2021/04/11

The Top Ten Rules for Writers

 

You want to do my essay? Or, maybe you want to write a book, short story, poem, play, or screenplay. Whether you're writing fiction or non-fiction, there are certain things you need to know if you want to be successful. They have been tested on my own experience and really help to organize the writing process in the best possible way. So, here's my top ten list for successful writing:

1. Write often, all the time, every day! Write in secret, in public, take notes at family reunions and at the theatre. Become the weirdo who is known for always having a pen, a pad, and a roving eye.
2. Show, don't tell, use concrete and specific details and all five senses.
3. The plot should be secondary to strong characters, but still be present.
4. Read broadly, read deeply, read in a variety of genres, read consciously, READ.
5. Keep writing, especially, when desperation, depression, and doubt are your three best friends. Push on!
6. Read your work aloud to find mistakes and places where sentences and dialogue don't flow.
7. While you are in the midst of writing a novel, ignore number 4. Reading other people's prose and stories can dilute your own voice.
8. Know your subject. Readers will not trust (i.e. read) authors who write a story about race cars but don't know the difference between a V8 and a V6 engine. Competence in any business is above all the rest.
9. No two scenes should create the same tone or have the same purpose. If you have a sentence that conveys an idea such as, She was a good writer, cut out any sentence with the same subject. She could create a page of beautiful prose whenever she wanted.
10. Make your readers ask big questions. Does money make happiness? What can make this world a better place? And small questions. Is she going to get kicked out of her apartment? Will he have time to tell her the whole truth?

And here is one more important thing I have to pay your attention to. This is your general writing attitude, your thoughts, and your morale while you are working. The thoughts you believe about yourself determine what you manifest. The mind looks for ways to prove you right. If you believe you are a capable, savvy person, then that is the direction you will act. If you replay negative messages about yourself, you will become those. Make a conscious decision about the direction and the values you want to embody. Begin to play these through your mind. If you catch yourself running defeating messages, simply stop and replace these with your positive messages. You may not feel them or believe the new messages at first, but over time these will be the influencing factor in your direction.

Useful Resources:
The Writing Group Membership Benefits
Simple Steps to Writing a Nonfiction Book (Part 1)

Writing a Nonfiction Book For Fun and Profit (Part 1)
Want to Write a Book? You'd Better Start Now