The writing process

A lot of people have asked me "How do you start a new story?" and recently I have answered "Start it the way you expect a good book/story to start". Some people almost laugh at how easy it actually can be and facepalm themself and others just look like questionmarks. When I say that you should start a story the way you would want a story to start I mean that you should pretend to be the reader for a while and just close your eyes and figure out how your dream book starts. Do they start running from a monster? If you like the idea, go for it -- but, however you start your story, start it in a way you like, and write with joy. If you don't write with joy, don't write at all. I know some people may take that in a bad way, but, when people who write with joy, or do anything that pleases them or makes them happy, they always get the best results.
   If you don't succeed at the first try: Don't you dare to give up. (No matter if it is writing, drawing or anything else.) Do you know how many people who get criticized just because they do what they love to do? (Or because they just love someone?) The number of people should actually scare you all. Everybody thought Van Gogh was crazy, and today he's one of the most famous painters in all time. J.K. Rowling? We shouldn't even start to talk about how many no she got to Harry Potter. And Suzanne Collin's "The Hunger Games" didn't get worldfamous before the last book. And, I mean, what would the world be without Harry Potter that has saved so many lives? With this I don't mean that you're not going to get hate for whatever you do, you are going to get more hate for the things you love to do just because some people live on others' happiness, no, with this I mean that you should never give up. One of my friends is writing a novel where the main character is gay, and I don't even know how many hate letters she has gotten together with letters there it stands that people will kill her if she continues with the novel -- and, I'm so happy that she continues, she's one of the most talanted people I have ever met and it would be a waste of her talent if she listened to the horrible people who try to make her stop with what she loves to do. And, she's such a strong person! (Not to talk about what a strong mother she is...!) But, she also get letters from people who love her work and supports her. I'm one of I don't really know how few, that has actually got to read some chapters, and I love them. She is a person who's gold worth, and I really hope for her sake that the publishers will tell her that they liked it and will publish her book. So, even if there's downsides there's always upsides too. (Everything have, haven't they?)
   The writing can change your life more than you can ever expect, and often it's in a good way. Personally, my writing have made to a better person and have given me a goal in life I'm trying to reach.

You have probably heard "just sit down and write something!" from people -- if you have told anyone that you write, or your ideas. I personally haven't told anyone in my family what my books are about, even if some of my friends know what I'm writing about. No one in my family have ever really been the book-type.
   For some people it's pretty easy to just sit down and write whatever you want to. But, for others it isn't really that simple. You maybe like to plan a whole year before you start the actual writing -- and, you know what? That's okay. Simple because if that's your way of writing that's the best possible way.
   All you actually need is something to write on, and something to write with.
   I'm not kidding. You don't always need an idea. Some days I really want to write, and when I try to sit down and write something on my trilogy the only thing that comes on the computer screen is nonsense, so, then I take something else to write -- maybe another story, maybe just a random thing, just something to write. Because on of the most important rules within the writing is to never stop writing. Write whatever you like to write, as long as you write.
   The second thing you really need to write something is motivation and inspiration. Have you ever tried to write and the stuff you write aren't just... right but you continue writing and hoping for the best? Yeah, sometimes that works, but for the most of the time you should really screw that idea and sit down to read, watch a serie or whatever you like to do, maybe draw something?

And, then, when you have (an idea), something to write on and inspiration you're officially ready to write. Because, as long as you love to write, writing is one of the easiest things in the world. For some people this isn't that easy, just to sit down and write, or come up with an idea -- and, that's why you always should read other books, watch tv-shows, look at art and discuss the world and AUs (alternative universes) with your friends. Don't be afraid of being "weird" with your ideas -- they are often the most spectacular...!

Good luck with whatever your passion in life is! :)

-- Selma.