The top creative writing tips tend to come from successful authors themselves, but there are certain words of wisdom that you can gain just by writing. So while it’s a good idea to look for inspiration from some of the more prominent writers, remember that you have to start writing at some point. So use these tips as a tool, as a means of empowering creativity. This blog covers some of the top tips and writing recommendations available for elevating your prose, so keep reading if this interests you.
Top 20 Creative Writing Tips
Galvanize your creative writing sessions with the following tips:
1. Show don’t tell
Showing and not telling means you don’t rely on exposition to get your points across. You show the reader that a character is good at basketball, for example. You don’t just tell them. This makes your prose more active and engaging.
2. Read widely
You need to be a reader if you want to be a writer. Read widely, but also know your genre through and through so that when you start querying your manuscript, you understand the market.
3. Check your grammar
Grammatically incorrect is painful to read. While we all misspell a word or miss a comma from time to time, if you’re submitting your work to magazines or agents, you need to be sure bad grammar isn’t the reason you aren’t finding success. Use writing software that automatically checks grammar to help with this.
4. Write in different settings
Shake up your writing routine by writing in different settings. You can do this when you’re in a writing rut or just because you feel like it. When you're working on setting in your creative writing endeavors, you will also have actual buildings and places to think about.
5. Draw from experience
Using life experiences can allow you to write more interesting and engaging stories because they’re true. Infuse your characters and the events they face with feelings you’ve experienced and you almost guarantee an authentic voice.
6. Share your writing
Whether it's a friend, someone from a writer’s group, or a beta reader, you should get into the habit of asking for feedback. It’s hard to know what you’re doing well and what you could improve on without consulting someone else.
7. Use more sensory details
Engaging the senses makes for a more immersive read. Think of ways to incorporate sensation, sound, visuals, smells, and even taste to give your writing flavor (no pun intended).
8. Use simple dialogue tags
Using “she or he or they said” is the best way to tag your dialogue. You can incorporate a line of action once in a while, but remember, adverbs and other tags like “asked” “insisted” “pleaded” etc. are usually unnecessary.
9. Write more often
Increasing the frequency of writing is the best way to improve. Hands down.
10. Be clear
Clear, consistent prose is better than nebulous, overly poetic prose, which can sometimes just be confusing to follow. Unless you’re really into that type of style, I would caution against it as a general rule.
When you edit your stories, don’t be afraid of getting rid of unimportant and distracting exposition/dialogue that doesn’t propel the story forward, even if you like it.
12. Draw them in on the first page
Readers don’t want to wait for the story to get good. They want to be hooked on the first page.
13. Know the publishing industry
If you intend to publish your work, which most will, it’s good to know what you’re up against. Read other titles in your genre and research your target audience to sharpen your sales pitch.
14. Focus on conflict
A story without conflict isn’t much of a story. You have to incorporate conflict on a granular level in scenes and other small interactions or moments in the story to create suspense. It also helps your readers invest in your character’s journey.
15. Write short stories
Before you write full-length novels, start with a simple short story. It helps to commit to something small before you take on something that can take a lot longer, and it’s a great practice tool for improving plot and characterization.
16. You can write whatever you want
There are no rules for what ideas you can and can’t pursue. If you have an idea that excites you and you want to write about, then go for it.
17. Improve your vocabulary
The best way to improve your vocabulary is to read and look up words that you don’t know. Eventually, you’ll develop a strong inventory of words that you have at your disposal when you go to write.
Just focus on the story when you’re writing. Don’t stop to change anything on the go, or even to make small corrections. You can do that later when you’re done with the first draft. Trying to do both at once is difficult and it doesn’t help your ability to focus.
19. Track your progress
Track your writing progress in a journal or calendar so you can acknowledge how close you are to reaching your goals. To give yourself a sense of accomplishment while you’re writing will also keep you motivated.
20. Don’t write
Go and live life. Go outside and do things and have experiences so that you can draw from them for your writing. Interacting with people will also give you more to work with when you write dialogue and character idiosyncrasies.
Conclusion
Now go write your story! When in doubt, keep writing. You’ll find that the more you persist through confusion, doubt, and lack of motivation, the more ingrained the habit of writing will become. Habit is the foundation of writing. It will help you evolve and grow as a creative writer, which will put you on the path to becoming a published author in no time.
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