2024 is coming to an end, and publishing slows down significantly at the end of each year. So, don’t fret if your query letters remain unanswered this month. Today, we’re exploring 9 practical, actionable writing tips approved by bestselling authors.
If you have plot bunnies coming out of your plot holes, it’s time for a writing break.
2024 is coming to an end, and publishing slows down significantly at the end of each year. So, don’t fret if your query letters remain unanswered this month. Today, we’re exploring 9 practical, actionable writing tips approved by bestselling authors.
The Writing Break cafe is open, so let’s head inside and straight to the Overthinking Couch.
1. Write regularly and consistently.
Set a daily or weekly word count goal and, if possible, dedicate a specific time for writing each day. Remember that consistency builds momentum. In the words of Octavia E. Butler: "First forget inspiration. Habit is more dependable. Habit will sustain you whether you’re inspired or not." And in the words of Stephen King: "Amateurs sit and wait for inspiration, the rest of us just get up and go to work."
2. Embrace simplicity and clarity.
If complex sentences are your thing, go for it. However, I would remind you that clear communication is priceless, especially when trying to reach a large audience. If you want your writing to have staying power long after you’ve left this mortal realm, aim for clarity and precision and avoid overcomplicating your sentences. Break up long sentences into shorter ones, especially during moments of action or tension. This will increase readability and improve pacing. Strip away excess and focus on your characters’ emotional cores.
George Orwell said: "Never use a long word where a short one will do." Kurt Vonnegut said: "Use short sentences. They are robust." And James Baldwin said: "Write a sentence as clean as a bone." Writing expert William Zinsser said: "Examine every word you put on paper. You’ll find a surprising number that don’t serve any purpose." For example, “He was really tired” could become “He was exhausted”, but I often find that authors have a hard time letting go of adverbs and end up writing something like, “he was completely exhausted.” Mmm, no, “He was exhausted” works better.
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3. Show, don’t tell.
I think it’s illegal to not mention this one when offering a list of timeless writing tips. So, yes, focus on showing, not on telling. Memorable stories use sensory details and actions to convey emotions and settings.
Most of us know that Anton Chekhov said: "Don't tell me the moon is shining; show me the glint of light on broken glass." But he also said, "Don’t tell me the man is afraid; show me how he trembles." Mmm.
4. Read.
Furthermore, read widely and learn from others, including modern writers. Study a variety of genres to understand different styles and storytelling techniques.
In the words of William Faulkner: "Read, read, read. Read everything—trash, classics, good and bad, and see how they do it." Once you’ve done this, you will have the tools to create something incredible because it comes from you, a well-read creature. Remember what Toni Morrison told you: "If there’s a book that you want to read, but it hasn’t been written yet, then you must write it."
5. Create fully realized characters.
Let your characters drive the story through their decisions and flaws. We need flawed characters, we need character arcs, the whole thing.
In the words of F. Scott Fitzgerald: "Character is plot, plot is character."
6. Write for an audience of one.
I’ve talked to you about identifying your ideal reader and keeping that person in mind as you write, and while collecting quotes for this list, I was pleased to learn that Kurt Vonnegut said: "Write to please just one person. If you open a window and make love to the world, so to speak, your story will get pneumonia."
7. Hook the reader and keep them hooked.
Avoid opening with a long backstory. Instead, drop the reader into a compelling moment and weave the exposition in later. As you revise, think about what question or tension lingers at the end of each chapter. Add believable tension and conflict to keep your readers engaged. Rewrite until you’re sure the reader feels compelled to keep going.
In the words of Lee Child: "Hook the reader by starting with action or an intriguing question." In the words of James Patterson: "Every chapter should end with a cliffhanger or some reason to turn the page." And in the words of Raymond Chandler: "The more you reason, the less you create."
8. Ground your writing in specific details.
Use cultural, personal, and geographical details to enrich your story. In the words of Sandra Cisneros: "The more specific you are, the more universal you become." Now, it is possible to overdo this, but keep revising until you’ve found your voice and developed your style, which leads us to tip #9.
9. Accept that writing is rewriting.
Separate drafting and editing. Allow the creative flow first, then refine. During editing, cut unnecessary details or tangents, even if they are well-written. Be ruthless in this. John Steinbeck told us: "Write freely and as rapidly as possible and throw the whole thing on paper. Never correct or rewrite until the whole thing is down." And Ernest Hemingway famously said: "Write drunk, edit sober." Maybe he was being literal when he said this, but I think we can apply this metaphorically as well.
Remember that Nora Ephron was clear when she said: "The hardest thing about writing is writing." But also remember Joyce Carol Oates’ assertion that: "The great happiness of life in creative endeavor is the writing itself."
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Until next time, thank you so much for listening, and remember, you deserved this break.
If you would like us to visit your favorite independent bookstore, feature your favorite independent author (even if it’s you), or discuss something you’re overthinking about, please email me at podcast@writingbreak.com.
Thank you for making space in your mind for The Muse today.
Writing Break is hosted by America’s Editor and produced by Allon Media with technical direction by Gus Aviles. Visit us at writingbreak.com or contact us at podcast@writingbreak.com.
