To become a writer you have to stop talking and start writing

Do you have aspirations of being a prolific writer of science fiction short stories? Here are 12 tips to get you on your way which are actually very useful.

One of their suggestions was to write in a shared universe. You may not be able to publish your work professionally, but being able to write a story set in an established world with known characters saves you some work and will help you get started. Who knows? If you get good enough at it, maybe you can do it for money. If you want to know what it's like to be a "hack" writing in someone else's universe, read it from someone's who been there.

Another idea is to join an online writing community. The feedback from other writers can be invaluable for improving your work. Once such community is Necrotania, although there are plenty of others.

While you are writing, remember to avoid using clichés. This writer offers some concepts that she considers to not belong in a good science fiction story.

So what do you do with your story once it's done? You can always self-publish it. The technology of today certainly makes it easy. Some mainstream publishers are teaming up with self-publishing companies to build electronic imprints to publish new authors. They've taken some heat for it from writers' organizations, but the CEO of one-such company defends the practice.