The Basics: Before We Begin

These are the most important things for any writer to have: ¤ A white page (can also be a napkin, a table cloth, toilet paper roll, a receipt, the back of a hand etcetera) ¤ A pen (could also be a pencil, a marker, a crayon, a piece of coal, or even blood, if the occasion calls for it. Personally I wouldn't use anything other than a pen - if I'm to write by hand - simply because a pencil needs a sharpener and, oh, horror, you can erase it. You must never erase a thought once it's down on paper unless you're absolutely certain that it doesn't belong there. As to the other items on the list, don't be ridiculous - blood? This is not a David Lynch movie.) ¤ A good head on your shoulders. There are no substitutes for that one. You will have to deal with a lot of hardcore thrashing throughout your career as a writer, especially your career as a fresh writer believing that every word you write is absolutely in league with Shakespeare and that Ian McEwan should just hang his hat on a peg this instant and call it quits - there's a new sheriff in town and he ain't afraid of using his italix. You will have to listen to a lot of people disliking what it is you do and here's where the Good in the a-good-head-on-your-shoulders sentence comes in: you will have to listen intently, sift through all the maddening things that are being said, and find kernels of truth that you can use to Improve Your Writing. I will come back to how you should structure a constructive review of someones work, and how you should expect them to give you constructive criticism, in a later post, but for now, this is all I wanted to say, and all I need for you to remember as we head into The Basics: Part One - Story. Annie.