goals. 

Now, let’s talk about the tools in the starter pack: 

• BOOKS: You have to love reading and studying books if you’re going to be a great writer. Reading books is quite different from studying books. You can pick up any book you are interested in, read the entire thing and just enjoy it but as a writer, you pick up a book from an author that gets your heart and soul, dissect their work. Study their style, flow, vibe, and what gets to you about their work.

These aren't for you to replicate - this is for you to understand and rely on in finding your own. See it as a template or blueprint that would guide you into your own. As a beginner writer, get reading and get studying. 

• COMMUNITY: Why don’t babies fall from the sky? Why are they born in families? Why are they taken care of until they develop? Why don’t they just drop from the sky and left to take care of themselves? The short answer is they can’t. As a beginner writer, you can’t take care of yourself.

You need to find some safe haven that doesn’t just shield you from the wild but prepares you for it, prepares you to become the apex predator.

There are online communities that would groom you only if you’re committed. People think communities are places that would check on you and push you to be engaged. No.

 Wholesome communities guide you, teach and train you and inspire you to try your hands on the exercises they teach. No one is going to send a personal mail and take care of your writing career personally unless they are being paid to. You’ve got to put in the work, engage with the lessons, reach out to the people in charge and connect with other members of the community. 

I have a few thoughts on communities and I also highlighted a few online communities you can join. I’ll also suggest you check for blogs and websites that you can subscribe to that would share daily tips, prompts, trainings and events that would help you grow and develop. Follow your favourite writers online as well - follow their work and be on the lookout for a training, an event or any other writing aids from them. 

• GRAMMAR: In all your getting, get grammar. Every language has its grammar and its rules, learn them. You want your writing to be impeccable? Learn grammar. Pay attention to your grammar concerns and straighten yourself out. Grammar is the connection between your work and your audience; the language is the communication connection between you both. You and I know that bad grammar is appalling. Consistent bad grammar is the worse. So, get your grammar going. 

As a writer, desist from saying ‘English isn’t all there is in this life so why should I kill myself?’

The use of grammar is one of your major tools so sharpening it and taking great care of it doesn’t make you a prude or a bore. It just makes you smart. 

HABITS: I don’t know what you’ve been doing before you read this article but you need to form habits that would help your writing abilities. Some writers write everyday while some write once in two days.

You aren’t a writer if you don’t write. You aren’t a writer if you don’t show up with your work. You aren’t a writer if you don’t have any portfolio to showcase.

You’ve got to do something everyday that improves your writing, add to your portfolio or sharpens your skillsets. I’ll recommend you write daily whether you feel like it or not. 

Doctors do their jobs whether or not they feel like. They are bound by an oath to always save lives no matter what they are doing and where they are. 

You’ve got to be dead serious like that too. You’ve got to write as often as possible and do something daily that improves your writing. 

These should help you as you start your writing journey and I'd love to be a part of that. You can subscribe to my newsletter for more tips, follow me on Instagram to see how writers have fun and connect me here on LinkedIn to see more articles that could help you.