Many beginner writers wonder whether they must fulfill specific requirements before they are qualified to write a book. They debate getting some kind of a writing degree, whether it be in an MFA, a degree in creative writing, or a degree in journalism.

Now, there are plenty of writers out there who do have an MFA or a degree in journalism or a degree in some other kind of writing related field, but without a doubt, you do not NEED any of those degrees to be a writer.

There are two important credentials you should fulfill in order to be a writer:

1. You must have the love of story and storytelling. If you enjoy reading stories–and that’s both fiction and non-fiction, by the way–then that’s one credential you already have.

2. You must have the desire to learn how to do it properly. That doesn’t mean your learning has to be done in a classroom setting. Reading posts (like this one!) is one way of learning your craft. There are plenty of other resources out there, from books, to websites, to conferences, to podcasts, to online courses.

One of the best ways for you to learn how to write is to do a lot of reading. If you’re not reading in the genre that you love, then you’re probably not prepared to write in that genre. If there’s a book on your heart that you want to write, then you might consider “studying” that genre by reading several books that are similar. If you are not reading thrillers, then you probably aren’t familiar with them enough for you to begin writing one. Similarly, if you are somebody who wants to write nonfiction, you really should do your research on what the industry standards are for that type of nonfiction. Read books that are similar to yours and see how they are structured so that you can get a grasp on how your readers will expect your book to be structured and how they will expect your information to be presented.

By reading, you not only learn the industry standards of the genres, but you also pick up the different styles of the writers who have come before you, those who have been doing this for a while. So, no matter what genre you want to write in, make sure you are reading widely in that genre.

The other way for you to really learn how to write is to practice. Now, there are two different ways for you to practice. The first way is copy work. If there’s a book or story that excites or inspires or interests you, then copy (by hand or typing at your keyboard) a couple of pages from that work. The idea is that the more you do this, the more you will internalize those fantastic writing styles that inspired you.

(It goes without saying that this is a writing exercise and you should never attempt to pass copy work off as your own creation. Plagiarism is illegal and unethical, but copying the work as part of your own training, for your own private purposes, is fine.)

The second form of practicing is simply to sit and write. When you keep practicing writing, when you stick to it and make it a priority, then your writing improves, especially if you are reading alongside your writing.

Anybody can be a writer. Continue to foster your love of story by reading and practicing your writing, and investing your time and energy in resources that help you hone your craft. Show up for yourself in these ways, and before you know it you’ll be embracing your writer identity.

Last week I eagerly worked through a Sudoku puzzle book. The ones towards the beginning of the book were easier, but as I got to the last few pages, they became much more challenging. Annoyingly challenging. The type of challenging where you just want to throw the book across the room, and smack the person who designed these things to begin with! But if you’re doing Sudoku, you aren’t the type of person to just give up. And neither am I.

But I realized that in order to move forward, I needed to pause. I needed a break so that I could return to the puzzle with fresh eyes.

So when I got to that point where I’d been staring at the page for over 15 minutes, unable to place any additional numbers, I stuck my pencil inside and closed the book. I got up and did some work, then some chores around the house, and since those are never ending, I remained busy until after dinner. As my kids sat to do their homework, I picked up that Sudoku book again. And within minutes, I was already filling in those squares that I had left empty. Before I knew it, I’d completely solved the puzzle.

That break helped my mind relax, so that when I came back to it, I was better able to focus and think. That ‘restart’ was enough to help me solve the remainder of the puzzle.

It’s the same with writing scenes that give us trouble. Often just a short break from your writing will give your subconscious mind the space to think while allowing your conscious mind to rest (from this subject, at lease).

Run errands, or finish some work. Do some chores, or read, or get some exercise. It doesn’t matter what activity you busy yourself with; the pause will likely be enough to help rejuvenate your thinking and creativity, so you can finish writing that scene.

During a recent coaching call, one of my clients shared that she was torn between sending her character to a setting she is familiar with as opposed to one which would be better for her character’s journey, but that she herself has never been to. I said, “You have to do what’s best for your character, not what’s best for you.”  

Now, by “what’s best” I didn’t mean what’s easy. I didn’t mean to give him a fun, happy, carefree ride. What I meant was: do what will show us—the reader—the character’s growth. Do what will raise the stakes, what will keep us invested in his journey, what will keep us rooting for him, on the edge of our seats, wondering how things will turn out.

