Ten Top Tips for Aspiring Writers
Becoming a skilled writer requires more than just talent—it demands dedication, discipline, and a willingness to refine your craft. Whether you’re looking to develop better writing habits, improve your storytelling, or master the art of editing, Michael J Ingram shares these ten essential writing tips to help you progress from aspiring writer to accomplished author.
1. Develop a Consistent Writing Routine
Why It Matters:
Writing regularly is the foundation of improvement. Waiting for inspiration often leads to long periods of inactivity. By setting a schedule and treating writing as a discipline, you increase productivity and refine your skills.
Example of Good Practice:
Stephen King writes daily, maintaining a steady word count regardless of circumstances. His discipline has resulted in a prolific and successful career.
Example of Bad Practice:
Harper Lee published To Kill a Mockingbird in 1960 but did not release another book for decades. The long gap led to Go Set a Watchman, which was widely regarded as an unpolished draft.
2. Read Widely and Analyze Techniques
Why It Matters:
Reading diverse genres and authors exposes you to different storytelling methods, sentence structures, and writing styles. This helps you develop a well-rounded understanding of what makes compelling prose.
Example of Good Practice:
George R.R. Martin studied the works of J.R.R. Tolkien but adapted his storytelling with intricate political plots and morally complex characters, making his work unique.
Example of Bad Practice:
Many fantasy authors attempt to replicate Tolkien’s detailed world-building without adapting it for modern readers, resulting in derivative stories lacking originality.
3. Silence Your Inner Critic in the First Draft
Why It Matters:
Overanalysing every sentence during the drafting process can slow progress and create self-doubt. The first draft is meant for exploration; refinement comes later.
Example of Good Practice:
Ray Bradbury advocated writing one short story per week, believing that continuous writing would naturally improve storytelling skills.
Example of Bad Practice:
Franz Kafka was highly self-critical and destroyed many of his own manuscripts, which might have otherwise contributed to his literary legacy.
4. Find and Refine Your Writing Voice
Why It Matters:
Your writing voice distinguishes your work from others. Rather than imitating another author’s style, developing an authentic voice allows your writing to resonate with readers.
Example of Good Practice:
Douglas Adams’ The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy features a distinctive, dry humor that makes his writing immediately recognizable.
Example of Bad Practice:
Writers who attempt to mimic the elaborate prose of 19th-century literature often produce work that feels outdated or unnatural to contemporary readers.
5. Embrace Editing as a Core Part of Writing
Why It Matters:
Great writing is the result of revision. Editing refines ideas, improves clarity, and strengthens storytelling. A well-edited piece is far more effective than a hastily written draft.
Example of Good Practice:
F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby underwent numerous rewrites, resulting in a concise yet powerful novel.
Example of Bad Practice:
Many self-published books suffer from poor editing, leading to typos, awkward phrasing, and inconsistencies that detract from the overall reading experience.
6. Show, Don’t Tell (But Maintain Balance)
Why It Matters:
Strong writing allows readers to infer emotions and themes rather than stating them outright. However, excessive "showing" can slow pacing, so balance is essential.
Example of Good Practice:
Hemingway’s Hills Like White Elephants relies on subtext and dialogue to convey tension without explicitly stating the characters' emotions.
✅ "She picked at the label on her beer bottle, not meeting his eyes. ‘It’s not that big a deal,’ she said."
Example of Bad Practice:
❌ "She was sad. She felt uncomfortable. She didn’t want to talk about it." (This approach tells rather than showing, making it less engaging.)
7. Adapt to Modern Storytelling Trends
Why It Matters:
Contemporary readers prefer tighter prose, engaging dialogue, and well-paced storytelling. Writing styles evolve, and keeping up with modern expectations ensures relevance.
Example of Good Practice:
Gillian Flynn’s Gone Girl is known for its fast-paced, suspenseful prose that keeps readers engaged.
✅ "Nick leaned back. He didn’t trust her. Not anymore."
Example of Bad Practice:
Victorian-era novels often opened with long descriptions, which modern readers are more likely to skim or skip entirely.
❌ "The house stood tall against the moonlight, casting a long, somber shadow across the cobbled street, where a beggar hunched beneath a tattered shawl, trembling against the bitter wind…"
8. Use Minimalist Writing to Improve Clarity
Why It Matters:
Concise writing eliminates unnecessary words, making prose more impactful. Avoiding overly complex sentences keeps readers engaged.
Example of Good Practice:
Cormac McCarthy’s The Road is known for its sparse yet powerful writing style.
✅ "He walked. The boy followed."
Example of Bad Practice:
Overwriting can dilute meaning and slow down the narrative.
❌ "He proceeded forward with cautious, measured steps, his boots making a rhythmic clicking sound against the cracked pavement."
9. Use Technology to Enhance, Not Replace, Writing
Why It Matters:
Editing tools, organizational software, and AI-driven grammar checkers can streamline the writing process, but over-reliance on technology can make writing feel impersonal.
Example of Good Practice:
Many authors use tools like Scrivener for structuring manuscripts and Grammarly for grammar checking, but they still rely on manual editing for style and tone.
Example of Bad Practice:
Some self-published works show clear signs of AI-generated content, resulting in unnatural dialogue and repetitive phrasing. Readers appreciate human-authored writing.
10. Continue Learning and Evolving as a Writer
Why It Matters:
Writing is a lifelong learning process. Styles, trends, and reader preferences change, and the best writers adapt over time.
Example of Good Practice:
Margaret Atwood revisited The Handmaid’s Tale decades later with The Testaments, incorporating new themes relevant to contemporary audiences.
Example of Bad Practice:
Some authors refuse to evolve, sticking to outdated writing styles that may no longer resonate with modern readers.
Final Thoughts
Writing is both an art and a discipline. By writing consistently, refining your voice, and embracing editing, you will continue to improve.
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