You don’t have to be a writer to read, but you do have to be a reader to write.
You’ve heard it a million times before but that’s because reading is the simplest, most effective way to become a better writer. As Stephen King says, ‘If you don’t have the time to read, you don’t have the time (or the tools) to write.’ Read anything you want, but it’s worth reading at least a few books in the genre you’re writing in.
It’s not enough to just read. Read with active intent.
This isn’t always easy to do when you’re wrapped up in a really good book and want to keep rapidly turning the pages, but try to slow down long enough to ask yourself , ‘why did I like that line?’ or, ‘What was it about that dialogue, or chapter ending that made it so effective?’ If you love a book, ask yourself why. The more you become an active reader, the more you’ll learn about the craft of writing.
Sit down and get on with it.
Sounds easy enough but the hardest part of writing is getting your butt into a chair and actually doing it. Commit to this simple act. Make it a priority. And make it happen as often as you can (preferably every day, but I’ll confess I fail at that one regularly). Even if you only manage one measly paragraph, training yourself to sit down and commit to the act of writing is what counts. It gets easier. Trust me.
Humble writerly advice…
from someone who is still learning to write.
Allow yourself to write badly.
This was the best advice I ever received and I remind myself of it ALL THE TIME. I used to agonise for hours over one paragraph, writing and rewriting over and over again. Now I let myself write badly. My first drafts are awful and I’m okay with that because you know what - I have a first draft! That’s HUGE. As Jodi Picoult says, ‘You can’t edit a blank page’. The editing is where the real magic happens!
Be an observer of life.
You know how almost everywhere you go people are facedown staring at their phones. Don’t be that person. Be the one who puts their phone down and looks around. Listen discretely to the conversation at the table next to you, watch the cute couple crossing the road, notice the sunlight dancing on the water.
Be a participant in life.
The more experiences you have, the more stuff you have to write about. The more people you talk to, the more fodder for your characters. The more places you go, the more settings you can use. You can’t write about what you don’t know. Get out there and live, laugh, love and explore!