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How to Be a Writer: 10 Tips from Rebecca Solnit

Joy, suffering, reading, and lots and lots of writing.

1) Write. There is no substitute. Write what you most passionately want to write, not blogs, posts, tweets or all the disposable bubblewrap in which modern life is cushioned. But start small: write a good sentence, then a good paragraph, and don’t be dreaming about writing the great American novel or what you’ll wear at the awards ceremony because that’s not what writing’s about or how you get there from here. The road is made entirely out of words. Write a lot. Maybe at the outset you’ll be like a toddler—the terrible twos are partly about being frustrated because you’re smarter than your motor skills or your mouth, you want to color the picture, ask for the toy, and you’re bumbling, incoherent and no one gets it, but it’s not only time that gets the kid onward to more sophistication and skill, it’s effort and practice. Write bad stuff because the road to good writing is made out of words and not all of them are well-arranged words.

2) Remember that writing is not typing. Thinking, researching, contemplating, outlining, composing in your head and in sketches, maybe some typing, with revisions as you go, and then more revisions, deletions, emendations, additions, reflections, setting aside and returning afresh, because a good writer is always a good editor of his or her own work. Typing is this little transaction in the middle of two vast thoughtful processes. There is such thing as too much revision—I’ve seen things that were amazing in the 17 th version get flattened out in the 23 rd —but nothing is born perfect. Well, some things almost are, but they’re freaks. And you might get those magical perfect passages if you write a lot, including all the stuff that isn’t magic that has to be cut, rethought, revised, fact-checked, and cleaned up.

3) Read. And don’t read. Read good writing, and don’t live in the present. Live in the deep past, with the language of the Koran or the Mabinogion or Mother Goose or Dickens or Dickinson or Baldwin or whatever speaks to you deeply. Literature is not high school and it’s not actually necessary to know what everyone around you is wearing, in terms of style, and being influenced by people who are being published in this very moment is going to make you look just like them, which is probably not a good long-term goal for being yourself or making a meaningful contribution. At any point in history there is a great tide of writers of similar tone, they wash in, they wash out, the strange starfish stay behind, and the conches. Check out the bestseller list for April 1935 or August 1978 if you don’t believe me. Originality is partly a matter of having your own influences: read evolutionary biology textbooks or the Old Testament, find your metaphors where no one’s looking, don’t belong. Or belong to the other world that is not quite this one, the world from which you send back your messages. Imagine Herman Melville in workshop in 1849 being told by all his peers that he needed to cut all those informative digressions and really his big whale book was kind of dull and why did it take him so long to get to the point. And actually it was a quiet failure at the time. So was pretty much everything Thoreau published, and Emily Dickinson published only a handful of poems in her lifetime but wrote thousands.

4) Listen. Don’t listen. Feedback is great, from your editor, your agent, your readers, your friends, your classmates, but there are times when you know exactly what you’re doing and why and obeying them means being out of tune with yourself. Listen to your own feedback and remember that you move forward through mistakes and stumbles and flawed but aspiring work, not perfect pirouettes performed in the small space in which you initially stood. Listen to what makes your hair stand on end, your heart melt, and your eyes go wide, what stops you in your tracks and makes you want to live, wherever it comes from, and hope that your writing can do all those things for other people. Write for other people, but don’t listen to them too much.

5) Find a vocation. Talent is overrated, and it is usually conflated with nice style. Passion, vocation, vision, and dedication are rarer, and they will get you through the rough spots in your style when your style won’t give you a reason to get up in the morning and stare at the manuscript for the hundredth day in a row or even give you a compelling subject to write about. If you’re not passionate about writing and about the world and the things in it you’re writing about, then why are you writing? It starts with passion even before it starts with words. You want to read people who are wise, deep, wild, kind, committed, insightful, attentive; you want to be those people. I am all for style, but only in service of vision.

6) Time. It takes time. This means that you need to find that time. Don’t be too social. Live below your means and keep the means modest (people with trust funds and other cushions: I’m not talking to you, though money makes many, many things easy, and often, vocation and passion harder). You probably have to do something else for a living at the outset or all along, but don’t develop expensive habits or consuming hobbies. I knew a waitress once who thought fate was keeping her from her painting but taste was: if she’d given up always being the person who turned going out for a burrito into ordering the expensive wine at the bistro she would’ve had one more free day a week for art.

7) Facts. Always get them right. The wrong information about a bumblebee in a poem is annoying enough, but inaccuracy in nonfiction is a cardinal sin. No one will trust you if you get your facts wrong, and if you’re writing about living or recently alive people or politics you absolutely must not misrepresent. (Ask yourself this: do I like it when people lie about me?) No matter what you’re writing about, you have an obligation to get it right, for the people you’re writing about, for the readers, and for the record. It’s why I always tell students that it’s a slippery slope from the things your stepfather didn’t actually do to the weapons of mass destruction Iraq didn’t actually have. If you want to write about a stepfather who did things your stepfather didn’t, or repeat conversations you don’t actually remember with any detail, at least label your product accurately. Fiction operates under different rules but it often has facts in it too, and your credibility rests on their accuracy. (If you want to make up facts, like that Emily Bronte was nine feet tall and had wings but everyone in that Victorian era was too proper to mention it, remember to get the details about her cobbler and the kind of hat in fashion at the time right, and maybe put a little cameo at her throat seven and a half feet above the earth.)

8) Joy. Writing is facing your deepest fears and all your failures, including how hard it is to write a lot of the time and how much you loathe what you’ve just written and that you’re the person who just committed those flawed sentences (many a writer, and God, I know I’m one, has worried about dying before the really crappy version is revised so that posterity will never know how awful it was). When it totally sucks, pause, look out the window (there should always be a window) and say, I’m doing exactly what I want to be doing. I am hanging out with the English language (or the Spanish or the Korean). I get to use the word turquoise or melting or supernova right now if I want. I’m with Shelley, who says that poets are the unacknowledged legislators of the universe, and I am not fracking or selling useless things to lonely seniors or otherwise abusing my humanity. Find pleasure and joy. Maybe even make lists of joys for emergencies. When all else fails, put on the gospel song “Steal My Joy” —refrain is “Ain’t gonna let nobody steal my joy.” Nobody, not even yourself.

But it’s not about the joy, it’s about the work, and there has to be some kind of joy in the work, some kind from among the many kinds, including the joy of hard truths told honestly. Carpenters don’t say, I’m just not feeling it today, or I don’t give a damn about this staircase and whether people fall through it; how you feel is something that you cannot take too seriously on your way to doing something, and doing something is a means of not being stuck in how you feel. That is, there’s a kind of introspection that’s wallowing and being stuck, and there’s a kind that gets beyond that into something more interesting and then maybe takes you out into the world or into the place where deepest interior and cosmological phenomena are at last talking to each other. I’ve written stuff amidst hideous suffering, and it was a way not to be so stuck in the hideous suffering, though it was hard, but also, hard is not impossible, and I didn’t sign up with the expectation that it would be easy.

