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24 writer secrets

If you’ve always dreamed of being the next Hemingway or Vonnegut (or even Grisham), or perhaps if you just want to write better essays for school or posts for your blog … you need to sharpen those writing skills.

Becoming the best writer you can be isn’t easy, I won’t lie to you.

It takes hard work. But it’s worth the effort. And if it seems like an insurmountable task, there are some concrete things you can do today that will get you on the road to improvement.

Personally, I’ve been a fiction, newspaper, magazine and blog writer for 17 years now, writing for a variety of publications … and I’m still trying to improve. Every writer can get better, and no writer is perfect. I think I’ve grown tremendously as a writer over the last couple of decades, but it has been a painful journey. Let me share some of what I’ve learned.

No matter what level of writer you are, there should be a suggestion or twelve here that will help.

1. Read great writers.

This may sound obvious, but it has to be said. This is the place to start. If you don’t read great writing, you won’t know how to do it. Everyone starts by learning from the masters, by emulating them, and then through them, you find your own voice. Read a lot. As much as possible. Pay close attention to style and mechanics in addition to content.

2. Write a lot.

Try to write every day, or multiple times a day if possible. The more you write, the better you’ll get. Writing is a skill, and like any other skill, you have to practice it to get better. Write stuff for yourself, write for a blog, write for other publications. Write just to write, and have a blast doing it. It gets easier after awhile if you practice a lot.

3. Write down ideas, all the time.

Keep a little notebook handy (Nabokov carried around index cards) and write down ideas for stories or articles or novels or characters. Write down snippets of conversation that you hear. Write down plot twists and visual details and fragments of song lyrics or poems that move you. Having these ideas written down helps, because they can inspire you or actually go directly into your writing. I like to keep a list of post ideas for my blog, and I continually add to it.

4. Create a writing ritual.

Find a certain time of day when you can write without interruptions, and make it a routine. For me, mornings work best, but others might find lunch or evenings or midnight hours the best. Whatever works for you, make it a must-do thing every single day. Write for at least 30 minutes, but an hour is even better. If you’re a full-time writer, you’ll need to write for several hours a day, as I do. But don’t worry! It helps you get better.

5. Just write.

If you’ve got blank paper or a blank screen staring at you, it can be intimidating. You might be tempted to go check your email or get a snack. Well, don’t even think about it, mister. Just start writing. Start typing away — it doesn’t matter what you write — and get the fingers moving. Once you get going, you get in the flow of things, and it gets easier. I like to start out by typing things like my name or a headline or something easy like that, and then the juices start flowing and stuff just pours out of me. But the key is to just get going.

6. Eliminate distractions.

Writing does not work well with multi-tasking or background noise. It’s best done in quiet, or with some mellow music playing. Do your writing with a minimal writer like WriteRoom or DarkRoom or Writer, and do it in full-screen. Turn off email or IM notifications, turn off the phone and your cell phone, turn off the TV, and clear off your desk … you can stuff everything in a drawer for now until you have time to sort everything out later … but don’t get into sorting mode now, because it’s writing time! Clear away distractions so you can work without interruption.

7. Plan, then write.

This may sound contradictory to the above “just write” tip, but it’s not really. I find it useful to do my planning or pre-writing thinking before I sit down to write. I’ll think about it during my daily run, or walk around for a bit to brainstorm, then write things down and do an outline if necessary. Then, when I’m ready, I can sit down and just crank out the text. The thinking’s already been done. For a great method for planning out a novel, see the Snowflake Method.

8. Experiment.

Just because you want to emulate the great writers doesn’t mean you have to be exactly like them. Try out new things. Steal bits from other people. Experiment with your style, your voice, your mechanics, your themes. Try out new words. Invent new words. Experimentalize everything. And see what works, and toss out what doesn’t.

9. Revise.

If you really crank out the text, and experiment, and just let things flow, you’ll need to go back over it. Yes, that means you. Many writers hate revising, because it seems like so much work when they’ve already done the writing. But if you want to be a good writer, you need to learn to revise. Because revision is where good writing really is. It separates the mediocre from the great. Go back over everything, looking not only for grammar and spelling mistakes, but for unnecessary words and awkward structures and confusing sentences. Aim for clarity, for strength, for freshness.

10. Be concise.

This is best done during the revision process, but you need to edit every sentence and paragraph and remove everything but the essential. A short sentence is preferred over a longer one, and a clear word is preferred over two in jargonese. Compact is powerful.

11. Use powerful sentences.

Aim for shorter sentences with strong verbs. Of course, not every sentence should be the same — you need variation — but try to create sentences with oomph. You might find this easier to do in the revision stage, as it might not be something you’re thinking about when you’re pumping out that first draft.

12. Get feedback.

You can’t get better in a vacuum. Get someone to read over your stuff — preferably a good writer or editor. Someone who reads a lot, and can give you honest and intelligent feedback. And then listen. Really try to understand the criticism and accept it and use it to improve. Instead of being hurt, thank your editor for helping you get better.

13. Put yourself out there.

At some point, you’ll need to let others read your writing. Not just the person who you’re allowing to read it, but the general public. You’ll need to publish your book or short story or poem, or write for a publication. If you’re already doing a blog, that’s good, but if no one reads it, then you need to find a bigger blog and try to submit a guest post. Putting your writing out in the public can be nerve-wracking, but it is a crucial (if painful) part of every writer’s growth. Just do it.

