Anyone who’s tried getting into writing — whether through crafting stories, penning poetry, or beginning a blog — knows that it’s not easy. There are so many obstacles to overcome, from procrastination to lack of inspiration and writer’s block, which can sometimes make the path to better writing seem overly long and laborious. But never fear, for the Bookstr team is here!
We’ve put our collective bookish brains together to come up with nine top tips to help you on the road to becoming a better writer.
Find a Time of Day That’s Your Sweet Spot
I’ve gone through periods where a certain section of the day gets my creative juices flowing. I’ll feel the most focused at that time and get more done. So, I would suggest finding what that time of day is for you and leaning into it. Make a habit of frequently scheduling writing sessions at that hour. It may shift, and that’s okay. My peak productive section of the day fluctuates between early morning and into the night. I’ve tried forcing it to go one way or the other, but I think it’s best to go with your instincts.
Gabriela Collazo, Editorial
Find Your Style
We all have different styles. Some of us write more lyrically, where prose is beautiful and poetic. Some are more long-winded and use more words than necessary, which isn’t a bad thing. Or some are more simplistic writers. No one style is better or worse than another — they just are. Find whichever style works best for you and use it. That doesn’t mean you can’t or shouldn’t try other styles if you want to, but don’t force it. When I tried to force my writing to be more poetic and pretty, I was miserable. I hated writing it, and I hated reading it. But when I let my natural style come through, everything changed. So, just write what comes to you naturally, and remember that there’s always room for tweaking when you edit it.
Danielle Tomlinson, Editorial
Get That Idea Down
As someone who procrastinates a lot, I’d say my main writing tip would be, as soon as you think of something, no matter where you are or what you’re doing, get the idea down somewhere. Whether it’s the notes app on your phone, a post-it note, a scrap of paper, or even a tissue! Having my ideas down somewhere where I can see them and read them, I find, often helps inspire me to actually sit down at some point and flesh them out. On the flip side, when I was used to ideas just “passing through” my brain without any action, I was less likely to get motivated to actually write something later on.
M. A. Kole, Editorial
Ramble
I get anxious when I look at a blank screen and don’t know what to write. Even with an initial idea sometimes I find it hard to find my flow with it. When I’m struggling to narrow my ideas enough to write about something, I write about everything. Filling the page with a little bit of word vomit at the top not only gives me ideas for writing but also makes the page look fuller, which eases my anxiety about the empty page. I also ramble when I’m writing creatively, but you can always erase words after writing them down.
Tatum Cuttell, Editorial
Focus on Quality, not Quantity
Throughout my schooling career, all my writing assignments were centered around length. Some professors used pages as measurements, and others used words. One of my most defining moments in learning how to write was understanding how to cut out the fluff. As some of the other tips say, it’s good to get anything and everything on the page to find a starting point. However, it’s also equally as important to know what was there for your writing process that doesn’t need to be there for the reader. If you’re focusing on writing a certain amount of pages or reaching a certain word count, it might make it harder for you to condense your rambling. The power of good writing comes from it being clear and concise for the reader, not from it being a certain length for the author’s personal accomplishment.
Rebekah Mann, Outreach & Editorial
The Outline Cycle
As a writer of fiction, when I struggle with a certain chapter or scene, I start out with a barebones outline, including the dialogue and any specific lines or actions I know need to happen. From there, it’s much easier to fill in the dialogue tags and emotional story beats of the scene. I think it’s also hugely instrumental to write an updated outline of your novel/story after you finish a draft. This shows you where your story currently is and where it needs to be in the next draft, giving you a bird’s eye view of your pacing, plot, and character arcs. Even if you’re a “pantser” not a “plotter,” I think these outlines are sure to make your story come out better in the end!
I also can’t go without saying the writing reminder that keeps me going as an aspiring author: stories are written one word and sentence at a time. You don’t have to feel bogged down with the weight of writing a whole book or even a whole chapter. Just write one word at a time because that’s how every book is written — even your favorites.
Fiona Hansen, Editorial & Outreach
Find the Right Moment in Each Chapter That You Start — Especially the First Chapter
For me, this writing tip took some time to heed, but I think it’s one thing I’ve come to recognise. Working on my chapter one was tough — and I do mean tough as balls — but I couldn’t understand why. I started reading the first chapters of books I’d already read or was currently reading to get an idea of how their first chapters began and why they began the way they did. And that’s when I discovered the moments.
There were characters interacting with the scenery or other characters, but there was a spark in that because the characters were doing something to get the story rolling. The doing was the moment. It was the thinking of what was going on that preceded the scene readers were dropped into and what was supposed to come next. I had to think about what was going on before my character was dropped into the scene that readers started off with and how to move things along from there. I’d found the moment before to help me write the beginning and carry my character(s) through the rest of each chapter and the rest of the story.
Quiarah B/Vphan, Editorial
Don’t Let the Story Just “Happen” to Your Character
I know I’m in Graphics, but before I started my artistic journey, I was solely a writer. What I’ve learned from constructive criticism is to always make sure your characters are well-rounded and also have internal conflict, not just external conflict. Give them fears, desires, insecurities, etc, which can and will play into the external conflict from their decisions. It also opens the door for character growth and development by the end of the story. No one can relate to a flat character because no one in reality is one-dimensional.
Talia Wall, Graphics
Find someone to Hold You Accountable
I’m a procrastinator; it’s part of my ADHD. I also hyperfixate. The cycle is awful. Admittedly, I am also extremely busy, so for tasks that do not have a set-in-stone delivery date or someone to hold me accountable — like writing a novel — they will end up at the bottom of my to-do list with promises of getting to it later. To help me write consistently, I ensure I work with another writer I trust. We give each other deliverable dates for a certain number of words or chapters written in our respective WIPs. Then, we workshop (beta read) each other’s projects and give feedback from a reader and writer perspective. It’s a win-win all around.
Kristi Eskew, Executive Editor
And that is a wrap! Nine top tips to up your writing game, including advice on combating procrastination, building characters, and structuring your stories. So, now, what are you waiting for? Those words won’t write themselves…
Check out these podcast recommendations if you’re looking for more tips to improve your writing and gain knowledge of the industry.
Explore some of Bookstr’s recommended reads to inspire your work.
