15 Writing Tips from Authors
1) “You take people, you put them on a journey, you give them peril, you find out who they really are.” - Joss Whedon
2) “First, find out what your hero wants, then just follow them.” - Ray Bradbury
Coffee bean’s analysis: Letting your characters lead the story can result in an authentic, character-driven story, full of real conflicts and natural emotion.
3) “Turn up for work. Discipline allows creative freedom. No discipline equals no freedom.” - Jeanette Winterson
4) “Show up, show up, show up, and after a while the muse shows up, too.”
- Isabel Allende
Coffee bean’s analysis: In order to write or eventually share your story with the world, you have to sit down and do the work, even if your brain is empty. Once you show up, the creativity has a chance to spark.
5) “All bad writers are in love with the epic.” - Ernest Hemingway
6) “Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.” - Leonardo Da Vinci
Coffee bean’s analysis: Being able to turn a complex idea into simple words is harder than one might think— but can elevate your writing. Not everything needs to be epic or overly flowery.
7) “Perfectionism is the voice of the oppressor, the enemy of the people. It will keep you cramped and insane your whole life.” - Anne Lamott
8) “I went for years not finishing anything. Because, of course, when you finish something you can be judged.” - Erica Jong
9) “Don’t write at first for anyone but yourself.” - T.S Eliot
Coffee bean’s analysis: Perfectionism will kill any chance you have at having fun and finishing your novel. Let go of that pressure of being perfect and do not worry about being judged. Write for you.
10) “Forget the books you want to write. Think only of the book you are writing.”
-Henry Miller
Coffee bean’s analysis: Don’t overwhelm your schedule with trying to write a ton of projects at once. Focus your energy into one (or two) at a time.
11) “A short story must have a single mood and every sentence must build towards it.” - Edgar Allen Poe
12) “Every sentence must do one of two things— reveal character or advance the action.“ - Kurt Vonnegut
Coffee bean’s analysis: Even if you’re writing a novel, this advice is brilliant. Whether it’s a sentence, paragraph or whole chapter… make sure they are meant to be in your story. Keep your scenes tidy and thematic, building towards something.
13) “Don’t tell me the moon is shining; show me the glint of light on broken glass.” - Anton Chekhov
Coffee bean’s analysis: When writing a novel, give your reader details so that they can picture the scene in their head. Don’t do too much telling (though it has it’s places).
14) “It is perfectly okay to write garbage— as long as you edit brilliantly.”
- C.J Cherry
15) “If it sounds like writing … rewrite it.” - Elmore Leonard
Coffee bean’s analysis: Allow yourself to write messily and worry about editing later. Once in the editing phase, if your writing sounds stiff, rewrite it so that it sounds natural.
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