Introduction: What Does It Take to Become a Writer?

When I was in school, I was constantly asked this question—what do you want to become when you grow up?

This is an annoying question, really, because who knew then?

Anyway, my answer changed every few years. From a scientist to a doctor to a journalist to a politician (yeah, there was a brief ideal phase where I was going to change the whole world!) and finally, a computer science engineer, I had wanted to take up different jobs at different points of time. The last phase stayed on longer than the others; and I worked in the software industry for twelve years.

Today, I’m a full-time writer, although by accident. And I had never once imagined that this is what I would be doing as a career. But here I am, with a completed book at hand and you, my reader, peeking into my experience through these words.

Why should you learn to write?

The writer of today comes in many different forms. They do not fit into the typical lazy, strolling-in-the-park with dreamy eyes caricature anymore. Like me, it could be someone who works as a writer full-time. Then there are others who have a day job but write in their spare time. There are also celebrities who write.

Today, whether you’re a surgeon, a civil engineer, or a lawyer, you could still be a part-time fiction writer (writing short stories or novels). Or, you could be writing feature stories in magazines related to your line of work. Whether you take it up as a full-time profession, a hobby, or use it as part of your job (for example, scientists do academic writing, IT engineers write technical documents, and so on. But these do not fall into the category of creative writing, which is the scope of our book), I hope to introduce you to the world of writing.

Regardless of what your future holds for you, it would be great to nurture that writer hidden inside you. After all, writing is all about expressing your thoughts. Only what you write about changes from time to time.

Can writing be taught?

This is a question I get asked often. Writing is a tricky skill to be taught, like any other creative skill. Many writers are not formally trained. To become a good journalist, you need to be trained well, but for many other writing forms such as novels, formal training is not required as you can teach yourself with the kind of resources available these days, online and offline.

As long as you have a reasonably good command over the language, you have something to say, and you can say that in an interesting fashion, you can become a writer. Most writers have a natural flair for writing. They have that urge to write. It’s almost as if their head would explode if they don’t write. For an artist, the canvas becomes an outlet of what they feel, think, and believe. Many artists explain their work in this way: it’s almost like an itch you need to scratch.

So, yes, I believe that a certain amount of natural flair is required for someone who wants to write. But, some aspects of writing can certainly be taught. Taking up a professional writing course or reading a book on writing can give you a set of tools and techniques to hone your craft. It can take you on that path faster. It can make you aware of mistakes to avoid.

It can take you from GOOD to GREAT.

And that will be our focus for this book. To become a better writer than you’re now. To understand the world of writing more than you do now. To equip yourself with tips and tricks that are simple to follow but effective in making a difference to the writing process.

Okay, so let’s try to answer the fundamental question— what does it take to become a writer?

Despite the many differences in writer profiles, two features are common in most people who write. 1. Writers have sharp eyes and ears. What I mean is that they are sensitive to things that happen to them and around them. They seem to catch on to things better than non-writers. They observe the nuances of emotions and events.

They have the ability to observe their own first-hand experiences like a third person. They also have the ability to observe the experiences of others as their own.

For example, let’s say you get hurt while playing football and you are taken to the doctor. Sure, it is a painful experience and there is nothing funny about it. 

Well, at least at that moment.

But a few days or months later, the same incident, or the memory of the game or its subsequent climax at the hospital, could inspire you to write about it. You may be able to write a funny article on how a sprain in the knee helped you skip your exams or it could turn out as an emotional account of how you missed your friends at school while being treated at the hospital.
Anything and everything can inspire writing!

2. Writers have a way with words. Language is the primary weapon in the arsenal of a writer and so you’ll find most writers obsessing about it endlessly. They make a big fuss about grammar and vocabulary. It does not mean that you (always) have to use fancy words; you just have to express yourself in a way that readers can relate to, nod their heads along, and smile or cry with you.

For example, you can say, I fell on the green grass. Alternatively, you could say, I landed on the green grass with a soft thud.

Do you notice the subtle differences in the two sentences and what they are trying to communicate?

Developing the quality to appreciate such nuances will help you fine-tune your writing skills.

To become a great writer, your career goals do not matter, your gender certainly does not matter, and whether you’re an extrovert or an introvert does not matter. What matters is your ability to observe keenly, and your willingness to practice enough to get the language to dance to your tune.