In the United States, there are nearly 50,000 writers and authors, but only about 1-2% manage to get their work published. Improving our writing is the first step toward publication, which is a daunting and somewhat vague task to tackle. That’s why the Bookstr team has put our heads together to share some writing tips to reveal the quintessential writer within you.
Immerse Yourself in Books
Read, read, read — as much and as widely as you can. You’ll hear this a lot, but it’s so important: The words of other writers are the soil that enriches your work and allows it to grow. You internalize their voices and start thinking in their rhythms, and you develop a rich vocabulary to draw on for your own work. You get a feel for what you like and don’t like in prose, the basic mechanics of a compelling story, poem, or essay regarding form or structure. And just as crucially, you remind yourself why it is you write: the feelings you experience after reading a good story, the way you want your readers to feel.
Phoebe Pineda, Editorial
Work on the Perfect Hook
It is crucial to draw your reader into your writing by creating the need to read on. One must grab their audience’s attention by using bait. I’ve been told that when I write, I tend not to give away what I am writing within the first sentence. This draws people into your work. There must be a balance of telling your reader exactly what you want them to know right away, while keeping them curious.
For example, one shouldn’t write their main point in the first sentence, and a person shouldn’t have to wait until the end of your article to understand your point. I find that using the first few sentences to tease my point, then thoroughly explaining it, is helpful. In doing so, a reader comes out understanding what I wrote and having a takeaway. If I reveal what I am writing about too soon, there is no point for a reader to continue to read the piece. All of this is to say, ensure that you can convince your reader to read on while having a clear message!
Marissa Manzek, Social
Set Aside Time To Write
They say that practice makes perfect, but the reality is that practice makes permanent. So, as much as practicing the craft is very important, it is imperative to get the basics right. You could write every day, but if your grammar and style don’t align with industry standards, you’re not improving or growing as an author. Writing prompts are a great way to practice getting the fundamentals permanently etched into your pen before moving into long-form content, such as books.
Cassandra Fushia, Editorial
Editing Turns Drafts Into Gems
Be willing to humble yourself and accept valid criticism from other writers or editors. Letting someone else read your drafts can sometimes feel just as mortifying as standing naked in the middle of a public street, but it’s a necessary part of the process — we can’t grow without learning from our mistakes and pitfalls. Whenever I hear criticism of my writing, I admit that my initial instinct is to clutch onto my draft with both hands and shriek, “You just don’t understand me!” But once I get over the internal upset, I usually find that the criticism is, more often than not, correct and necessary in order to improve the project.
And when life really gets me down, writer’s block won’t leave, and every idea I pen sounds derivative, I reach for my old standby: Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott. There’s a reason her pearls of wisdom have remained a beacon of writing advice for so many years — her blend of practical advice and humorous sympathy always helps me put my writing into perspective and get beyond my creative blocks.
Kaija Strong, Editorial
By following these writing tips, utilizing helpful books, and maintaining a strong determination, you can significantly improve your writing skills over time. This dedicated effort not only enhances your craft but also increases your chances of becoming a published author. Ultimately, you raise your chances of joining the esteemed ranks of the 1,000 authors whose books successfully make it out of the publisher’s slush pile and onto store shelves.
Add these 10 Books To Read To Make Your Writing Better to improve your writing.
For these books and more, browse our Writer Inspiration bookshelf on Bookshop.org.
