I’ve been writing for as long as I can remember. Even as a child I was writing poetry, short stories, and telling my siblings fantastical bedtime stories. It’s just always been a part of me.
But just because I love it doesn’t mean it’s easy. The most successful of writers can still struggle with time, energy, and motivation. It’s just a part of life that no one can avoid.
In my own writing journey, I’ve picked up a few tips and tricks that have helped me. Writing is a craft; it can take years to perfect and master. But that’s the sign of a great writer: growth.
So, I’m here to share with you my personal favorite tips for writing. You can be writing anything: blog posts, novels, short stories, poetry. It doesn’t matter because it all counts in the end.
“I get a lot of letters from people. They say, ‘I want to be a writer. What should I do?’ I tell them to stop writing to me and get on with it.” —Ruth Rendell
Eliminate distractions. This can be easier said than done sometimes. We have jobs, family, pets, health, and day to day inconveniences or changes. I’ve seen some authors say that having a dedicated writing space is helpful – it conditions your brain into recognizing a specific room as the place of inspiration.
If you’re like me, you may not have that option, so another one would be a dedicated writing time. For me it’s usually early in the morning or at night after my toddler has gone to sleep. I use the daytime to do my day job, household chores, and whatever obligations I have.
It’s all about balance and deciding what belongs in your life and what doesn’t. At the end of the day, there will always be a reason why you can’t write. Be kind to yourself while still holding yourself accountable.
Write as often as you can. This goes hand in hand with number one in that you may not have the ability to write freely. However, I do think inspiration can strike at any moment. For this reason, I carry a notebook with me in my purse and in my car so that if I’m not home, I can jot down whatever I’m thinking.
You can also use your phone’s notepad as well, and I do a lot of writing on the fly on my phone. However, there is something different about writing something down on paper. Psychologically speaking, writing things down with pen and paper helps you follow through as well as retain information better.
If there is a day that you absolutely can’t write for one reason or another, take a chill pill and let it go. No matter how best we organize and strategize, there will always be things that happen outside of our control. Take a breath and remember that tomorrow is another day.
Write what you want to read. Is there a story you’ve always imagined that would be super cool? Then write it! Take a step away from the bookstagrammers and marketers for a moment and write that story that you’ve always wanted to read.
Chances are that someone else out there wants the same thing and they are waiting on you to write it! The more you write, the stronger your skills will become. Take your plot and run with it!
What matters is the passion behind what you are creating and knowing it’s something that you can be proud of. When you write from passion, the rest will follow. Always.
“Write what should not be forgotten.” —Isabel Allende
Write what you know, but don’t be afraid to learn. When it comes to creating the perfect story, it’s helpful to have a baseline grounded in something you are familiar with. It will bring a confidence and familiarity to your work. However, you may want to shake things up by introducing characters or experiences outside of your own.
In this case, don’t be afraid to ask questions, research, and read. This is especially important when it comes to culture, ethnicity, sexual orientation, and religion. There’s nothing wrong with writing out of your comfort zone but remember to be respectful and do the topics the justice they deserve.
I think this begs the question: Are there any subjects that are off limits? I think that’s a personal thing we each have to decide for ourselves. Just remember, not everything is for you and that’s okay. Better to walk with grace than accidentally harm along the way.
Are there off limit topics?
yes
no
depends on your experience
Practice writing in different perspectives. Try swapping out your language with stronger or bolder choices, as if you are adding some spice to your manuscript. For instance, instead of writing, “Sharon was scared.” try:
“Sharon trembled as the shadows creeped closer, closing the gap between her and the inescapable darkness. A cold sweat broke out on her forehead as the small hairs on the back of her neck rose in frigid horror. She willed her body to run, to scream – to do anything! But she remained trapped, her liquid blue eyes a perfect portrait of undiluted horror.”
…or something like that. A little bit of spice can take a flat statement and turns it into something very visual. Play around with your words and don’t be afraid to break out the thesaurus! Wordhippo is a great site for finding alternative words, rhymes, and much more!
Evoke emotion. This is something I find very helpful, but it can be a bit taxing. Sometimes when I’m writing a scene or a poem that conveys a specific theme, I evoke that emotion in myself by visualizing the circumstance that makes me feel that thing. If you were to write of happiness, you would evoke an image of a time you were truly, absolutely happy and then write exactly how that feels.
Sometimes it includes physical things, like the light way in which you walk, how your smile curves upward to indulge that hidden dimple, or letting your eyes relax and take on a dreamy look. It can be helpful when writing painful scenes as well such as grief, anger, regret, and sorrow. Relating it to your own experiences with those emotions helps your manuscript come alive and feel real to your reader.
I’ve always said that the best stories are the ones in which the author shares their traumas, joys, and loves. When you read a book and just feel that raw realness. That’s what brings readers back to you again and again.
You must be unintimidated by your own thoughts because if you write with someone looking over your shoulder, you’ll never write.” ―Nikki Giovanni
Join a supportive reader/writing group. You don’t have to be alone in your writing journey and having like-minded people in your corner can be invaluable. They can give you insight on your writing as well as encouragement and reader opportunities! If you're looking for a group of writers that love talking shop and are kind and supportive, check out our discord here. We are always looking to expand our community and maintain a careful balance of compassion and critique when reviewing other people's work. After all, we put so much of ourselves in our books that kindness is always key.
I hope to encourage all of you on your writing adventures! Hopefully these tips will be useful to you as you create your stories, poetry, lyrics, and whatever else you may be creating. Write, write, write! And remember, even if you think it’s crap, everything you write is excellent practice and helps you determine your writing style and your goals!
Were you inspired by this post? I’d love to know! Drop a comment below and tell me your favorite tip.
If you have a writing tip that I didn’t cover, feel free to share that too! The more we share with each other, the better the world we live in. When one of us succeeds, we all succeed!
Be sure to check back every week for a new blog post! I promise it won't always be about writing tips, but it will be interesting. It gives me a chance to connect with you and hopefully make your writing journey a little easier. So, until next week, remember that we may be different species but we are all part of the same family, so be kind to yourself and kind to others and I'll see you next week!
Ravven White is the founder of Curious Corvid Publishing, author of bestsellers I Am Ravven and The Cry of The Ravven. Her debut novel, The Sentimental Dead, arrives this Halloween. You can find her books on Amazon, Kindle, and in major bookstores worldwide. She lives in a castle under the sea with her loved ones. You can usually sense her arrival by a curious flapping of wings.
You can learn about all our Curious Corvids by visiting their author profiles on the website, following us on our social media, joining our discord, or by buying our books. Every purchase helps pay our bills which means we can write more compelling literature that is both odd and unusual.
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