The Only General Writing Advice You Will Ever Need
You already know this, but repetition is good. Repetition helps us grow.
- Writing and Editing are two separate, and different processes.
- Writing and Editing are two separate, and different processes. It is that important.
- Write first. Edit later.
- Write first. Edit later. It is that important.
- Outline only if it works for you.
- Write every day.
- Write what you want to read, not what you think someone else will.
- Keep a ritual.
- Stick to it.
- When you are not writing, read.
- Read a lot.
- Read everything: comics, newspapers, novels, magazines, screenplays, poetry, billboards, tattoos, mustard wrappers, everything.
- Read your own writing. Out loud.
- Read other people’s writing. Out loud.
- Don’t read to comprehend. This is about writing.
- Read to write. Notice the context, flow, and tone.
- Listen to people speak.
- Don’t listen to comprehend. This is about writing.
- Notice the context, flow, and tone.
- Write with different tools: keyboard, pencil, ink pen, crayon, dirt, whatever.
- Write on different mediums: grid paper, lined paper, blank paper, cardboard, LCD, canvas, dirt, whatever.
- Write in different places, but keep and maintain a Writing Home.
- Tell everyone you write: your family, your friends, the postman, the prostitutes, everyone.
- But don’t tell anyone exactly what you are writing: not even the prostitutes.
- Strike dead every should you have about writing.
- Put aside this list, and every other piece of advice, or book, or adage about writing ever offered.
- And write every day.
Update: My apologies, but I trashed the PDF referenced below by mistake. Because a few people mentioned printing up this list, I created a simple PDF of it. Nothing fancy, just a serif font on white background, but if you’d like a copy then head to the PDF Section of the Downloads Page and snatch one up. You may do whatever you’d like with the PDF. I release it under the the Griffin Proxy Free to Be You and Me License, an obscure and utterly meaningless license with one line of text that reads, “Know thyself. You are your own council, go forth, and make merry.“
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This page is great! I love it and I’m glad that I stumbled upon it!
I love to read so much, so I’ve decided to also start writing! I love it just as much!
One thing I always notice when I write is that I always get caught up in it and cant stop! I just wanted to say that I love that feeling!
Thank you SO SO SO much!!! You rock too by the way! Haha!
Thank you so much for this list, however, I just tried writing on my LCD with dirt. Can you offer me tips on how to clean my LCD? :-p
Seriously, though, this is a very good list. I’m off to write.
TTFN!
Katie - Thank you. You’re kind. And write away, not stopping is a good thing, though at some point it helps to organize it, I’d rather have the problem of too much, than too little.
Scott - Yeah, that can be a bummer, but dirt’s okay, just don’t use a Sharpie :). Thanks for the comment, and happy writing my friend.
Very good, thanks!
A.M. Thank you for the excellent advice. Totally agree with you, that all the energy should go into the work, not be scattered in sharing with others. Secondly you don’t have to deal with the “oh can I read it?” people. Thirdly you’re spared the advice of those who think they know where your story should go from there. A work in progress is subjected to enough of ones own personal demons it is best to not let others tread on it too.
The spelling errors are not what stop me cold when I’m reading, it’s the details. Dear authors if you change something please, please, please change it all the way through the story. i.e. The child was four suddenly two chapters (and a month) later the kid is ten. There were two cats, now it’s a cat and a dog. A characters name was George suddenly its Daniel. Bloopers like those can destroy the readers chance to “get into” the story.
Stumble also led me to your site and I will be sharing it with my niece who teaches. Thank you for sharing.
Sue - You are welcome, and thank you.
Theresa - Yeah, that can be a major distraction huh? Anything that can possibly rip the reader out of your story and into their own mind is usually a sign you screwed up somehow. Screwed up as it relates to your goal of immersing them in a story. While I’ve never been a big fan of outlining, because it’s difficult for me to think in terms of deliberate structure, in my writing and my life, the practice does help one avoid these inconsistencies you speak of, or it can help. And thank you for taking the time to comment Theresa. It’s a great point you bring up, so thanks for sharing.
You know, I’ve been working on a book for the longest time now. I get going rather well for some time, then life happens, I get distracted and I lose track of my writing. Thankfully, Stumble Upon continues to point me to pages like yours that remind me to keep plugging along with it. Thanks for the reminder! (BTW, bookmarking your site for future consumption — after I’ve done some writing of course!)
Direct and to the point, Good stuff that never gets old.
Such simple yet very valueble advice - thanks!
Bungirl - Much thanks for the nice words. Life happens to me a well. I’ve always admired the folks who remain totally dedicated to constant creation. Suppose balance is the key, but I can let things distract me from writing. Maintaining focus has never been my strength. Thanks again Bungirl. Look forward to hearing from you again.
I really feel that these rules (or guidelines) will really help improve my writing. I’d just like to thank you for putting these up.
~Alec
Maree- Thanks for the comment. I’m glad you enjoyed it, and took the time to let me know. I appreciate it.
Alec - You are welcome Sir. And thank you for sharing. Keep up the writing. Hope to see you around these parts again.
Repetition is important for learning, maybe not so important in your actual writing.
Pauls, make a point here. It’s probably a good idea to steer clear of saying the same thing in different ways over and over. Though I do think repetition in writing has its place, especially in poetry. You can work the reader into a flow, almost manipulate a feeling, with the proper use of repetition. Appreciate the comment Sir.
It should be “write in different media” not mediums.
Good advice though.
Great advice.
Like Strunk said, “A sentence should contain no unnecessary words, a paragraph no unnecessary sentences, for the same reason that a drawing should have no unnecessary lines and a machine no unnecessary parts.”
A writer writes. Period. No excuses.
Wonderful advice…and yes I am a writer too. I do tell everyone that I am! Great to have it confirmed. Love it!
Oh ..forgot to mention…I cut and paste it to my writers magazine. Was looking for a place to ask if it was okay (was going to regardless of your answer):) and found your permission….you must be really great writer! Thanks again.
Hi,
I stubled upon your writing tips and found some great ideas.
Thanks for the tips and I look forward to “writing with dirt” as you say.
Christopher S.
Great thoughts.
I note that many of them apply whether you’re writing a book, an article, a blog, or even marketing copy.
Aah…
Precious advice indeed!