Christopher Pike's Writing Advice

Chapter Nine: Getting Help With Your Writing

I never spoke in a public setting when I was not asked if a person could be taught how to write. I usually answered, "No, writing cannot be taught like engineering or chemistry or medicine. But if the person is willing to work hard at their craft, they can certainly be helped toward their goal."

That was my standard answer. Most people were satisfied with it. Most people except me. I always wanted to say more. The two sources of help most people were asking about back in the eighties and the nineties -- when I gave public talks -- were working toward a degree in creative writing at a major college or simply joining a local writer's group.

I never took classes at college on creative writing. In fact, I never finished college. I taught myself to write in my bedroom by studying how published authors wrote. My first role model was Arthur C. Clarke -- the famed sci-fi writer. He wrote 2001: A space Odyssey and Childhood's End. He had a beautiful, effortless, economical style. My goal was to write exactly like him.

Of course that never happened. I could never write exactly like him because I did not think like him. When you finally are able to write the way you think, you've finally developed your own "voice." It takes many years of writing before your own voice will fully emerge.

Although I never took creative writing classes, I was invited to speak at them. Most of what I learned from such programs came from talking to the students I met in class. And I came to the conclusion that the people who were going to get published probably would get published no matter who they studied with -- even if they studied alone.

Please, don't get the idea I'm putting down such programs, I'm not. I'm sure for certain people being in a structured program helps speeds up their progress. I just happened to be the type of person who did better on my own -- at first.

What about local writer's groups? Again, it all depends on your degree of motivation and what kind of group you end up in. I've been to groups where all people did was sit around and praise each other's prose. Now, all of us like to have our egos stroked but it's hardly the best way to improve your writing skills. That's the biggest problem I have with such groups.

Nowadays, many such groups are online. But few provide a writer with honest, brutal, or accurate criticism. For that matter, a beginning writer is lucky if he or she can find ONE person in their lives who can give them such criticism -- or advice if you prefer that word. I was fortunate when I began to write for Simon & Schuster. They paired me with an editor named Marjorie Hanlon. She line-edited my books throughout the eighties and nineties and taught me a tremendous amount about writing. I owe Marjorie a great deal and she's the perfect example of how a teacher can be of value when the student is ready.

Marjorie would have been no help to me earlier in my career. I had to have the basics down before she was able to fine tune my style. Remember, I only met her after I'd published three books, one of which -- Chain Letter -- was already a bestseller. Being a bestseller, though, did not mean I had nothing to learn. Oh no, when I met Marjorie I was just beginning to stretch my creative legs. Without Marjorie I doubt I ever would have been able to write Remember Me.

I realize I've just gone full-circle. I've given you all the reasons why you don't need a teacher and I've told you how much a teacher can help you on your way. I suppose each person must follow his or her own path. At the start I was so awful a writer no one could have helped me. By chance I ran into Marjorie just when she could do me the most good.

I was lucky. Luck does play a role in life. But luck pales next to hard work and talent. The work you can decide to do. The talent you are born with. Or not.

Talent is a topic that deserves it's own separate post.

I'll talk about it soon.