If you were learning to drive, you wouldn’t just get into the car and take a cross-country road trip would you? Of course not! You wouldn’t be able to navigate difficult interstates and you wouldn’t have years of driving experience to make split second decisions that are often required when using the interstate.

Many of us realize this and that’s where driver’s education and a worried mom come in. Yet, few young writers take the same approach to writing. Instead they just start writing and hope they make it to the New York Times’ best-selling list.

But if you want to succeed in writing, if you want it to become more than a hobby, you need to be willing to invest in driver’s ed for writers.

What is Writer’s Ed? How can I take it?

Writer’s education is simply learning about writing and putting it into regular practice (acutally writing).There are a lot of different ways to learn about writing. Some writers prefer one type of learning to others. It’s all about what works best for you.

Writing Classes

Writing classes are often taught on a variety of subjects–how to craft a query letter, how to create believable characters and other topics. Some classes are better than others are but one advantage to writing classes is the opportunity to network with others who share your passion.

Remember

If you’re debating on taking a local writing class, ask more experienced writers that have taken the class if they would recommend it.

Books

There are many excellent books that can teach you how to write well, format your manuscript and more. One good book on writing is The Young Writer’s Guide to Getting Published by Kathy Henderson. If you don’t have a whole lot of cash, consider borrowing writing books from your library rather than buying.

Fiction

It’s true that you can learn a lot about writing from reading good fiction. Remember those days when you use to play with Lego’s? Think of a good fiction like a big structure that’s been built with Lego blocks. Don’t be afraid to take it apart and examine the parts you loved individually.

What made that scene so good? The witty banter between the main characters? The protagonist’s strong voice? The vivid description of the ballroom?

Real Life

You can learn to write just from watching other people. You’ll get a feel for how people react when faced with certain situations. You might overhear juicy bits of gossip while you’re standing in line at your favorite fast food restaurants. You’ll learn to decode body language, play with quirks and other fun stuff.

Real life can’t teach you how to format your book or how to approach an editor, but you can learn a lot about characters, settings, all those things add up. After all, most characters are built on real life people we’ve modified.

Mentors

Most young people that are learning to drive also have a worried mother. Every young driver needs one; just like every young writer needs a mentor.

A mentor is someone that can give you feedback on your writing, encouragement, and advice on how to fix those plot holes. You can find writing mentors in writing groups, at conferences or even in writing classes.

If you’re looking for a mentor, just ask a writer. If you’re fortunate enough to have a good writer agree, make sure to show your thanks and most of all, be willing to learn!

Writers are continually learning, continually improving their craft. There is never going to come a moment when you feel like you “know it all” but there will come a day when you’re confident in what you do know.

Every topic you could ever imagine wanting to know about writing, you can learn from writer’s ed. You just need to pay attention in class!

Debra Weiss, editor of Today’s Teen Writer, is a freelance writer living on the East Coast. When she’s not writing or editing, she can usually be found at her website.