9) What we call success is very nice and comes with useful byproducts, but success is not love, or at least it is at best the result of love of the work and not of you, so don’t confuse the two. Cultivating love for others and maybe receiving some for yourself is another job and an important one. The process of making art is the process of becoming a person with agency, with independent thought, a producer of meaning rather than a consumer of meanings that may be at odds with your soul, your destiny, your humanity, so there’s another kind of success in becoming conscious that matters and that is up to you and nobody else and within your reach.

10) It’s all really up to you, but you already knew that and knew everything else you need to know somewhere underneath the noise and the bustle and the anxiety and the outside instructions, including these ones.

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Rebecca Solnit

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Home — Essay Samples — Life — Who Am I — Who I Am As A Writer

Who I Am as a Writer

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What Makes a Good Writer? 4 Qualities of a Good Writer

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Last updated: Sep 28, 2021 • 3 min read

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Meet the new you

Being a new student can often seem like finding yourself in one of those science fiction films where the heroine wakes up one morning and finds she’s got a brand new identity. There seem to be so many things you are supposed to be doing. Every day you seem to encounter yet another thing that you are expected to know how to do.

Writing essays at university can seem like one of those things. Even if you have always found writing easy and enjoyable, the kind of writing you are required to do at university can seem like a foreign language the first time you read it or hear it. People who have come to university straight from school find there are big differences between what worked at A level and what they are required to do now. You may have come to university via an access route where the emphasis was on producing good portfolios of coursework and materials and so involved little or no essay writing.

Don’t panic!

Writing at university can seem like a daunting prospect when you first start to do it. Because we can all speak and write and use language, it’s easy to assume that we should just be able to do it. It’s just as easy to get frustrated when we find that we can’t and aren’t able to produce the work our tutors expect. This experience is not confined to students. Even experienced writers like me still get notes from editors saying ‘this point is unclear’, or reports from anonymous reviewers at academic journals saying ‘the argument would be stronger if the author took account of Professor X’s recent book on this subject’.

Think of yourself as a writer

So how do you overcome this anxiety about writing at university? The first step is to think of yourself as a writer and to think of being a student as being someone who has to write. As this suggests, you can only be a writer if you are writing so turn yourself into a regular writer who does some kind of writing every day, writing they do for themselves that they find enjoyable and valuable.

Studio journals & learning logs

You could keep a diary but it’s probably best to do regular writing that connects with your studying. You could follow the example of many fine art students and professional artists who keep what is called a ‘studio journal’ where they write about not only what they are working on but also about their reflections on the process of working, their ideas, hopes, fears, frustrations and pleasures. ‘Process’ is the key word here: writing, learning and studying are processes i.e. they are actions that move from a beginning towards a visible end and that make that movement through developmental stages.

You could keep a ‘learning log’ in the form of a notebook where you can jot down interesting ideas connected with your courses – from lectures, reading, seminars, talking and thinking. Your learning log can be both retrospective and prospective.

In the retrospective or reflective part of your learning log you write about things after they have happened. What questions did a particular lecture or seminar raise for you? What was interesting? What didn’t you understand?

In the prospective or exploratory part of your learning log you write about things that are going to happen. Your tutor has given you some reading for next week’s class: what questions does it raise? What don’t you understand? What books do you need to get from the library to find out the answers? Perhaps you’ve just read something in a newspaper or just seen something on TV that’s relevant to your course and you want to discuss it in next week’s class.

What is a writer?

Thinking of yourself as a writer is just the start. You need to spend some time thinking about what it means to be a writer. The basic dictionary definition of a writer is ‘someone who practices writing as an occupation’ but there’s much more to it than that. One of the meanings of ‘write’ is ‘to compose’ and two of the meanings of ‘compose’ are ‘to construct’ and ‘to arrange in a specified manner’. So writing does not just mean putting words down on the page: it means putting them down on the page in a particular way and for a particular effect and purpose.

Self-awareness

We read something and it has an effect on us. It makes us laugh or makes us sad. It makes us think ‘That’s interesting – I didn’t know that’ or ‘That’s ridiculous!’ A piece of writing produces a response from us because the writer has chosen to use particular words and has arranged them in a particular way. When your tutors read your essays, your writing will have effects on them – and you don’t want them crying tears of frustration because they can’t understand what you are saying! Your tutors will assume that everything you have written is the result of conscious and deliberate choices. Your tutors will also assume that you have written things for a particular effect and purpose. So being a writer means being someone who has developed self-awareness about what they do and why they do it. Being a writer means understanding that if you do something it will have an effect; and understanding that you have a choice about whether to do it or not.

Another important practical step to becoming a successful writer at university is using a PC. If you’ve never used one then set aside some time to learn how to use a PC for writing your assignments and for making notes. This will save you a lot of time in writing, editing and producing work; and it will make writing – and studying – seem much less of a chore. Using a PC will help you with presentation – it will help you produce better-looking work. Finally, using a PC to draft and edit your work will help you develop a sense of working towards a finished text – as opposed to struggling to read your own scribbled notes.

Use your time

Make full use of the time you are given to produce an assignment. Never again in your life will you have so much time to do your work. When you leave university and start work you will find that you are often required to complete large tasks at very short notice. If you work in a company, your boss may tell you on Wednesday morning that he needs a 20 page report by Thursday afternoon. If you work in a school, you may come in one morning and find you have to cover classes for a colleague who’s been taken ill. University is unique because your tutors give you a reasonable and often quite generous amount of time in which to complete your assignments. So if your assignment is due in three weeks, use all that time – don’t keep putting it off and putting it off until you’ve hardly any time left!

Essay on I Am a Writer

Students are often asked to write an essay on I Am a Writer in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.

Let’s take a look…

100 Words Essay on I Am a Writer

Introduction.

I am a writer. I create worlds with words, painting vivid pictures that engage the mind. My pen is my magic wand, transforming blank pages into stories.

As a writer, I have a purpose. I want to inspire, to entertain, to educate. I aim to make readers see the world in a new light, or to feel understood and less alone.

Writing is a process. It starts with an idea, then research, planning, writing, and editing. It’s hard work, but the joy of creating something from nothing is worth it.

Being a writer is a gift. It allows me to express myself, share my thoughts, and connect with others. I am proud to be a writer.

250 Words Essay on I Am a Writer

The essence of being a writer, the writer’s craft.

Writing is not merely putting words on paper; it is a craft that demands precision, creativity, and a deep understanding of the human psyche. My words are my tools, and with them, I construct narratives that can provoke thought, evoke emotion, and inspire action. Every sentence is a brushstroke that adds depth and color to the canvas of my story.

The Power of Words

As a writer, I wield the power of language. My words can build bridges between disparate ideas, shatter stereotypes, and challenge the status quo. They have the potential to illuminate the darkest corners of human existence and to explore the limitless expanse of the human mind. This power, however, comes with a responsibility to use it wisely and ethically.

The Writer’s Journey

The journey of a writer is a continuous process of learning and evolving. It is a journey of self-discovery, where each piece of writing reveals a new facet of my identity. It is an exploration of the world around me and a reflection of my place within it.

