One good thing about being a writer is that you can always be better. While it might be a little disheartening to know that you’ll never be as good as you could be, it’s also comforting to realize that no matter what kind of writer you are, you can always improve. That striving to be better is also what keeps things interesting. The amount of writing advice out there can be overwhelming, though, so I’ve gathered a few of the best tips on how we can all keep improving.
Know your characters as well as you know your best friends
Have you ever heard an author say they were going to write one thing, but their character had other ideas? That’s because smart authors know their characters so well, those characters are essentially real people. Knowing everything about a character (including details that will never make it into the story) helps you write about them, adds depth, and makes them more interesting to readers.
Do what works for you
“If you are a writer who thrives under routine, who has their writing time at 6 a.m. or forces themselves to write a page a day, that’s great. But if you write when you feel like it, mull over ideas in your head for days, weeks or even months before putting pen to paper or fingers to keyboard, that’s just as valid.” –Zalika Reid-Benta
Find the ‘write” time
Everyone seems to have a particular time of day (or night) when they’re at their most creative. Find your creative time and try to arrange your schedule so that’s when you can focus on writing.
Know when to stop
“The best way is always to stop when you are going good and when you know what will happen next. If you do that every day when you are writing a novel you will never be stuck.” –Ernest Hemingway
Take Note
If you’re away from your keyboard and come up with an idea or think of something you want to add to your story, write it down immediately. You think you’ll remember that perfect description for the sound of the breeze through autumn leaves, but you won’t (and there’s no worse feeling than knowing you had something great and forgot it). Keep a notebook with you, or take notes on your phone (I like to send myself emails).
Keep at it:
What other writing tips have helped you? Share in the comments…
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Cheers,
Aspasía S. Bissas
Aspasía S. Bissas 
Thanks for the post. Very helpful.
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Thank you– I’m glad you liked it.
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I literally think the last tip is the most most most (can’t stress enough) important one! To keep at it is where we all seem to lose. For awhile it’s flowing, the spontaneity and burst of creativity boosts us and then suddenly it gets more and more difficult to stay consistently at it even when ideas do not come as easily or effortlessly as they once did. The hardest but worthiest of all challanges is to stay constant. 🥺💜
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Absolutely! Sticking to it when things aren’t going well is so important, in writing and in life, as well. Thank you for your comment ♥
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Knowing your characters as your best friends — yes! I always say the characters are going to know the story better than anybody else, so I think that’s super important.
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Thank you 🙂 I think a lot of plot holes and inconsistencies are avoided when writers really understand their characters.
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I would totally agree with that. The more you know them, the more they’re going to be able to think for themselves and get themselves out of situations
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And less likely to do things that don’t make sense for them, but is convenient for the story 🙂
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Great list. Keeping at it is the best and most underrated advice ever. In fact, if there’s only one trait a writer should have, that’s perseverance. Thanks for sharing!
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Thank you– I’m glad you liked it! I agree– perseverance is key 🙂
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Excellent post especially Find the Write Time. This really hit home for me. Thank you!
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Thank you so much– I’m glad it was helpful 🙂
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woah thanks!! These are actually really helpful!
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Thank you– I’m so glad you liked them 🙂
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Good tips!
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Thank you 🙂
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I’d find it hard to be a writer as I think I’d get distracted too easily 😉
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But you are a writer (unless someone else writes your blog posts? 🤔)
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Haha, no, it’s only me but I’m not a proper writer like you ;-p
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Well this writer says if you’re writing, you’re a writer 🙂
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Haha then yes, I agree 🙂
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I am BURIED in my writing notes!!!
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Yeah, my inbox is a bit of a mess. What I like about electronic notes vs hand written is that you can delete them when they’re no longer relevant. Staying on top of them is a little trickier 🙂
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