For many of us, writing is a passion. We read books, take online courses, and attend classes to improve our craft and get better at it. As a beginner writer or even an intermediate one, I’m sure you don’t think twice before picking up any piece of advice that comes your way.
But what about advice from the masters? Why not learn from some of the world’s most successful authors? In this article, we’re going to be looking at 16 tips from famous authors on how to write better.
We’ll be hearing from the likes of Stephen King, Ray Bradbury, Kurt Vonnegut, Ernest Hemingway all the big names! So let’s dive right in shall we?
| Takeaways |
|---|
| 1. Prioritize consistency in your writing routine. |
| 2. Embrace failure as a stepping stone to improvement. |
| 3. Develop a strong connection between characters and readers. |
| 4. Cultivate a habit of reading diverse genres. |
| 5. Edit ruthlessly to refine your work’s clarity. |
| 6. Use descriptive language to create vivid imagery. |
| 7. Research thoroughly to ensure accuracy and authenticity. |
| 8. Let your unique voice shine through your writing. |
| 9. Create compelling opening lines to hook readers. |
| 10. Embrace constructive feedback as a growth opportunity. |
1. Write The Story You Want To Read
Don’t write what you think will sell, what your publisher wants, or even what you’re good at writing to write the story that lives inside of you and begs to be told.
Write the book that no one else has written yet because it’s been waiting in there for someone with a unique perspective on life who knows their subject matter inside and out (and they’re not afraid to get their hands dirty).
Write a book that people will buy because it’s by an author whose passion for their subject shines through every page.
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2. You Can Make Anything By Writing
Writing is a process and not a product. It’s an idea, but it’s also your understanding of that idea and how you arrive at it. Writing is also the act of making that idea into something that can be shared with others, who may or may not agree with you.
Writing is a way of thinking because when you’re writing something down on paper (or on-screen), it forces you to think about what you’re doing and why you’re doing it, and whether or not those thoughts are good enough for other people to read.
Writing is a way of living because writing allows us to explore our existence through the written word and sometimes even beyond that!
We might use our words as tools in everyday life: when we write emails instead of speaking them aloud; when we write recipes down instead of memorizing them; when we write thank-you notes after receiving gifts from family members or loved ones…
These are all examples where text plays an important role in our lives without necessarily being seen by anyone else except ourselves!
Writing is also one way through which people learn more about themselves – especially since we don’t always know everything about ourselves until much later on (them). As children grow up together
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3. Be Brave, And Learn To Be A Beginner Over And Over Again
As a writer, you will often be faced with the choice of starting over. Do it. Don’t be afraid to start over because it’s a chance to learn from your mistakes and make something better than before.
When I look back on my writing life, I see that most of my biggest successes have come out of times when I had to start over again and again and sometimes even fail miserably along the way before finally finding success.
When you become good at writing, people will expect more from you every time they read one of your works.
This can cause fear in writers who aren’t used to being held accountable for their work or who haven’t learned how important it is for them to constantly improve their skills as writers if they want to reach their full potential as authors.
4. There Is No One Way Of Doing Things
Author Neil Gaiman said, “There is no one way of doing things.”
Agreed. There is no “right” way to write a novel, no single method that will guarantee success. The only thing you should be afraid of is not trying new things and always sticking with the same old routine.
Think about it: if you already know how to do something well, then why not try something different? If your routine isn’t working anymore, maybe it’s time for an overhaul. Or maybe it’s time for some experimentation to find out what works best for you!
5. Write Every Day
Writing every day is one of the best things you can do for your writing because it will help you build a habit of writing, which leads to better writing. Good writers don’t just throw out a lot of words and hope for the best.
They practice their craft regularly and hone their skills over time. That’s why many successful authors have spent years working on their craft before they even published anything!
Writing every day is an opportunity (or an obligation) to improve yourself as a writer. You may not feel like it at first, but eventually, it will become easier to write consistently every day than not!
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6. Learn To Write After You’re Done Writing
The difference between a good writer and a great one is that the latter always has something to say, whereas the former often doesn’t.
The trick to writing well is not giving up. Don’t quit until you’ve told the story your heart tells you, even if it takes a hundred drafts (and trust me: it will take more than a hundred).