In essence, being a writer is more than a profession; it is a way of life that allows me to connect with others on a profound level and to contribute to the tapestry of human knowledge and understanding.

500 Words Essay on I Am a Writer

The genesis of my writing journey.

I am a writer. This simple statement, though it might seem straightforward, embodies a profound journey of self-discovery, resilience, and creativity. My writing journey began with a fascination for words, their ability to convey emotions, and the power they hold to shape reality. It was a path chosen not for its glamour or promise of fame, but for the sheer love of storytelling and the desire to touch lives.

The Craft of Writing

As a writer, I’ve come to appreciate the immense power that words hold. They can inspire, motivate, and bring about change. They can also incite, provoke, and cause harm. Thus, it is essential to wield this power responsibly. Every word I pen is carefully chosen, every sentence meticulously crafted to ensure that my message is conveyed accurately and effectively.

Writing as a Tool for Change

Writing is not merely a form of self-expression but a tool for change. It is a platform that allows me to voice my opinions, challenge norms, and advocate for causes close to my heart. It is a means to contribute to societal discourse and influence public opinion. As a writer, I feel a sense of duty to use my words to shed light on issues that matter, to question, to provoke thought, and to inspire action.

The Challenges of Writing

The joy of writing.

Despite the challenges, writing brings immense joy. There’s a certain thrill in seeing your thoughts come alive on paper, in creating worlds and characters from mere figments of your imagination. It’s a joy that comes from touching lives, from knowing that your words have the power to resonate with others, to make them think, feel, and perhaps even see the world a little differently.

In conclusion, being a writer is not merely about crafting words into sentences and paragraphs. It is about expressing oneself, making a difference, facing challenges, and finding joy in the process. It is a journey, a responsibility, a privilege, and above all, a passion. I am a writer, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Apart from these, you can look at all the essays by clicking here .

Happy studying!

‘Some People Are Just Born Good Writers’

By Jill Parrott

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The author-god, according to mid-20th-century language theorist Roland Barthes, embodies the Romantic notion of the artist to whom brilliant epiphanies come to be written down. In fact, at times throughout history, the best authors were believed to have been chosen and directly inspired by God himself.

Because of this cultural paradigm, many of us are deeply psychologically invested in the idea of individual genius authorship, and it manifests negatively in students’ approaches to their classes and other rhetorical situations that require critical reading and writing skills. How often do instructors hear students say, “I’m just not a good writer”? The idea of the genius author perpetuates the bad idea that some people are just born good writers while others are not.

Many institutional reasons exist for holding on to an untroubled concept of genius authorship: degrees, jobs, grades, salary, promotions, tenure and awards often depend on it. And writing is hard work; we feel a sense of pride at what we have accomplished and having our name attached to it. However, Bruce Horner writes in “Students, Authorship, and the Work of Composition” that the genius idea is also “linked to the removal of writing from the social material world, redefining it from a socially located activity to an aestheticized, idealized art object -- from writing as an activity engaged in to writing as an object produced for the sake of ‘art.’” When struggling writers consider writing a piece of art, they become frustrated because they cannot force their writing to look like what they expect art to be, and they have no clue where to begin to make themselves the genius writer they believe teachers and readers expect.

While culturally and professionally we are all quite attached to the idea of individual author genius, it has been complicated by the technological shifts of the last several decades -- notably the personal computer, word processors, the internet and all its present manifestations -- which facilitate the conflation of author, reader and editor. Writing is more collaborative and socially situated than it has ever been.

More than 20 years ago in Electric Language , Michael Heim wrote that a new understanding of the relationship between language and knowledge has resulted from personal computers. Because computer-based composition is quicker than pen to paper and because the internet allows us to share what we have written so quickly, our composition happens quickly, often as a reaction to what someone else has written or posted. Heim also reminds his readers that one of the effects of word processing and subsequently web publishing is that authors are not just authors; they are also editors and publishers, broadening the individual's daily interaction with language. In other words, while the idea of the individual author genius is theoretically problematic, it is also practically problematic, because our everyday authorship practices are socially situated, collaborative and interactive.

Unfortunately, however, discussions of authorship with students tend to ignore those interesting aspects of language and focus on what they should not do: don’t plagiarize, don’t say “I,” don’t use Wikipedia as research. Such conversations are led by a misplaced fear that students will try to pass themselves off as “real” writers and criminalize their novice attempts at writing, which are messy by nature. Even the term “student writer” insinuates a power differential between capital “A” Author (who gets held up on a pedestal) and lowercase “s” student writer (who gets complained about or is assumed to be unable to write).

In this line of thinking, student writers cannot be “real” writers because what they produced is not finished, not art. They are often punished for being students . Sometimes when I hear colleagues complain about student writing, my response is “But isn’t that why we’re here? Is it not our job to teach them?”

But this power differential between student writers and Authors perpetuates the idea of students as children in order to keep ourselves in a position of authority and that we bring them “into publication (but not into authorship) for someone else's purposes -- for teachers' purposes,” says Amy Robillard, an essayist and professor of English at Illinois State University. To do this, we paint narratives of students negatively, we refer to them by first name only in our publications rather than last names as we would “real” authors (in other words, “Julie writes,” as compared to “Faulkner writes”), we construct students as passive rather than active, and we negatively compare students to professional writers. In doing this, as Robillard asks, “How can students not come up lacking?” -- particularly in their own minds.

To alleviate this disconnect between what culture believes writing is and what the activity of writing involves, many writing studies professionals agree that we should emphasize the contextual aspects that shape writing. We should emphasize writing as a “socially located activity” and reject it as “idealized art object.” They are not student authors, for example, but authors. Authors. With a voice and ideas and opinions about things they have read or have seen.

One potential way to do this is to take writing out of the sole context of the classroom. Traditional essays that are only seen by the professor (or perhaps the professor and a peer reviewer) do not build the students’ concepts of themselves as authors, because they can see those assignments as acontextual hoops to jump through. Assignments that broaden their audience or provide real contexts such as blog posts or service learning placements in the community can help them see themselves as real authors with real audiences and the act of writing as a “socially located activity.”

I will not deny, however, that certainly some authors are naturally more comfortable, experienced or confident than others, or that some may have more practiced facility with certain writing situations. Natural talent exists. Sometimes I compare writing to sports: I am not a naturally talented athlete, but I have trained for and run dozens of races, from 5-Ks to half marathons. I am a runner. A person may not be naturally strong, but how could they gain strength? Lift weights. Need more flexibility and balance? Practice yoga. Likewise it is with writing. We are all authors, and all authors can become better authors.

Indeed, research in writing studies shows that improved writing can be taught to writers at all levels. But we must first debunk the deeply held idea in the collective psyche that only some lucky people are good writers in order to increase openness to learning how to write better. If a person thinks their writing ability is stuck in place, improvement is incredibly difficult, further solidifying as a self-fulfilling prophecy a belief that they are a hopeless cause.

