Every so often, I run into these long lists of writing tips and quotes from famous authors on sites like Thought Catalog, Buzzfeed, and others. And they’re wonderful and no doubt very motivating.
Always interesting to read advice from the greats.
But then I wonder… what’s the point?
Most of these tips are either too “personal” from the author’s point of view or way too generic to be used as it is.
How can I really put them in use, for my unique journey as a writer?
How can I use these marvelous tidbits of advises, to improve myself every single day?
Let us see-:
“Write drunk, edit sober.” — Ernest Hemingway
What it means for me
Writing and Editing are not meant to be done at the same time as both of them require different mindsets.
When you write, you should be loose, ambitious, and open-minded. Follow your creative instincts. Let the words flow. Let the story take you to unknown, virgin lands and unbelievable fantasies.
When editing, you need to get tough. Scrutinize your work. Find the heart of the story and carve away everything else. Be brutal and blunt without remorse.
Always keep these processes separate. Stop editing as you go.
“Don’t tell me the moon is shining; show me the glint of light on broken glass.” — Anton Chekhov
What it means for me
Merely writing about some subject, after reading some books will not get you any brownie points. What readers expect here is “Show and Tell”. They want to see you in your raw form; the way you (or your character) dug deep within your reserves of resilience and came out strong and shining.
They want your work to make them love, hate, laugh and incite emotions within them. If you are able to touch a vulnerable chord within readers, your writing is a winner.
“Grammar is the grave of letters.” — Elbert Hubbard
What it means for me
Let me again remind you of your objective; your objective is to become a great storyteller and great storytelling is only about ideas and nothing else. It’s not about who can follow all the rules and syntax to the letter.
Just know enough grammar to be able to communicate properly and make your work readable. People who are insane sticklers for perfect grammar are rarely great writers.
“A good title is the title of a successful book.” — Raymond Chandler
What it means for me
This point needs no explanation. This has been explained beautifully by writers like Tiffany Sun, Sand Farnia, Shaunta Grimes to name a few. In this fiercely competitive world, where millions of lines are vying to get a few minutes of attention from the reader, a thought provoking headline helps to get the reader enticed to open your story.
A good headline is the first bit of marketing, that you can do to get your story going places.
“In writing, you must kill all your darlings.” — William Faulkner
What it means for me
This has to be one of the most brutal truths about writing that there is. Writing is not about appeasing your ego and your interests; it is always about the reader’s interests and liking. What the reader doesn’t like, that should not be there in your writing, simple as that.
Every word you write has to serve the goals of the larger objective which is to create a happy reader. If it doesn’t, you have to let it go. Cut all the crap out and only let the gold shine from your work.
“If you don’t have time to read, you don’t have the time — or the tools — to write. Simple as that.” — Stephen King
What it means for me
Stephen King nailed it. If you are not getting enough ideas or in the throes of the so called writer’s block, one of the reasons can be that, you are not reading enough. Studies have revealed that reading is great for your brain health, and makes you an imaginative person. You’ll never have a dearth of ideas if you’re a voracious reader.
The more books you read, the more adventures you have in your kitty. From heroes to villains, you’ve lived a million lives.
“The first draft of everything is shit.” — Ernest Hemingway
What it means for me
“I am not a professional writer therefore my writing sucks”
Sound familiar? Writing is one of those skills that people get a little insecure about. Letting people read your words can leave you feeling anxious, touchy, and super vulnerable. No matter what the subject matter is, there will be people who just don’t feel comfortable writing for the public’s consumption.
Get out of this mindset, once and for all. Give yourself permission to suck. No one has to see your work until you decide it’s ready. Get that shitty first draft out of the way so you can start to sculpt it into something that resembles quality work.
Bringing it All Together
Success as a writer, is a saga of persistence, perseverance and continuous improvement. As a writer, you should always be like a sponge, ever absorbing bits and pieces of knowledge from everything and everybody, that helps you in your endeavor to succeed as a top writer.
Always remember, Writing is an exploration. You start from nothing and learn as you go.
So if you are motivated by this post, don’t wait any more. Start writing now!!
Splash your colorful creative juices, all over the clean interface of Medium and get going now!