Writing advice from Ernest Hemingway: “Don’t be scared of long sentences; use them in moderation and keep reducing them as much as possible.”
7. Don’t Give Up On Writing Just Because You Can’t Find Time To Write
Just because you can’t find time to write doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t be writing. The great thing about the Internet age is that there are so many ways to get your creative juices flowing, even if it’s just for a few minutes at a time.
You can write in a notebook, on your phone, or even in Google Docs (my personal favorite).
You may not have time to sit down and write an entire book, but here are some quick tips:
Use Word Count Tools
When I first started getting serious about writing fiction novels, I found myself with an hour here or there between jobs and would start writing without any idea where my story was headed.
This was incredibly frustrating because I had no idea how much progress I’d made towards completing my novel until it was finished!
Now when I have these moments of free time during the day or week (usually at night), I’ll open up Wattpad’s word count tool and see how far along my current project is. It gives me encouragement when the number gets higher each day/week!
Write Short Story Shorts
This one might seem obvious since we’re talking about short bursts of writing time here but if you’ve ever tried starting a short story before only to lose steam halfway through because your characters weren’t fully developed yet (or whatever excuse).
Try turning those ideas into flash-fiction stories instead! Flash-fictions require less planning ahead but still allow writers plenty of room for creativity within their fictional worlds which means less stress overall while still achieving satisfying results.”
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8. Learn To Love Your Own Company And Charm It Into Being Productive
Successful authors can write even when they’re not writing. They find ways of staying in that creative space even when they’re not actively producing new work.
They do this by finding things that inspire them and then turning those inspirations into projects, whether it’s a blog post, a short story, or even something as simple as reading through their old drafts for inspiration.
9. Don’t Have Children And Expect Them To Be Fine With You Ignoring Them While You Write
I know this may sound harsh, but it’s the truth: if you are going to become a successful writer, there is no way around it you need to dedicate yourself completely.
This means that your work is more important than any other commitments in your life, including raising kids and loving on them in person. If you’re not prepared for this reality, then don’t get married or have kids (or both).
I’m sorry if that sounds harsh again, but it’s true! Every day when I’m writing a novel, I think about how much time I’ll get back when they are grown up and out of college…and trust me it’s worth it!
10. Read As Much As You Can, As Often As You Can
Read as much as you can, as often as you can. This might be a no-brainer, but it’s worth emphasizing: reading is at the heart of being a writer. As Graham Greene said, “The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.”
Reading will help you do both of those things. The more books you read, the more people’s voices and styles will begin to sound familiar to your ear and they’ll help inform your voice as well.
Some writers work by reading other books in their genre; some don’t want to get bogged down by restraints like genres or subgenres when they’re just starting with writing their own book;
Some writers don’t care about reading other literature for its own sake because all that matters is getting words onto paper (or into an email).
But whatever approach works best for you at this stage should be respected and utilized fully so that one day soon we’ll have another great author in our midst!
11. Write What Scares You
This might seem counterintuitive, but the most successful authors are those who push themselves to write things they’ve never written before. If you’re an avid reader of horror novels and monster movies, then why not try your hand at writing horror?
If you love science fiction, why not try a sci-fi novel? You’ll be surprised at how much easier it is to write something when there’s no pressure on it you’re just having fun.
12. Remember That Failure Is An Essential Part Of Being A Writer
Fail beautifully.
Let’s face it: failure is an essential part of being a writer. We need to fail early and often.
If we don’t fail, we’re not pushing ourselves enough and aren’t growing as writers. Try to understand that failing creates the foundation for future successes and even if you don’t succeed in one way, there are always alternative routes to get where you want to go.
13. Try Not To Worry About What People Think Of Your Work-In-Progress
This is one of the best tips I’ve heard, and it’s one that I’ve also learned through experience. It’s easy to get caught up in the worry that other people are judging what you’re working on.
But, when you aim to create something great, worrying about whether or not it will be accepted, can only drag you down.
The best advice I ever received was this: don’t worry about what other people think of your work-in-progress. If anything, they’ll probably be jealous! And while they may have a few suggestions to improve upon your work (and those suggestions are worth listening to).