This idea that some people are good writers while others are just not can be truly crippling to a writer. Good writing instruction -- either in a classroom setting, a tutoring session or informally -- can only occur if a student believes that they can become a good writer with practice and focused feedback. And that can only happen if they have debunked the myth of the genius author.

To help them do that, I tell my writing students that writing is fun -- to which they groan and roll their eyes. I push harder. For me, writing is like playing a game or solving a puzzle, because I must figure out certain challenges. In the end, I get a feeling of satisfaction -- of fun , even -- because I have created something that did not exist before, that only my work could have accomplished in exactly that way. And I work with them to help them get that feeling of satisfaction and fun, as well. This is how we must challenge the idea that some people are just born good writers: by fostering the habits of mind that value the reward of working through challenges.

Simultaneously, however, we must acknowledge that writing is a social activity enhanced by reading, research, remixing, peer review and collaboration. We are able to exchange information and build on one another’s ideas at speeds never imagined only a few decades ago. While the idea of an individual author is problematic, instructors must also understand we are interacting with students who experience the world as individuals and who perceive of themselves as individuals. Our perception of authorship is intricately linked to experiences, through which they have often “learned” that some people are just born good writers. In fact, in my experience teaching, I have heard many students tell me they’re just not good writers because a previous teacher has told them that. Luckily, we can give them tools and experiences that help build their confidence and experience as we simultaneously help them reconceptualize what an author is. For example, if they perceive writing as a socially situated activity rather than as a product of a genius, students who once saw revisions or writing center consultations as punishment for “bad” writing might be more open to learning from those opportunities.

Key to improving novice writers’ experiences is improving how they think about their work, a process called metacognition. Opening up cognitive space that allows for metacognition and reflection is essential to experiential and practical improvement. One particularly powerful concept is persistence: persistence emphasizes that experience is more powerful than unchangeable ability and that challenges help move writers forward rather than delaying their progress.

David Shenk’s recent book The Genius in All of Us speaks to this. He persuasively argues that intelligence is not fixed or set in stone. Rather, people who are ultimately successful at learning are not discouraged by failure but use it as an opportunity to persist. They are motivated, at least in part, because they have come to appreciate the feeling of satisfaction they get once they have worked through a challenge.

Good writers build these habits of mind. A successful writing student -- whether someone working alone, as a professional or technical writer, with a community group, as a university student, or any other way -- is not necessarily one who writes more but one who persists and reflects on the work done as a means of improvement. Instructors exist not to reward the talented genius and punish the unlucky but to provide opportunities for writing, feedback, reflection, remixing and revision of that work as socially located activities with rhetorical awareness. When a previously “bad” writer sees improvement, sees the value of persistence and feels the satisfaction of the metacognitive recognition that they have gotten better, they will know that good writers are not born but come to fruition in the social act of writing itself.

Jeff Goins’s blog post “The Difference Between Good Writers and Bad Writers” aptly gets to the crux of my argument here for helping inexperienced or unconfident writers expand their experiences and confidence: it’s mostly practice. Further, much of the idea that a person is a bad writer comes from anxiety about being unable to produce that art-product text as some kind of genius, so some simple exercises that combat writing anxiety can help students break through to get the practice they need to open up that space for metacognition. The Writing Center at the University of North Carolina , for example, has an excellent webpage on practically approaching writing anxiety.

The takeaway for all writers is that we can improve, and we are not bound by an inborn, set level of writing talent. Good writers are not born. They are learned.

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So you’re wondering how to become a writer. The short answer is: anyone who writes is a writer. However, becoming a writer who’s serious about their professional career requires lots of work, and if you’re wondering how to become a professional writer, you’re here to start your journey towards a productive and successful literary career.

How do you become a writer? You don’t need a degree to be a writer, nor do you need to be a certain age. Becoming a writer simply requires an admiration for—and a longing to create with—language. So, don’t worry about becoming a writer later in life or lacking a formal education. (That’s what Writers.com is here for!)

No one can teach you how to admire the written word, but the instructors at Writers.com are experts at turning longing into language. That’s why this article covers everything you need on how to become a writer. From the personal to the professional, let’s dive into everything writers need to build a successful literary career.

How to Become a Writer: Contents

How to Become a Writer: Anyone Can Become One

It’s never too late to become a writer, how to become a writer: where to begin your writing journey, how to become a professional writer: what “professional” means, how to become a writer: resources for becoming a professional writer, how to become a writer: developing a writing habit.

Even today, there’s a persistent myth that writers are elite, born-with-it Ivory Tower folks who possess some ineffable gift of the Muses. Yes, some great writers were born with greatness (and plenty were born with wealth and privilege), but anyone who calls themselves a writer does so because they labor with the written word.

Becoming a writer simply requires an ardent exploration of language.

In others words, you don’t need an MFA from the University of Iowa to call yourself a writer. Becoming a writer simply requires an ardent exploration of language. If we had to boil a writer down to three requirements, it wouldn’t involve age or degree. The 4 traits for becoming a writer are:

Passion for the written word,
Desire to expand the boundaries and possibilities of language,
Persistence and patience, bordering on stubbornness, and
Willingness to grow and learn continuously.

Many writers who have these traits stop themselves from writing, maybe because they’re wondering how to become a writer without a degree, or simply because they don’t believe in themselves without the privilege and connections writers seem to have. Now, writers certainly benefit from a university education or a family legacy in literature, but countless writers have acquired respect and success without a degree or name recognition.

Ernest Hemingway never went to college, but he still won a Pulitzer and Nobel Prize; neither did Maya Angelou attend university, yet she’s celebrated as the “black woman’s poet laureate” and later accepted a professorship with Wake Forest University. Degrees are just paper; it’s words that matter.

Degrees are just paper; it’s words that matter.

Becoming a writer has no age restriction; the act of writing is rated G for the General Public, and those aforementioned traits are found in writers from ages 2 to 99+.

Many writers discover their writing talents in their later years. Why, exactly? Neurology reveals there are two types of intelligence : fluid intelligence and crystallized intelligence. “Fluid” refers to creative and adaptive thinking, including activities like writing and problem solving. “Crystallized” refers to the solidified body of knowledge people draw from—all the words, definitions, and experiences that build a foundation for the world.

Generally, younger adults have more fluid intelligence, whereas life experience builds one’s crystallized intelligence over time. The two intelligences tend to converge in a person’s 40s, since this is an age where the faculties for fluid intelligence haven’t declined, and crystallized intelligence abounds. Not-so-coincidentally, many writers see their careers flourish in their 40s and 50s!

Many celebrated writers didn’t put pen to paper until middle age or later.

In fact, many celebrated writers didn’t put pen to paper until middle age or later. Laura Ingalls Wilder didn’t start writing until her 40s, and her Little House series didn’t start printing until she was 65. Likewise, Most of Wallace Stevens’ work was published after he turned 50; despite being a poet, he worked at an insurance company, and most of his coworkers were shocked when he won a Pulitzer at 75. Nobody knew that he wrote!

Finally, many university students return for a writing degree after establishing a career elsewhere. BFA and MFA programs around the world educate students in their 30s and beyond; in 2017, the average age of a low-residency MFA student in the U.S. was 35.4, according to LitHub and AWP .

