Post History

Source: https://writers.stackexchange.com/a/40714
License name: CC BY-SA 3.0
License URL: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/

Source: https://writers.stackexchange.com/a/40714
License name: CC BY-SA 3.0
License URL: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/

One advantage of actually writing is you can edit, revise, add and delete to the story. You don't have to have a whole story in your head, or a plot, to start writing a story and finish it.

Read this answer of mine, to a different question [The Psychology of Starting a Piece of Writing](https://writing.stackexchange.com/a/36356/26047). I am a discovery writer, that begins stories without a plot and without all the characters, and that answer describes how to begin such a story.

You may be a discovery writer, too: The notion of coming up with some character and having a conversation with it: That can be part of a character driven story. Even if the conversation never makes it into the final work, developing a strong and unique character in your mind is the first step in beginning a novel, you have a protagonist, or an antagonist that needs a protagonist to stop his evil plans.

## The Primary Distinction of a Writer.

Stephen King was once asked in a live interview, "What advice do you have for people that would like to write?"

His answer: "Write!" However, he went on to say (and I paraphrase) that most people that ask him that question don't really want to write, they want **_to have written_** , so they are getting paid royalty checks, and making movie deals, and being on TV (he waves at the camera) and getting interviewed. But to be a writer, you have to really love to write, and would like to write all day, and you are willing to give up your mornings or evenings and use your entertainment time to write because for you writing **is** entertainment. So his advice is, if you love writing, then write, and write, and try and try again, until you are good enough to get published. Then keep writing and getting published, not for the money and fame, but because writing is fun.

Original score: 6