The Beginner’s Advantage

There is nothing more humbling than trying something new as an adult when it seems like everyone around you has already mastered it. It could be skiing or snowboarding, acting, or painting—you name it. If there’s some kind of skill involved and you’ve never had the opportunity to learn the skill, trying to do the thing that others seem to do so easily and so well can be a tense experience. It’s easy to feel stupid, or childish. It’s so very easy to give up.

I was thinking about this recently as I spoke with a writer who had responded to my offer for a free 30-minute consultation on their project. It quickly became clear that she had never studied writing and didn’t know the first thing about it. She was very open about this! And yet, she was a big-time reader, and she wanted to create her own story.

For those of us who have been thoroughly ensconced in the traditions of the writing craft, through schooling, conferences, and writing groups, it’s so easy to forget what it’s like not to know the fundamentals. There are things that seem obvious to those of us who’ve been writing for a while: how to start a project; how to use dialogue in a story, where the punctuation goes even; what might be considered cliche; how to seek feedback; how to know which feedback to ignore.

The beginner writer, however, is coming to the craft without these preconceived ideas of what works and what doesn’t, what’s “good” and what’s “bad.” For some this may feel like a disadvantage, but I believe this can be a beautiful thing.

For one, learning or deeply experiencing something new isn’t something we often get to do as adults. Being new at something can be an incredible sensory experience—everything is tinged with electricity. For another, being new at writing gives the beginner a fresh perspective that a seasoned writer can never have. Nothing feels unoriginal. The beginner hasn’t seen all this a million times. As a beginner writer, I believe you are more likely to take risks that a seasoned writer wouldn’t dare. It’s true that the risk may not ultimately work, but that, too, is part of learning the craft.

If you’re new to writing, no matter your age, I hope you’ll stick with it! There is room for more voices and more stories, and yours is essential. ❤️

PS: If you are new to writing, the best thing you can do for yourself is to read, read, read—deeply and widely. Make a habit of it. Reading will give you your toolbox. You’ll be inspired and will learn more than you can ever learn in a classroom. Plus, reading is such a great pleasure!