Ten Short Writing Lessons from Authors (That You Never Want to Forget)

One of the best things we can do as authors or aspiring authors is to take to heart the words and advice of those who are wearing the shoes that we hope to one day fill ourselves.

So if your day is lacking in writing inspiration look no further than the wise words of these authors to help you find that wind for your writing sail. 

Read Widely: 

"If you don't have time to read, you don't have the time (or the tools) to write." - Stephen King 

The best writers are avid readers because it is where they learn the craft of writing. Reading teaches us how to pace our stories, how to make our readers fall in love with our characters, and in some cases, the best way to break their hearts.  

Write Regularly:

 "Write every day, even if it's just a few sentences. Consistency is key." - J.K. Rowling 

Writing should become as much of a daily habit to a writer as drinking a cup of coffee or getting lost in a daydream. Your story isn't going to magically write itself just by thinking about it. 

Even if you can only manage a line or two every day your story is going to creep closer and closer to being completed with each passing day. 

Edit Ruthlessly: 

"The first draft of anything is sh**." - Ernest Hemingway 

Your first draft is essentially word vomit on the page. It's going to be a bit all over the place with some things that need to be added and other things that need to be cut. 

This is where many of us falter, we don't want to delete that chapter that we spent weeks writing even though it adds nothing of value to the story - we made that. 

No one said you had to get rid of it, move it to a new folder to look back on if you miss it, but don't be afraid to take the scissors to your work to give it the clean-up it needs. 

Show, Don't Tell: 

"Don't tell me the moon is shining; show me the glint of light on broken glass." - Anton Chekhov 

This one should be number one on the list, but you've probably heard or seen it so many times it's been etched into your brain. Sure it's easy to have your character wake up and announce that it's a nice sunny day, but it's not realistic. 

When you wake up you see the rays shining through the window, you feel the heat on the glass. Let your readers see the world as you do. 

Create Complex Characters:

 "Character is plot, plot is character." - F. Scott Fitzgerald

Sure your characters may be printed on a piece of flat paper, but they don't have to truly be flat. Give them hopes, dreams, fears, and most importantly - flaws. Make your characters as real as you can. 

Write What You Know:

 "Write what should not be forgotten." - Isabel Allende 

This one often gets confused as 'Oh well I don't know what it's like to be an X person in Z situation so I can't possibly write about it.' The point isn't to be an expert at everything to write about it. I've never been in a spaceship hurtling through space - but I've been trapped in a broken elevator for a few hours that dropped a few floors before they managed to get the doors open. I can use this experience with fear and give this to my characters. 

 Draw from your own experiences and emotions for situations that are close enough to what you are putting your characters through. 

Embrace Rejection:

 "I can shake off everything as I write; my sorrows disappear, my courage is reborn." - Anne Frank 

Rejection is part of a writer's journey. It's happened to most of the writers on this list - some more times than they probably remember. It's unfortunately the same as with many life situations, just because a runner doesn't finish first in the marathon doesn't mean they never run again - they keep trying - they keep improving - and they don't give up. 

Read Your Work Aloud:

 "Your writing voice is the deepest possible reflection of who you are." - Cheryl Strayed 

By reading your work out loud you are going to catch all those little things that your spelling and grammar check are going to miss and you'll be able to make your words have better overall pacing. 

Seek Feedback: 

"Remember: when people tell you something's wrong or doesn't work for them, they are almost always right." - Neil Gaiman

Don't be afraid to share your work and accept constructive criticism from beta readers or writing groups. Getting a fresh perspective can help you see things you may have overlooked. 

Stay True to Your Voice:

 "Your uniqueness is your greatest strength." - Dan Brown

 I can't be the next Stephen King - because there already is a Stephen King, but I can be the next Barbara King (no relation sadly.) 

If I spend all of my time trying to be someone else, I'm not going to be giving readers a chance to fall in love with my words or my stories, because they'll be able to tell I'm not being authentic. 

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These lessons offer valuable insights into the craft of writing. Remember that writing is a journey of continuous learning and growth. Embrace these lessons, adapt them to your style, and keep honing your skills as you progress as a writer.

Now get to writing.

With love, 

B. King xoxo

Want to write with me live? I'm now on Twitch! Come join me in some writing sprints every Wed-Thurs-Fri-Sat at 10:30 pm EST

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