21 Writing Tips You Should Know

Including The One You Must Follow

There are loads of books on how to write. Some are written by well-known authors like Stephen King and Ursula K. Le Guin. Others are penned by critics or editors, like Rust Hills, who have never published a story in their life but nonetheless offer powerful advice. Over the past decade or so I have written down the tips and best practices that have stood out to me. I have made a special note of anything that was repeated by multiple sources. This is what I present below: a list of paraphrased tips endorsed by numerous literary heavyweights.

1.    The reader should always know what the character knows and maybe more—but never less.

2.    Avoid exposition in dialogue.

3.    Avoid the passive voice. It takes no risks and makes no declarative statements.

4.    When describing a character’s thoughts or observations the language and tone should be consistent with that character's dialogue.

5.    Stories/scenes are better when the character is doing something rather than having things done to them. Active characters are more interesting than passive ones. 

6.    Write something new every day. Even if you spend most of the day editing, try to write at least one new line or paragraph to maintain your forward momentum.

7.    Avoid distractions while writing, especially the internet and email.

8.    Abandon self-consciousness. Overthinking and worrying too much about what your reader might think leads to florid and overly descriptive writing.

9.    Read your writing out loud.

10.      "Narrative questions" are the questions the author promises to answer by the story’s end. They should be established as early as possible. You will lose the reader if they are weak, muddied, or delayed. They should be vivid, clear, compelling, and immediate. 

11.      Great openings share three qualities: they're incident-based, unusual, and evocative. 

12.      Character is revealed through action.

13.      Many descriptions rely heavily on visual perceptions. Don't forget smell, taste, hearing and touch.

14.      When describing what a character is experiencing use only that character’s available senses. Avoid switching into the narrator's omniscient mind and describing things that character isn't experiencing directly. For instance, if the character is being stalked, describe what they hear. Until they turn their head to look, don’t describe what their stalker is wearing. This engages the reader and heightens tension.

15.      No backstory until the character’s ordinary world has been established. Readers will care more about a character’s past if they are invested in who they are in the present.

16.      Avoid info-dumps. Weave the relevant details into the story in the most natural places.

17.      Write in the positive. Describe what “is” rather than what “isn’t.”  For example, rather than writing, "There was no couch in the living room," you could say, “There were impressions in the carpet from where the couch had been."

18.      Ornate prose, including similes and metaphors, can distract readers even when they stop to admire it. Subtle writing is worth more than glamorous and brilliant language. Rhythm and sound are the keys to subtle but effective writing. (Once again, see tip #9)

19.      If two people are in a scene there should be some tension between them. Otherwise, why have two people there?

20.      Don't explain why something is happening, just write what happens.

And the one you must follow if you are going to achieve success as a writer?

21.      Write. Spend less time reading about writing and write. Spend less time workshopping and write. Spend less time thinking about writing and write. Just write.

Attributing any of the tips above to one writer or source is difficult. As I mentioned in the opening paragraph, these have been paraphrased, collected over several years, and recorded for my personal use. However, if you keep your eyes open for the Write City Blog’s next article, I will review my favorite books on writing. All the tips in this article will have come from one or more of those books. In the meantime, let us know in the comments section if you have any great writing tips of your own.