The Best Writing Advice I’ve Ever Had

Writing is hard. It’s one of the most difficult and rewarding things I’ve ever done. But, like any skill, it takes practice to get better at it. 

Over the years, I’ve learned from a lot of people who inspire me and some who don’t. Some advice was great; some were awful, but all of it helped me become a better writer. So if you’re just starting, or if you’re trying to improve your writing skills but aren’t sure where to start, check out these tips for improving your writing:

Takeaways
1. Embrace your unique voice and perspective.
2. Revise and edit ruthlessly for clarity and conciseness.
3. Read widely to expand your vocabulary and creativity.
4. Seek feedback and learn from constructive criticism.
5. Set consistent writing goals to maintain discipline.
6. Write regularly to hone your skills and develop fluency.
7. Embrace failure as a stepping stone to improvement.
8. Connect with a writing community for support and growth.
9. Experiment with different genres and styles to evolve.
10. Stay persistent and believe in the power of your words.

“If Only I Could Write As Beautifully As X

I know you want to be a writer, and I’m not going to tell you that it’s hard work. But if you want to write as beautifully as X, then the first thing you should do is read everything they’ve ever written. 

Once you’re done with that (and assuming you liked what they wrote) then start reading their influences and influences of those influences until someone else pops up who writes beautifully and so on down the line until eventually, we’re all just like “wow didn’t know this person existed.”

The point is: Write by reading other books.

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Always Read The Next Sentence

Read the next sentence. It’s a simple tip, but it can help you get into the flow of your story, check for errors and make sure you’re on track. This can also help with grammar if an introductory clause seems unnecessary or awkward, for example, then try rewording until it sounds more natural.

This technique is particularly useful when writing dialogue (e.g., “I don’t know what to do!”). Reading this line out loud will give you an idea of whether or not it sounds like something someone would say in real life and most importantly if they would say it in that order.

“Creativity Is A Muscle. The More You Use It, The Stronger It Gets

Creativity is a muscle. The more you use it, the stronger it gets. It’s the same with any skill you can’t expect to be an expert at something unless you do that thing over and over again. So if you want to improve your writing, take some time each day to write a little bit about anything and everything that comes into your head:

• Write about what happened on your commute this morning (no matter how mundane)
• Write about why you love cats or dogs so much
• Write about why orange juice tastes so good on a hot summer day

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Start With The Truth You Know

An editor once told me, “The best writing is written from the heart.” I disagreed. I thought it should be written from the head, or at least tried to be logically constructed and informed by research and facts.

But as much as I love logic, this editor was right: The best writing comes from somewhere deep inside you your truth, your passions, your fears and desires, and not just from what you think is true or what other people want to hear about.

When I think back on all my favorite pieces of writing (and there are many), they all have one thing in common: They start with the writer’s truth; they are grounded in something real that happened or was going on inside them when they wrote it down for the first time.

Get To Know Your Characters Like Friends

It’s hard to write a compelling character when you don’t know what they like, what their dreams are, and why they do the things they do. If you want to write a great novel, it helps if you can get inside your characters’ heads and know them as well as you know your best friends.

You might be wondering how on earth this could help with writing. Well, let me tell ya: it will help with every aspect of your novel! 

The reason this advice is so great is that it works from start to finish (actually all the way through). You can use these tips at any point during the process before writing or after and everything will go smoother for it. Let’s look at some examples:

If I’m having trouble coming up with ideas for my story… I’ll think about one of my favorite characters in another book and ask myself what kind of life would suit him/her best. That thought might lead me down an interesting path where I create something new!

If my plot seems too clichéd or predictable … How would my favorite character respond? This may cause me to change course entirely! Or even better: maybe there’s a better way than cliche or predictability altogether!

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Revise And Revise, And Revise Some More

This is the single most important piece of advice I’ve received.

The revision process can be hard, but it’s also an opportunity to improve your writing, your story, and the way your readers react to them both. You get to see all the flaws in what you’ve written and make it better by fixing those issues and there are plenty of them!

Here are some examples:

Revise so that your writing improves. This means cleaning up grammar and typos; refining sentences into something stronger; making sure descriptions are clear and concise; tweaking the order or structure of paragraphs or chapters so they flow better; adding details about the setting or characters that make sense for where they fit in the plot. 

It could mean adding more dialogue if it’s needed (or less if not). These revisions will make every part of your work stronger overall.

Revise so that your story improves too but remember: don’t lose sight of why this particular story needs to be told now at this particular time in history! 

Whether someone else has already done something similar before doesn’t matter much at all when considering whether this story should exist now because then it wouldn’t have been necessary for YOU TO WRITE IT DOWN IN HARD COPY (or soft copy). 

With this caveat out there first thing though… might be useful for writers who aren’t used yet either way so consider permitting yourself right now! there is no formulaic template recipe set-up here either…

“Just Write Down What Happened. The Art Will Come Later

There are a lot of things that you need to learn before you can master the art of writing, and one thing is for sure: it’s not going to happen on the first try.