Whether you’re 19 or 90, you’re never too old to write. The best time to write is yesterday; the second-best time is today.

Rather than an If-Then structure, the writing profession follows a Became-Because structure.

How do you become a writer? Where do you begin? The writing profession is unlike most professions, which follow an If-Then structure. If you get a bachelor’s degree, Then you can work as a nurse, computer scientist, or accountant; If you join a worker’s guild or apprenticeship program, Then you can find work in a number of trade jobs.

The writing profession follows a Became-Because structure. Zora Neale Hurston became a writer because she obtained degrees from Howard University and Barnard College, encouraging her to dissect the African American experience through a literary and anthropological lens.

Conversely, Haruki Murakami became a writer because of a baseball game .

The qualifications for becoming a writer are unique to the individual, and every writer is formed by personal interests and experiences. As a result, no one can tell you where to begin your writing journey; however, if you’re wondering how to become a writer, you’ve already started your journey by thinking about it.

If you’re wondering how to become a writer, you’ve already started your journey by thinking about it.

One distinction to help you think about your writing journey is the difference between amateur and professional writers. If you’re not sure what you want to become, start with the following question: what does “professional” mean?

There are, generally, two classes of writers: amateurs and professionals. Before describing the professional writer, let’s be clear: “amateur” is not derogatory, and professional writers are not “better” than amateurs. Amateur comes from the Latin amator , “lover.” An amateur writer loves the written word just as much, sometimes even more, than the professional; amateurs simply have less pressure, deadlines, and financial dependence on writing. It’s a pastime, not a career.

If you want writing to be a significant portion of your income, then you aspire to being a professional writer.

If you want writing to be a significant portion of your income, then you aspire to being a professional writer. Professional writers have to approach their writing as a business, building a literary audience and keeping a regular writing schedule. Professional writers need to understand the ins and outs of the publishing industry—which they often learn through obtaining a university degree—and it also helps to have formal training in the publishing world and experience operating literary magazines.

How do you start to work toward becoming a professional writer? Below are resources to get you started.

At some point, the professional writer needs to know the ins and outs of writing as a business. This list covers the essentials of how to become a professional writer.

How to make money as a writer

Explore freelance writing opportunities (updated weekdays at F.W.G.)
6 writers explain how they make money (NY Mag)
Self-publishing versus traditional publishing (Self-Publishing School)
Writing to market (Funds For Writers)

Taxes as a self-employed creative

Taxes on freelance writing and royalties (TurboTax)
Tax tips and unique situations (The Balance Careers)

Resources on publishing

Poetry journals
Fiction journals
Creative nonfiction journals
How to get published in a literary journal (Reader’s Digest)
Book: What Editors Do by Peter Ginna ($25 at UChicago Press)

Becoming a writer online

Basic guide to each social media platform (Kindlepreneur)
Building an author’s website (The Write Practice)
Free website template for authors (Copyfolio)
Running a mailing list (Your Writer Platform)

Things to know before taking writing classes

Poetry courses
Fiction courses
Creative nonfiction courses
Why take a writing course?

Additional resources for learning how to become a writer

Setting SMART goals
Reading like a writer
The golden rule: show, don’t tell
Overcoming writer’s block
Becoming a poet
8 tips on learning how to write
Best online creative writing classes
Creative writing programs (answering the question: should you get an MFA?)

How do professional writers spend their workdays? Perhaps the trickiest part about becoming a writer is establishing a writing habit. For example, Haruki Murakami runs a 10K every morning to support his writing, and Charles Dickens wrote (and slept) facing north to improve his creativity.

Perhaps the trickiest part about becoming a writer is establishing a writing habit.

What works for one person rarely works for another, so experiment with writing habits—and when you find one that works, stick with it.

Generally, you can parse the writing business into 3 separate components:

The writing life—putting pen to paper at regular intervals.
Scheduled time for “the business of writing”—literary submissions, applying for grants, etc.
An active media/marketing presence—blogging, tweeting, emailing, etc.

You’ll want to schedule time for each of these elements in your daily writing habit. Of course, this is easier said than done. Budding writers often overestimate their ability to work: they think they can spend 3 hours writing, 2 hours replying to emails, and 2 hours submitting work to journals. Then they spend the afternoon watching reruns of BBC quiz shows. (Yes! I did do this recently.)

That’s why forging a consistent writing habit is essential—for amateur writers as well as professionals. Writing at the same place at the same time encourages your brain to write every day. And, if you can’t keep yourself focused on writing, try experimenting with different writing rituals. If a 10K helps Murakami write, something equally unique could help you, too.

How to Become a Writer: Take Your Next Step with Writers.com!

The classes we’ve curated in our upcoming schedule will take your writing life to the next level. Whether learning a new writing style or mastering the business of writing, becoming a writer feels a whole lot simpler with Writers.com.

Sean Glatch

12 comments.

Brilliant review Misty

I hope, I can be a better writer with your support.

Yeah. Same thing as with all other fields. Practice, practice, and once again, practice! It’s like a sport, you should always find new ways to practice.

This really helped me out. Thank you so much!

I’m 14 and i hope to become a writer someday. Thank you so much for the info.

Thank you for the information About to start my writing journey and thus really helped.

I’m a senior that would like to turn my love of writing into a profession. The information you have presented here has inspired me to continue moving towards that goal.

I live in a rural area of Uganda with very little education but always aspired to write a book on families. I am much encouraged. started it but got stuck ..

I love writing and thank you for information you have given meand am obliged to say thank.

i am very eager to become a writer be that script know how or fiction. i am a sponge for knowledge so i learn as i work. i treat everyday as a school day. i want to learn every single part of the writing career-be that if the editor drinks tea or coffee and how they like there papers folded. i soak information as i do a task. i love to build the bullet points for a story because everything needs a beginning. if you are baking a cake the eggs and flour are needed before you think about putting anything in the oven. to prepare a cake you need a tray to put it in-before you build a story you need a starting and then ingredients to put in along the way. i really love to build a story from different snippets of things. i have a thirst for many different aspects of life having spent a majority of time in hospitals and then being taken advantage of my my family because of my brain injury. so i know more than most in a lot of different subjects and matters in life, i have lost more than most in life but i am here telling my version of it to the big bright world. 0874762400 is my contact number

Discovering the path to becoming a writer is both exhilarating and daunting. It requires a blend of passion, persistence, and honing one’s craft. From mastering the art of storytelling to navigating the intricacies of the publishing world, the journey demands dedication and resilience. Embrace every word written, every rejection faced, for they are stepping stones on the road to literary success.

[…] Writers.com: A comprehensive guide covering personal and professional aspects of becoming a writer1. […]

5 Lessons I’ve Learned As A Writer

A good writer is always looking for ways to improve their craft. They are in a constant state of learning, and will always be on the hunt for new tips and techniques to try. Writers often learn best by sharing their experiences, and it can be trial and error to find out what it is that works best for them.