Remember that at the end of the day, nobody knows better than you how much time and effort went into creating it and nobody has more input than yourself.
14. If A Character Isn’t Working For The Story
If a character isn’t working for the story, it’s OK to kill them off. That might sound like an odd thing to say, but some of the most interesting characters in fiction are those that are killed off early on in a book or series.
For example, The Walking Dead has made millions by killing off beloved characters and then bringing them back as zombies later on (and even killing other beloved characters).
If a character isn’t working for the story, it’s OK to change them. There’s nothing worse than reading about two characters who don’t fit together because their personalities clash so much that it feels like neither one is getting any development at all!
If you think about it like this: no matter how much you love peanut butter and pickles together (believe me I do), if they don’t go well together you should probably stop eating them together because your taste buds will thank you later…
So maybe it would be better for everyone if we just stopped putting bad characters together in our stories?
15. Maintain A Creative Routine That Works For You
Creative routines are important. You need to set aside time in your day to write, and you have to have a routine that works for you.
For example, I love coffee shops I can get lost in the buzz of people talking and enjoying their drinks. But I also like being at home on my couch with my cat and a cup of tea. Some people prefer writing in silence; others need music or podcasts playing in the background.
Maybe you should write first thing in the morning before everyone else is awake; maybe it works better for you later at night after everyone else has gone to bed (I do this).
Whatever works best for you is what matters most so make sure that whatever routine gets created is one that allows you to make progress on your work.
Rather than simply creating unnecessary stress by having too many distractions around when all you want is peace so as not to get distracted from getting into “the zone” while working on something important!
16. Try Not To Get Too Attached To Any Scenes Or Chapters Until The Entire Thing Is Written
It’s often said that writing is rewriting, but it can also be useful to look at your work as editing.
If you get too attached to any particular scene or chapter while working on your book, you may be tempted to keep things the way they are even after you realize they don’t fit into a larger narrative.
However, if something doesn’t work for whatever reason whether it’s because of pacing or flow, or tone it can sometimes help to consider whether there might be a better way of doing it.
Don’t be afraid of changing things! Don’t worry about losing material if you remember later on how awesome some piece was; just write another book with more great scenes and characters from this one!
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Conclusion
Hopefully, this list has given you some inspiration for your writing habits and techniques.
The most important thing to remember is that everyone’s process is different, and what works for one person won’t necessarily work for another. Take these ideas as suggestions and points of interest, not concrete rules then go forth and write!
Further Reading
For more insights and guidance on improving your writing skills, check out these resources:
16 Writing Tips from Discoveries Authors: Explore valuable writing advice shared by Discoveries authors to enhance your creative process.
Writing Tips for Fiction Writers: Elevate your fiction writing skills with expert tips and techniques to craft captivating narratives.
Writing Tips from Authors: Nobel Laureates and More: Gain inspiration from Nobel laureates and other accomplished authors as they share their writing wisdom.
FAQs
What are the key elements of effective writing?
Effective writing is characterized by clarity, coherence, and a strong sense of purpose. It engages readers through well-structured content and compelling storytelling.
How can I improve my fiction writing?
To enhance your fiction writing, focus on developing authentic characters, engaging plots, and immersive settings. Additionally, refining your dialogue and mastering narrative techniques will contribute to your growth as a fiction writer.
How can I overcome writer’s block?
Writer’s block can be tackled by trying different creative exercises, changing your writing environment, setting achievable goals, and giving yourself permission to write imperfectly.
What role does editing play in the writing process?
Editing is a crucial step in refining your work. It involves reviewing and revising your content for clarity, grammar, style, and coherence, ensuring that your message resonates effectively with your audience.
How can I find my unique writing voice?
Discovering your unique writing voice involves self-reflection and experimentation. Embrace your personal experiences, perspectives, and emotions to infuse authenticity into your writing and set it apart from others.
Costantine Edward is a digital marketing expert, freelance writer, and entrepreneur who helps people attain financial freedom. I’ve been working in marketing since I was 18 years old and have managed to build a successful career doing what I love.