If there’s one thing all accomplished writers know, it’s the importance of practicing the craft. Ann Patchett said it best in “The Getaway Car,” one of several essays on writing in her book, This Is the Story of a Happy Marriage…
Why is it that we understand playing the cello will require work, but we attribute writing to the magic of inspiration?….If you want to write, practice writing. Practice it for hours a day, not to come up with a story you can publish, but because you long to learn how to write well….
If you’re game for practice, spend time each week at WritingForward.com. Not only is this blog-based site filled with practical sections on grammar, punctuation and spelling, it devotes specific sections to writing prompts, suggestions and ideas for poetry, fiction and journaling, as well as general writing exercises.
Melissa Donovan, who launched her site in 2007, addresses every aspect of the craft: from developing your voice to developing good writing habits; from editing your work to writing faster. How to write better. Narrative style. Descriptive writing. How to stay inspired. How to boost inspiration when it lags.
The Writing Resources section offers reviews of books, products and other websites and blogs for writers. A section on Getting Published offers advice on writing query letters, finding and choosing an agent, the differences between traditional and self-publishing.
Sign up for the Writing Forward newsletter. It’s free, it assures you won’t miss a post, and will remind you that it’s time sit down and write!