So what have I learned as a writer so far? Here are some things I wish I knew right from the very start!

The more you read the more inspired and motivated you become.

One of the greatest things about being a writer is that reading great books is all part of the work. I used to read fairly regularly, but since I have started writing more, I realised this needs to be a constant activity that I do. When I am reading a great book I feel excited and inspired to write my own. I am constantly influenced and amazed by what I have read. Reading is, without a doubt, the best way to learn how to be a great writer.

Free your mind

Don’t be scared of ‘bad’ ideas - just write them down and come back to them later. The amount of weird things I have written in my notebook - things that I have written in the middle of the night that seem totally brilliant at the time and then…are actually nonsensical drivel come the morning! It is good to get into the habit of writing everything down. Not everything turns into a usable idea but it is the only you’ll be sure you don’t miss anything.

Be strict with yourself

Unfortunately, without a writing routine it is so easy to get off-track, get distracted by all the other things going on in your life and put your writing to one side. In order to be a writer, you need to write. We all know it but how many of us actually make the effort to make regular space in our day for a writing? You can find the time. So make sure you do.

Learn how to take criticism

I didn’t let anyone read my writing for years. The first time I did I had to leave the room and wait outside the house until they had finished. At first, even letting your mum read something you have written can be terrifying, but the trick is to be brave, and to do it more. The more you share your work the more feedback you’ll get and with it a thicker skin. Some people might not like what you have written. That’s OK. If they have something constructive to say, then take it, listen to it, learn from it and then prove them wrong!

Call yourself a writer, and believe it

It took me years to admit that I was a writer. I could barely believe it myself. When people asked what I did I would mumble, and only talk about the part-time desk job I had, even though by that stage I had plenty of freelance writing work. It took a while before I could announce ‘I am a writer’ and not think someone would laugh at me or somehow immediately give me a test to see whether or not I was any good. If you write, you are a writer, and you should wear that badge with pride!

These are 5 things I have learned on my writing journey so far, and I am sure there will be many more to come. What lesson have you learned along the way?

Bethany Cadman -author of 'Doctor Vanilla's Sunflowers'

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Writer's Life.org is the go to place for writers and authors across the planet and of all genres. Our mission is to give you the resources, tools and information needed to take your writing to the next level.

How do we plan on accomplishing this? Easy, instead of focusing 110% of our efforts on meaningless things such as correct spelling, proper grammar and fancy words...

...We'll give you solid information, that you'll get solid results with when tested in the real world ;-)

So with that said...

Consider the mis-spellings, grammatical mistakes and lack of $1000.00 words that you may or may not find on this site a reminder to you to focus on the things that will "really" prompt publishers to become interested in your book or potential fans of your writing to want more and more and more..

...And that is, learning how to write not good, but Great content, that pulls people in and will have them coming back begging for more. (Geesh... Could we get any worse with this run on sentence and lack of structure? I guess not, but I'm sure you get the point...)

A publishing house could care less if you won the spelling bee 10 years in a row.. They have editors that they pay to correct mistakes...

The only thing they are interested in is knowing if your writing is something that will SELL..

Nothing more, nothing less!

Consider this lesson #1 ;-) (Use the social buttons above to follow us on your favorite social site.. You'd hate to mis the next lesson wouldn't you?)

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5 Reasons You Should Consider Becoming a Writer

by Joe Bunting | 33 comments

Have you ever thought about becoming a writer? If you're like me and most of my readers, you probably have. But even if you haven't, you should think about it.

Photo by mpclemens

Writing has done more for my life than I could have ever imagined. It has made me a better person, a better friend, and a better husband. It has even helped me to provide for myself and my family. And it can do the same for you, too.

Here are five reasons why you should consider becoming a writer:

1. Your job is to tell stories.

Sure, it would be great to be a published author, but the truth is that telling stories itself is intrinsically good. Humans are biologically wired for story. In many ways, we live for story and we live through story. I can't think of many jobs better than telling stories all the time.

2. You make people feel more alive.

I like to think of writing as life distilled. Writers point out the moments and details of life we miss in our fast-paced society. Writers offer people a glimpse into their own lives, and help them live better stories.

3. You can earn income from your passion.

The first time I got paid for something I wrote, I felt a warm glow for days. It's not easy to get rich from writing, but the satisfaction of knowing your passion provided for you and your family is an incredible feeling.

4. You experience things more deeply.

Writing can draw you deeper into the moment. It can help you understand people and why they do the things they do. If you want to write well, the writing itself will force you to experience your life more fully.

5. You get to bring meaning to the world.

It's easy to lose hope in our culture, to think everything is meaningless, to give up on the world and just chase after your own pleasure.

But I've gotten to spend the last five years of my life finding meaning in the nooks and crannies of life, the crevices most people miss because they're going too fast or they're too self-focused. Writing has helped me discover that my life is incredibly meaningful, and it's allowed me to share that meaning with the world.

I couldn't ask for a better job.

How would your life change if you became a published writer?

Write something meaningful today. Spend fifteen minutes free-writing.

When you're finished, post your practice in the comments section. And if you post, be sure to give feedback to a few other writers.

Joe Bunting

Joe Bunting is an author and the leader of The Write Practice community. He is also the author of the new book Crowdsourcing Paris , a real life adventure story set in France. It was a #1 New Release on Amazon. Follow him on Instagram (@jhbunting).

Want best-seller coaching? Book Joe here.

33 Comments

Love the incentive here (be a better person, do meaningful work) as opposed to (be famous! write like Stephen King!). Can’t find the link for the mini-course…am i missing something?

Hi Grace! I’m so forgetful I forgot the most important thing. Here it is:

https://thewritepractice.com/class-write-practice-special/

Sorry about that!

Just like a writer. Always in a hurry to hit “publish”. 😉

i too do that 🙂 d

Just had to say Joe let me preview this course and it TRULY looks fantastic. I highly recommend this!

Love this, Joe. There is beauty in the world. Our job as writers is to shine light on it.

Joe – What I love about story is all that it can do. It can ask a question, give enlightenment, show love, erase anger, teach, correct and on and on. Story really is an incredible thing.

I agree, Jon. Isn’t it amazing?!

Yes, it truly is amazing.

