If I could offer ONE tip or piece of advice for an aspiring writer, I would say - BE AUTHENTIC - find your voice.
In the beginning, aspiring writers need to learn as much as they can from well-known and established authors. It is wise to take time to read the classics, and immerse yourself true literature. One exercise is to write a poem or
story that reads like your favorite author, and repeat that a few times. It is good to join groups.
Then,
throw away everything
you have ever learned ---
and go out into nature.
Find a lake, an ocean or
a river and sit beside it. Observe what is happening in the landscape. Listen with the ears of your heart, and from that place find your own voice. A writer must develop his or her own authentic voice, which is only found deep within.
What you have to say is unique
and only you can say it.
The
Greeks and Romans spoke of the 9 Muses, or Goddesses who offered inspiration for writers and musicians. In Celtic folklore we encounter the Sidhe, the tall beautiful people or faery-folk, who whisper into poets ears. In Wales the Twyleth Teg, (pronounced "tell-with-teg"), might take a poet to the Otherworlds where they might be granted a gift of inspiration. In Arthurian Legend, the Lady of the Lake arises from the misty waters and takes us on a quest to discover the Grail - our
True Self. The imaginal can carry us into fantastic worlds, where we reign as heroines and heroines.
The poet W.B Yeats is a famous example of one who listened to the living landscape. John O’Donohue was another writer who was aware of the Otherworlds.
To be a true writer you need to
be in touch with your
soul.
It takes a lot of time and commitment to write a book. Please, don’t write to become famous. Don’t write for an audience. Don’t even write to succeed or fail, because that isn’t the point.
Write because there is a river of music
flowing from you so strongly that you
cannot stop the words.