Often we find ourselves wanting to write about places we have never been to. We feel anxious, wanting to give an accurate depiction but fearing that we may fall short. While it is always best to explore such real life settings first hand, research can take you very far. Put in the time; don’t just read about the location or look at images that your internet browser pulls up for you, but try to make contact with people who live(d) there. Online writers communities are wonderful places to meet people from all over the world willing to help you in any way they can, including helping you get a better feel for their hometowns. Connecting with other online groups from your desired location is another way to get varied and accurate accounts of life in the area. Some of the things you should ask about are: the weather at different times of the year and how the residents deal with it, vernacular, popular hangouts, little known facts, community quirks, architecture of the homes, majority and minority demographics, local industry, general level of education of residents, the presence of local universities or colleges, night life, popular shopping centers and restaurants. Listen to the stories residents of your desired town have to tell. Listen to how the story is being told, not just what it is about. You can learn so much by just engaging in conversation with people. Let them show you their pictures; pay as much attention to the background of those images as to the foreground.

Remember that the best stories are built deliberately. Don’t ever sink into the familiar at the expense of your story. If the scene that moves your story forward and develops your character means you must step outside of your own comfort zone, then that is exactly what you must do. Always, always, always, do what’s best for your story; there is a huge chance that when you do that, you will grow too.

In last week’s post, I provided some general strategies to help writers get unstuck. This week I’ll discuss how to maneuver crossroads and dead ends in your pieces.

Sometimes when we write, we don’t always know where the story is going. We write believing the story will lead us, trusting the process, the journey. But sometimes along the way, we come to a crossroads, and are unsure of which path to take. Do we allow our protagonist to fall back in love with the one who scorned her? Do we allow her to take that vacation, or should she just get back to work? Should our killer take one more victim, or is this moment her chance for redemption? So many possibilities that they can lead to overwhelm, and thus, an inability to make any progress in the piece. What do we do then? How do we choose which path is the best for our story? 

Examine the possibilities and ask yourself the following questions:

• Which path are you most drawn to or passionate about?

Often one of those roads will pull at you more than any other. Recognize that; you may not be able to actualize it, but be honest with yourself about which path you want. By doing so, you will make sure to put in any required effort that could make this path work.

• Which path holds the most intrigue/engagement for your readers?

Look at the story from a reader’s perspective and determine which path will hold your interest longer. Which path will leave you on the edge of your seat, or make you gasp in shock, or lead you to tears? Determine which path will evoke the most emotion.

• Which path provides your protagonist with the most fully developed character arc?

Your character is the center of this story; your main goal as a writer is to unravel a story that keeps your readers invested in your character’s journey. Which path has little effect on the character? Which shows her growth? Which shows her regression? Determine which is the most intriguing.

If the answer to these questions lies on one specific path, then you’ve determined how to continue with your story. If not, analyze if or how you could make the answers converge. Are there certain elements in one path that you can adopt in the other? Often just a minor adjustment, achieved by perhaps taking a different perspective of the situation, will help you decide.

Perhaps what’s holding you back isn’t that you’ve come to a crossroads in the story, but rather that you’ve hit a dead end. You feel like the story is over too soon, or you simply don’t know how to advance it. In that case, consider the following:

• Ask yourself (and your characters) about the possibilities. What could happen next? List all the possibilities, even those that seem absurd. Keep listing ideas until you’ve exhausted them all. Then review them. Which will help show your protagonist on her journey? Which will reveal secrets about her character? About her desires? Her fears? Which will help her get to her destination? Which will make that journey more challenging, so challenging that she becomes someone different, someone stronger (or weaker!), someone more (or less) confident? Which ideas will make her think she’s getting what she wants, but will in fact give her what she needs? Or, which path will make her think she’s getting what she needs, only to find out it’s a dead-end, and she’s right back where she began, and now she’s a different person for none of the reasons that started her on that path to begin with?

• Consider restructuring the story, so that certain events come before (or after) where they originally appear. Will that open some options for your characters? Can this change in the sequence of events help the narration?

• What about introducing (or doing away with) friends or foes? Can new characters provide with a stronger, more engaging plot line?

Brainstorm. Imagine yourself inside your story, imagine the possibilities, and take it from there.

Remember that your mindset will either be your biggest ally or your worst enemy. If you keep telling yourself ‘this story is going nowhere,’ it will do just that. If you keep telling yourself ‘I can’t write this,’ ‘I’m stuck,’ or ‘this is hopeless,’ those negative thoughts will set you up for failure. But if you tell yourself ‘I’m going to get this,’ ‘I’m going to write this story and it will be engaging,’ then you’ll do just that. Be very mindful of your self-talk. Nourish that positive mindset regularly until your goals become reality.

We all get stuck sometimes. Don’t linger there; use the techniques I’ve highlighted in this article and the one previous to get your creative juices going. Or check out this conversation between Joanna Penn and K.M. Weiland on the subject. Use these tips to finish that piece. You’ve got this!