Christopher Paul
Curtis’s Advice for Young Writers
First:
Write every day. Writing is like anything else that you do—the
more you do it the better you’ll get at it. Keep a journal
and dedicate 15 minutes a day to telling what happened to
you on that day or write down the ideas you may have for stories.
Try to be as regular as possible. It’s clichéd, but
the more you put into it, the more you’ll get out of it.
Second:
Have fun with your writing. Remember you have absolute control
of what you write, and you can make anything happen. Take
that power and use it, use it wisely if you want, but act
a fool if you choose. Write about the world the way you wish
it could be or the way you’re afraid it will be or the way
it can never be, but write and enjoy.
Third:
Ignore all rules. That doesn’t mean you can ignore punctuation
and grammar and other rules. It means, once you master the
basics, run with your writing, create your own style. Remember
the writing is yours and that there is no “right” or “wrong.”
New ideas, styles, and presentations are some of the things
that make writing and music fun and enjoyable. Don’t be afraid
to try something new.
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