Joanne Harris started her working life as a teacher, writing three novels during her fifteen years in the classroom. This included the international bestseller Chocolat (1999), the success of which made Harris a member of the exclusive Millionaire Authors’ Club, a list of UK authors whose books have sold more than one million copies. Since becoming a full-time writer Harris has written a further twenty books including two cookbooks and a Dr Who novella.
Last month Harris, a witty and wise Tweeter, shared the following tips for writers using the hashtag #TenWaysToKickstartYourWriting.
1. If you’re at a creative loose end, read. If you’re not at a loose end, read. Basically, read. #TenWaysToKickstartYourWriting
— Joanne Harris (@Joannechocolat) November 28, 2015
2. Leave your reading comfort zone. Read outside your preferred genre. If you like fiction, read non-fiction. #TenWaysToKickstartYourWriting
— Joanne Harris (@Joannechocolat) November 28, 2015
3. Don’t sit around waiting for the inspiration fairy to call. You can (and should) write without it. #TenWaysToKickstartYourWriting
— Joanne Harris (@Joannechocolat) November 28, 2015
4. Writing is like trying to be happy: sometimes you just have to fake it until the real thing arrives. #TenWaysToKickstartYourWriting
— Joanne Harris (@Joannechocolat) November 28, 2015
5. If the blank page overwhelms you, set yourself a smaller task. Find a writing prompt. Describe a memory. #TenWaysToKickstartYourWriting
— Joanne Harris (@Joannechocolat) November 28, 2015
6. Writing fan fiction is a perfectly legitimate way to kickstart your writing. It helps build confidence. #TenWaysToKickstartYourWriting
— Joanne Harris (@Joannechocolat) November 28, 2015
7. Don’t chain yourself to your desk. Sometimes the best ideas come from doing something different. #TenWaysToKickstartYourWriting
— Joanne Harris (@Joannechocolat) November 28, 2015
8. Don’t tell yourself you’re waiting for the right time tostart. There is no right time. Just start. #TenWaysToKickstartYourWriting
— Joanne Harris (@Joannechocolat) November 28, 2015
9.Sometimes you have to write twenty pages of rubbish before reaching your first line. That’s OK. You got it. #TenWaysToKickstartYourWriting
— Joanne Harris (@Joannechocolat) November 28, 2015
10. Don’t feel you need to put aside hours at a time. If all you have is ten minutes, write for ten minutes. #TenWaysToKickstartYourWriting
— Joanne Harris (@Joannechocolat) November 28, 2015
If you are not already one of Joanne Harris’s 27,000 Twitter followers, we highly recommend you join them at @Joannechocolat.
