WORDS FROM THE WISE/PART 17 – Usman.T.Malik

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WORDS FROM THE WISE
PART 17

(Find out who you are as a writer)

Usman Malik

Usman encourages us to get introspective by asking ourselves the question –‘what kind of writer am I, and what kind of writer do I want to become?’

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The question posed to each author is – “A young author comes to you seeking advice. They’re riddled with insecurities and completely overwhelmed by the publishing industry. What are your Words from the Wise?”

UM – Find out who you are as a writer.

This seems obvious, but I see a lot of new writers (myself included) struggle with this and themselves for a bit. Are you someone who labors over every word or can you write lightning fast and are usually happy with the product? Are you largely a stylist or a minimalist? What sort of audience would you like and what sort of vindication (awards, money, fame, controversy) would satisfy you?

I think these are useful questions to ask yourself and even though the process may take a while, in my opinion, it’s worth it. Otherwise, I think most writers just need to read, read, read. The better quality of fiction and nonfiction you read (genre doesn’t matter), the better your own produce will be.

Usman’s website – http://www.usmanmalik.org/