When I was young and thought about what I wanted to be when I grew up, I always said that I wanted to write books or make movies. 

But when it came down to doing it, nothing seemed as easy as I’d imagined in fact, it felt impossibly difficult! The only way that things like this are possible is through practice, patience and perseverance and if you’ve ever tried something new then you know how frustrating that can be!

The best advice about writing that anyone ever gave me was this: just write down what happened. The art will come later. And man did they mean it (and so should we).

Write About What You Can’t Write About

Write about what you can’t write about. If you’re passionate about it, if it makes your heart race, if you want to know more and more and more, then write about it. Write essays and poems and stories that are full of the words that need saying. Write from an emotional place where others will feel safe in hearing their truth reflected at them by your writing.

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Listen To Your Gut And Forget The Rest

The best advice I’ve ever received is to listen to your gut and forget the rest.

I was young, and it wasn’t until my early 20s that I started writing fiction. Someone told me: “Write what you know.” 

After listening closely to this person’s advice, I decided not to write what I knew but instead wrote about things that made me feel uncomfortable, angry, or scared; things that were confusing for me as a writer. This helped me unlock my creativity in ways that would otherwise have been impossible without first facing these fears head-on.

This isn’t just about finding your voice as an artist this is about getting out of your comfort zone so that you can grow as a person!

There Is No One, Perfect Way To Do Things

There is no one, perfect way to do things.

This is a lesson that I’m still learning, but it’s been by far the most important thing I’ve learned as a writer (and person). In school, we are taught that there is a right and wrong answer for everything; when it comes to writing, this isn’t true at all. 

There are only different ways of doing things and whether you choose yours or someone else’s doesn’t matter much because what matters most is that you’re using your voice and not just copying someone else’s work.

Don’t Strive For Perfection; Strive For Completion Instead

I’ve learned that there’s a huge difference between editing a piece and writing it well. It’s easy to get caught up in the first draft, thinking that you need to get every word right before you send it out into the world but the truth is, no one cares about your first drafts except you (and maybe not even then). 

The point of a first draft is to get ideas out onto paper, with as little filtering or distillation as possible.

The goal is not perfection but creation so don’t worry about how this piece will be perceived by others; don’t worry about making it perfect; don’t even worry about how long it will take or how long it will take other people to read it; forget all those things and just write! 

This way of thinking applies equally well both at home on your laptop and in front of an audience at a conference or workshop where every word counts towards earning credibility with peers who can help advance your career goals

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Writing Is Hard

Writing is hard. It’s a cliche, but it’s true. Especially writing fiction. The more you try to get it perfect, the harder it becomes for you to put words down on paper and make something that feels like a story. But when I say “hard,” I don’t mean something that can’t be done I mean something that takes effort and energy, which are two things any good writer needs anyway!

So here are some tips for making writing as enjoyable as possible:

Don’t worry about getting it perfect; just write whatever comes naturally to you to get your ideas out in the world for others (and yourself) to see and appreciate. The process itself is what matters most here; if you’ve already spent five years crafting your magnum opus then maybe now’s not the time for publication after all. Take your time!

Don’t worry about what other people think; if they have nothing nice or helpful to say then let their comments roll off your back like water off an oiled duck’s feathers.* And while we’re at it…*

Don’t worry about how much time it takes either! Any project worth doing should require some investment on our part before reaching completion—which may take months or years depending on how ambitious we are with our goals.* Lastly…

Conclusion

I’ve been writing for a long time now, and I’m constantly trying to improve my craft. And while there are many ways to do that, one of the best pieces of advice I’ve ever gotten came from a fellow writer who took me aside after reading an early draft of my book.

The gist of this piece is: don’t be afraid to show your work before it’s perfect.

Further Reading

The Best Writing Tip I’ve Ever Received: Discover valuable insights and advice from experienced writers that can enhance your writing journey.

The Best Writing Advice I’ve Ever Read Comes from Robert Frost: Explore the wisdom of Robert Frost’s writing advice and its potential impact on your own creative process.

The Best Piece of Writing Advice I’ve Ever Received: Gain valuable perspectives and practical tips to improve your writing skills based on personal experiences and advice.

And here’s the FAQs section with semantic-based questions and answers:

FAQs

How can I improve my writing skills?

Enhancing your writing skills involves consistent practice, seeking feedback, and studying the works of established authors for inspiration and techniques.

What’s the significance of Robert Frost’s writing advice?

Robert Frost’s writing advice highlights the importance of taking the road less traveled, metaphorically encouraging writers to explore unique and original perspectives in their work.

How do personal experiences contribute to better writing?

Drawing from personal experiences can add authenticity, emotional depth, and relatability to your writing, making it more engaging and impactful.

Where can I find more writing advice from experienced authors?

You can find valuable writing advice from experienced authors through books, online articles, writing workshops, and literary communities.

How do I overcome writer’s block?

Overcoming writer’s block involves techniques such as freewriting, changing your environment, setting achievable goals, and giving yourself permission to write imperfectly.