20 Writing Tips

1. Write like crazy. Whether it's by hand or on a computer, just write, write, write, write, WRITE. The more you work at it, the better you'll get at it.

2. Be flexible. Don't just stick to what you already know. Dare to write something outside your comfort zone.

3. Never throw an idea away. Ideas are like fish: you never know when you'll catch a good one, and if you let it go, you most likely won't get it back. Keep a journal for your ideas and write down anything that comes to mind, no matter how silly or stupid it may sound.

4. Take your time. Don't expect to write a bestseller in a few months, or even a few years. (I learned this the hard way.)

5. Be prepared for a LOT of rejections and a LOT of criticism. Don't assume you'll hit it off with the first publisher you find, and don't expect everyone to like your book, or to bother reading it at all.

6. Be open to other people's suggestions, but write the story that YOU want.

7. Go easy on yourself. Don't expect your book to be 100% perfect. No story in the world is universally popular, and at least one person will always find something to complain about.

8. Have another job to back you up. Unless you get super-lucky, don't count on your book taking off immediately, or raking in a lot of money.

9. Don't assume writing a novel is an easy job. That's like saying it's easy to write a musical, or a full-fledged symphony. Make sure you know what you're getting into.

10. Take a writing class, or take part in a writers' group. The lessons and feedback you garner will be invaluable.

11. Be as original as you can. Don't just tweak a basic formula here and there and think the trick will work again.

12. Don't be so wordy. Say what you feel needs to be said, but don't drown your readers in an ocean of words.

13. Don't pile on the characters' back stories all at once. Rather, break them up and scatter the pieces throughout the entire novel.

14. Don't get too attached to a character, a paragraph, or even the plot itself. You may have to make some radical changes, even cut some things out altogether, in order for the story to work. (Another personal lesson.)  

15. Do as much reading as writing. It's okay, even a good idea, to take a look at what's out there and how certain books appeal to their audiences. You may fear that you'll end up copying someone else's style too much (I know what that's like), but with time and diligence, you can find a style to call your own.

16. Know the pros and cons of certain publishing options. What worked for one author may not work so well for you.

17. Focus on the quality, rather than the quantity, of your book. It's better to read a short, well-written book than a long, sloppy one.

18. Be unpredictable. Take the story in unexpected (but plausible) directions. Give your readers something they won't see coming.

19. Make your characters as realistic and tangible as possible. Even in fantastic environments, make them people we can relate to and empathize with.

20. Learn to love what you do. If you don't care about what you write, what makes you think your readers will?