Writing tips for my 7-year-old nephew

Aw, my sister told me this week that my seven-year-old nephew wants to be an author, and did I have any writing tips for him? My immediate thought was 'Learn to touch type' (I'm very pleased I did!). Since then, I've thought of several more tips for him, which I'll list below.

1) Learn to touch type.

2) Keep a diary/journal. If you want to become an MG or YA writer, to have access to a seven- or ten- or fifteen-year-old's thoughts will be invaluable. (Plus the whole process of getting used to writing regularly.)

3) Do your best at school. Learn everything you can.

4) Take an interest in lots of different things. You don't have to pursue them right to the end of whatever course they take, but it will give you a broad range of topics to write about later.

5) Try new things for the experience.

6) Read a lot. Read a lot. Read a lot.

7) Find another career to support yourself until your writing takes off.

8) Save and back-up your files regularly, and email drafts to yourself.

9) The first draft can be rubbish. THAT IS OKAY!! The subsequent drafts are where the story takes shape and the magic happens.

10) Get your butt in the chair and WRITE.

11) Persist. Don't give up.

12) Keep a notebook with you (& especially on your bedside table) to jot down ideas while you remember them. Write down the date, too.

Anybody have any other tips?

Quest for Olympic Gold

My niece and nephew proudly displaying their medals

The London 2012 Olympics are nearly over, and Team GB have been doing the nation proud.  Currently, we have 26 Gold medals, 15 Silver and 17 Bronze, making this our most successful Olympics for over 100 years.

I'm not a sporty person, but even I've been watching some of the events (and who knew there were so many of them?!).  I've caught gymnastics, cycling, diving, dressage, athletics, hockey, tennis (yay, Andy Murray!), and canoeing.  One thing that gets mentioned when the medallists are interviewed afterwards is the sheer sacrifice they've made to get to that winners' podium - all the hours spent in training, the setbacks and disappointments, the focus and determination, the injuries.  It's not easy to pursue your dream, and sometimes you wonder whether it'll be worth it.  Not everyone will win Gold, but you have to train, believing that it's possible.  Keep the goal or finishing line in sight, and run towards it with everything you've got.

The Olympics have inspired me.  (No, don't die of shock - I'm not about to take up a sport!)  I'm likening writing to going for Olympic Gold.  The hours I've spent pursuing my dream - crafting and polishing, suffering setbacks and disappointments - I wonder whether it will ever be worth it.  But you know what?  I love to write, and that gives its own reward.  Even if I may never achieve my Olympic Gold, I must keep the goal in sight and pursue it with my whole heart.  And Silver's not so shabby, right?  ;o)

Yeah, I know quad biking isn't an Olympic sport, but maybe it should be, huh?

Do you have any goals to achieve?  Are you willing to put in the hours and sacrifice necessary to achieve them?