When I was a little girl, in the mid-80s, I told my teachers I wanted to be “the first woman president”. That was a popular response for little 80s girls, when asked that overbearing and presumptuous question, “what do you want to be when you grow up?” I didn’t, of course, want to be the president, first woman or otherwise. But that answer garnered much approval and praise and that’s what my parents and teachers taught me to love. I lived in an ever-present state of gold-star or happy-face-sticker longing. One misplaced ie (or was it ei?) and it was over. I’m 31 years old and to this day I still remember my horror-stricken five-year-old kindergarten self, staring (but pretending not to) as my teacher turned my happy face name sign to the sad face name sign. I’d been accused of whispering during nap time. So much for that over-hyped concern that homeschooled kids aren’t properly ‘socialized’, right? I figured I’d forget that day, but I haven’t. It only happened once. I was such a people-pleasing drone that I suffered through the entire first semester of kindergarten with an art teacher who shamed me into using my right hand instead of my left hand. I didn’t tell my regular teacher or my mother, because I wanted everyone to like me. I wanted smiley faces. I wanted gold stars. I wanted to be like my right right-handed peers. Now of course I realize that all the odd, off-ish, left-hand-leaning (even if they’re right-handed) kids in school are the ones doing really neat stuff as adults. True, I got to take part in making three really neat kids and I got to marry a really great (off-ish, left-hand-leaning right-handed) guy, but I can’t wash from myself the stench of having slogged so many years through the people-pleasing bog. Why do we train kids to make us happy? Why can’t we teach them to love, show mercy, admire difference, dabble in much and find what makes them happy? I’m trying very hard to not raise cardboard kids. My oldest likes to make up quirky songs, and though she’s been classified as “gifted”, has atrocious handwriting and makes simple academic mistakes. We don’t talk about gold stars or all As. I will myself not to ask her what she wants to be when she grows up. She already is. My middle child is the most naturally off. He wears his underwear backwards because the really cool pictures are on the butt-side of little boy underwear, and he likes looking at it. He just began flag football and instead of running the ball he delights in spinning and listening to the flags play in the wind. When he listens to beautiful music he cries. He claims when people talk he sees colors. I wonder that such a gem came from someone like me. My baby is the three-going-on-thirty sort. I nursed her until just after her third birthday (I suppose I have at least one foot out of the mire, then?). She just wanted to be with me and nurse, even though she was otherwise staunchly independent. When she said she wanted to wean (my kids grow up knowing proper terms for things. They also say things like ‘penis’ and ‘vagina’. I’m sure Oprah would frown upon that) we threw her a weaning party. She likes digging in the dirt with screwdrivers and wearing stinky white cowboy boots with everything.

Love this! I hate how the school environment puts so much pressure on kids to “fit in” and “be like everyone else.” That sort of thinking kills so much creativity and individuality. I’m glad you have been able to provide a better way for your kids.

Joe, your five reasons reminded me of a quote I read this morning by Frederick Buechner. Here’s the quote followed by my practice.

“Sometimes an event occurs in our lives through which we catch a glimpse of what our lives are all about and maybe even what life itself is all about and this glimpse of what “it’s all about” involves not just the present but the past and future too. Inhabitants of time that we are, we stand on such occasions with one foot in eternity.” Frederick Buechner

Writing for me is about stopping the clock and putting one foot in eternity. It allows me to look at life, as it attempts to whiz past unnoticed, and absorb the beauty and meaning in it. Everything I write is, in reality, a thank you note to God. I am taking the time and the opportunity to appreciate the gift of the mundane and random things of life, like the way my wife nibbles on an m&m one at a time, or how my granddaughter sucks her thumb with her fingers open instead of making a fist. Writing takes me on a path towards gratitude and humility, two things I desperately need in my life.

We are all in search of the meaning in life and it’s only when I write that I am able to focus long enough to discover it.

That’s beautiful, Tom. Both the quote and your reflection. Although I’m not sure how you thought of those beautiful words from Buechner after reading my mediocre post. 🙂

There is nothing mediocre about this: But I’ve gotten to spend the last five years of my life finding meaning in the nooks and crannies of life, the crevices most people miss because they’re going too fast or they’re too self-focused. Writing has helped me discover that my life is incredibly meaningful, and it’s allowed me to share that meaning with the world.

Beautiful, Tom. Thanks so much for sharing.

That’s lovely. I love how it is helping you to appreciate the little things. When we think of creative writing, it’s hard not to think about ways to describe mountains and cities and the ocean. But thinking about how to write about the little familiar things – your wife and your granddaughter – that is thought provoking and beautiful!

Tom i love the quote and what you wrote/reflected on if u will this is a wonderful inspiration to me. thank you 🙂 d

I write because I love to. I am now in the midst of a novel that takes place in the year 1946. Tten a time warp happems, and the reader is brought back and forth between 1946 and 2012.I have the main charactor that is 18 years old, and suddenly finds herself in another year and decade. Noel

interesting i would like to see how u do that

F. Scott Fitzgerald said that “You don’t write because you want to say something, you write because you have something to say.”

I write because I want to say something positive about the human spirit and the potential within us all. I write because I have stories that need to be told and ideas that need to be expressed. I want people to come away from my writing full of hope and imparted with the idea that you can rise above your means to become a better person. A storyteller is saying so much more than the words on the page and the actions of their characters. In my stories I am weaving a much bigger narrative that says something about life and the limitless possibilities therein. When I first learned to read I remember being amazed at the world out there just beyond my door and enchanted by the fact that the words on the page could transport me into the worlds of Jules Verne, Mark Twain, Alexandre Dumas, J.R Tolkien, F. Scott Fitzgerald, David Eddings, Johann David Wyss and countless other authors. These books were not only great adventures, but they taught me something. In those pages I learned about honor, respect, love, tradition, & faith to name a few. I saw in those pages how to be a better man. That is why I write. I want to tell a compelling story that says so much more then is on the page. Writing is exciting and a good story that needs to be told is why I sit in front of a keyboard seeing where it will take me.

The last point is the reason that I waited so long to really pursue writing with any commitment. When I was younger, I knew I wanted to write. I also knew I truly had nothing useful to say. Not that I think I will write the next Great American Novel. But with maturity has come thoughtfulness and the words flow out of that thoughtfulness. Now, I am a writer.

Red-and-blue lights flash in the night. People filling up at the gas station probably wonder what’s going on. One minute, the ambulance was sitting idly in the parking lot, the EMTs chatting or playing with their phones while awaiting the next life-and-death situation. The next minute, the ambulence still sits, but not idly. The blinding lights splash everyting around them in color.

But the sirens aren’t blaring. This is not an emergency. In front of the ambulence stands a young man, clapping, smiling, innocent joy radiating from his face. The EMTs, too, are smiling. They love him, the boy. While many 17-year-olds are caught up in sports and girlfriends, this is where he is himself. He can’t drive or play football, he has no girlfriend. He is small for his age, a symptom of the extra chromosome that holds him back in so many areas.

But not in this. Nothing comes between him and his ambulence friends.

I wonder if they know how much they mean to him. How he is drawn to every book graced with pictures of ambulences. How he treasures his collection of toy ambulences. How he looks forward each day to visiting them again. How he looks up to them as celebrities. How their kindness blesses him, a boy whose only request is to visit them and their flashing lights once again.

Everyone has a story inside them, and as I sit and watch the people all around me I think about that fact. Every person has a history, things that happened to help shape them, a past and a future. The cars that drive past me on the road are moving stories. Each person seated, whether they are driver or passenger, has a life they are meant to live. If we could collect all these stories, we could learn so much.

I’ve often had a crazy inkling to go door to door in my neighborhood and start collecting stories. I know I’d be surprised, saddened, amazed, touched, moved, and exit each home better than I was before I went knocking. Of course, some would probably shut the door in my face, but more than anything, I wonder how many would invite me in for a drink, pull out their photo albums and breathe out the soul of their lives while I intently listen.