14. Learn to be conversational.

Many people write too stiffly. I find that it’s so much better to write like you talk (without all the umms and uhhs). People relate to it better. It’s not an easy task at first, but it’s something to strive for. And that brings up another point — it’s better to break the rules of grammar in order to sound conversational (as I did in the last sentence) than to sound stilted just so you can follow the proper rules. But don’t break the rules of grammar without good reason — know that you’re doing it, and why.

15. Start and end strong.

The most important parts of your writing are the beginning and end. Especially the beginning. If you don’t hook your reader in the beginning, they won’t read the rest of your writing. So when you’ve written your first draft, spend some extra time crafting a good beginning. Get them interested and wanting to know more. And when you’re done with that, write a good ending … that will leave them wanting more of your writing.

16. Create a writing outlet

Like painters need sketchbooks and canvas, writers need a place to write their words. Start a blog, buy a journal, download a journal or diary app, or set up a writing practice folder on your desktop PC or mobile device. Use your favorite word processing app, and save each document (you might want to date them) so you can be proud of your progress later on.

And why not start a blog? It doesn’t have to be fancy or even public. It could be something simple that you share with friends and family.

17. Make writing a habit.

Even if you don’t have an obligation to write—no blog post or assignment deadline, no novel in progress—write anyway.

Set aside a certain time every day and stick with it. The goal is to be regular and make writing your priority. You want to be a writer? Then write. Writing is what makes you a writer just like running makes you a runner.

And don’t be afraid to make entries short sometimes. Even if you only write for 15 solid minutes each day, that still counts as regular practice.

What to write? Jot down your thoughts and ideas, headlines for articles, or ideas for creative writing. You might have some strong opinions about social issues or political figures. Why not write a few paragraphs on the most annoying US presidential candidate? Or your favorite? Check out Tip #3 for more ideas.

18. Tackle specific writing problems.

If you’re not sure how to improve your writing, ask a friend or someone you trust. Or take a good look at writing you know is good. How does yours compare? What’s missing?

If you have trouble with grammar, learn it. If you don’t know where to put commas, learn the rules and never worry again. And take a quiz whenever you see one.

19. Expand your knowledge and general skills.

What’s your fascination? What turns you on or lights your fire? Become an expert by reading everything you can find.

Want to write historical romances? Study your favorite period of history and read the novels written at that time. Good information isn’t hard to find. Try searching with (for example) “victorian age history” and “victorian literature.”

Want to be a famous blogger? Learn how. Follow the pros, like Darren Rowse over at Problogger. Decide what you’re an expert in, and become even more of an expert by learning all you can.

Want to write personal essays? Read them. Learn how to write them. Want to write a novel? Pick through the endless amount of information available online, read, and apply. Start here, and be sure to check out the wealth of information on the NaNoWriMo site. NaNoWriMo takes place in November, but the organization offers other free programs, like Camp NaNoWriMo.

20. Take on challenges.

Compete with a friend on daily word counts. Exchange short stories or articles with friends for editing. Try your hand at poetry. Decipher complicated song lyrics and try to figure out what they mean (do some research). Watch a film and read the book it’s based on to compare (reading reviews will help get you started). Try One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest or The Man Who Fell to Earth.

Write non-stop for an hour. Try flash fiction or writing with photo prompts. Enter contests. Write 1000 words and include 10 words you don’t normally use (consult a thesaurus). Take that same 1000-word piece and cut it down to 800 words. Use your imagination!

21. Hang out with other writers.

Look. If most of your friends aren’t much more than drinking pals or coffee klatchers who gossip, talk about TV shows, or bitch about the unfairness of life, what does that say about you? Don’t you think they’re influencing you?

Here’s the truth of the matter: If you don’t have friends or family members who share your goals, who lift you up, and who support you or cheer your efforts, you’re on a lonely road as a writer.

But how do you find other writers? Plenty of options exist online, for starters. Try searching with keywords like “online writing communities.” Here are my results; yours will differ.

Locally, consider taking a class or join a writing group or club. Check Meet-up and Craigslist or ask around.

22. Learn from others

There's an abundance of examples of good writing on LinkedIn, Medium, and the broader blogosphere (not to mention the numerous established news sites with excellent writing). Find a few writers that you admire, and read their writing slowly, with an analytical lens.

How do they make their headlines click-worthy? How do they grab the reader's attention in their very first sentence or two? How do they keep the reader engaged enough to read through to the end? Are they writing to inform and educate, or are they making a passionate plea for change? What words do they use to add color to their story and bring it to life? How do they vary the length of their sentences to create a sense of rhythm, and even music?

23. Understand that writing is work.

Writing isn’t always fun, and there’s nothing glamorous about it.

Whether you’re a fiction or non-fiction writer, you might spend hours, days, and even months doing research. You’ll write countless query letters, deal with criticism, face rejection, wrestle with tech issues, or struggle with accounting and taxes.

Novelists regularly agonize over revisions that take months or even years. Freelance writers struggle to keep money in the bank or the kids fed. Poets rarely earn a living through their verses; they do some other kind of writing as well or have a day job.

In an ideal world, you’d have a supportive family, loving friends, good health, nerves of steel, and a never-ending desire to learn. A bottomless bank account helps, too, or a spouse or partner who pays the bills. And time! How about 48 hours in a day instead of 24?

The ideal world, unfortunately, is rarely a reality, so you’ll have to make the best of what you’ve got. And that’s plenty, so get started!

24. Research A Lot

Researching is very important for people who would like to become experts in writing. Research a lot so that you can develop an eye for what effective writing looks like and it gives you a chance to understand how others write.

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