People want to be heard. They have things to say, dreams to share, pasts to push out of mind by sharing their locked up demons. How many really just want someone to talk to, someone to listen without judgment, someone to nod and ingest all the sentences and paragraphs of their life without edit? How many are holding onto anger, jealousy, regret, hatred, envy, worry, sadness, yearning? How many would love to share joy, love, happy memories, tips for life and nuggets of wisdom? How many need a release to get them through their day? I know I do.

I recall a moment around a campfire at a family beach party. I had a story to tell and I began to share. Before I could finish, I had three people cutting me off to tell their story. I was drowned out before I could go any further. My sentence was left wandering in the sand searching for someone to care, for someone to catch and cherish its meaning. I was left voiceless among a crowd of people I call family. I was surrounded by loved ones yet I felt as though I was standing alone.

I can so empathize with this! I’ve been going around with a notebook lately filling it up with people’s stories, stories people shared joyfully and stories where each word was a stone off their chest.

OK, I cheated here a little. Below is the post I just did on my own blog. I wanted to write about how to handle the combination of action and dialogue, and the story got more involved than I thought it would. Let me know what you think:

The Muse smacked me in the back of the head on her way by. It hurt. A lot.”You can’t just go for a novel that’s straight dialogue or straight action,” she scolded. “You have to have a good mix of both if you want people to get into your story.”I looked up from my desk and prepared a witty retort, but she was already gone. The door to my office slammed behind her as she left, and I know she wanted me to give chase. I hated when she did things like that.Getting up, I strode to the door and yanked it open. “Get back here, you little bitch. You still owe me another 500 words before I can turn in for the night.””You can look, but you’ll never find me.” Her soft voice carried through the house, and I knew it wouldn’t be easy to figure out where she was hiding, but that didn’t mean I could give up.I crept down the stairs and into the darkened kitchen. The light by the stove was on, so I wasn’t completely blind. Still, the paltry shadows cast by the light didn’t help me much. I looked under the table and peered between the cook books, but there wasn’t a trace of her.”Come on out,” I said. “I’m tired, and this isn’t funny any longer.”But there was nothing. She was putting up a good fight tonight, and I needed to focus if I wanted to not only find her, but get her to cooperate as well.There were flashlights in the silverware drawer, so I grabbed one that was pink and a little stubby – it belonged to my wife – and shined the light into the pantry. I moved a couple of boxes of rice, as well as a can of soup that was a keepsake from college, but she didn’t leap out.”This is ridiculous,” I mumbled.”You’re just not trying hard enough,” she called out.My head instantly swiveled towards the TV room and the leather recliner in the corner. She might’ve made good use of the acoustics, but I was close enough now to know where she was. I walked towards the chair heel to toe so as not to make a lot of noise. If I scared her off, who knew how long it’d take me to find her again.I jumped on the chair and looked over the top. “Aha!”She was curled up in a ball on the floor, but as soon as she saw me, she grinned. The Muse stood and dusted herself off.”That was fun,” she said, “but don’t think this ends the evening’s entertainment. You still haven’t caught me.”She tried to make a break for the stairs, but I’d anticipated that. With speed belying my age, I leapt from the chair and tackled her, wrestling the snooty woman to the ground and pinning down her arms.”You are going to help me tonight. I’m 500 words short of my goal, and if you don’t give them to me, I can’t go to sleep.””Aw, poor baby cannot figure his story out,” she said in a mock whiny voice. She puffed out her lips for emphasis. “Maybe this will help you go to sleep.”And she head butted me.It took a second for the pain to register, and another second for me to realize that she was off and running again. For a mythical creature that’s supposed to as old as time itself, she was surprisingly nimble.Once I shook out the cobwebs, I got to my feet and took off after her again, clomping up the stairs and headed for my office before she could lock me out. That had happened once before and I ended up sleeping on the couch and trying to explain to Sherry the next morning why I’d failed to come to bed. My sordid stories of trying to chase down a half naked Greek goddess didn’t go over too well.But this time she didn’t lock the door. I burst through it to find her perched on my desk. She lazily pushed down one of the straps on her shoulder.”Wouldn’t you rather think of something else besides that stupid story?” she asked with a wink.”Not really,” I replied. “I’m tired, and I just want to pump out the rest of this chapter so I can stop worrying about it. Now, how does the vampire get into the compound?””We may never know,” she said.That did it. I raced over to her and put her in the hardest headlock I could. “Dammit, just give it up! Does he leap over the railing, or was he in the car with the main character the whole time?”When she didn’t speak, I tightened my grip, but she flipped me over and I found myself falling over the desk and onto the floor. However, I still had her by the throat, and I wasn’t about to let go.”Fine,” she breathed. “He used the trees by the southeast corner and jumped over. He also spotted the main character before the van left, so he’ll be following him onto the second floor balcony.”I released my grip and looked at her. Panting, I said, “Now, was that so hard?”For her part, the Muse didn’t look phased at all. In fact, she even wore a bemused smile. She hopped up on my desk and crossed her legs.”The chase is part of the fun,” she said. “If I just told you what to do without much action behind it, you wouldn’t appreciate me as much.”I pushed her out of the way and sat at my laptop again to churn out the last part of the chapter. She looked over my shoulder and whispered a few words of encouragement into my ear. It may have felt good, but there were times I wish I’d simply bought a dog instead.

Didn’t copy and paste as well as I would’ve liked. 😛

That was great!

I LOVE this!!!! That is so cool. Your muse certainly puts up a fight doesn’t she?? Wow…As well as the chase and all the action, I loved all the little bits – the fact that the pink stubby flash light is your wife’s (and the the fact that you felt you needed to point that out, haha), and that you have a can of soup from your college days – tells us a lot about you. Awesome writing RD!

Hi Joe, great post 🙂 I like all five of your comment and I just wanted to add to your #4…I love that writing can help you to experience things you’ve never even experienced before. It’s great how you can pick anything or anyone to ‘channel’ into one of our stories.

My reason for being a writer is I can’t live without writing. Writing has been a part of who I am and I need to write, even if it’s not for a paid project. It’s very fortunate that I get to make a living doing what I love and know best.

Becoming a writer is not really that simple, so the thought and consideration is always necessary. thank you for sharing this post to us.

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My Journey As a Writer

Essay 1 revision.

Feedback to Learner

You have given some good details about your reading/writing life. Your English is very good, but you have some minor errors. Your essay gains power and focus as it goes on. The beginning is a bit disorganized, but by the end you have the wind in your sails.

To revise this essay for the portfolio at the end of the semester you will want to think about developing your paragraphs. Then you will want to correct any grammar errors. Good job.

For the revision, I decided to look at the Professor Hays comments. I added relevant information and took out unnecessary words. I looked through each and every yellow comments to respond to each comments. I corrected fragments and run-ons.

The Journey of my writing life

I honestly don’t remember what I first wrote or the first book I read but what I do remember is that I hated reading while growing up. I wasn’t a big fan of reading and my mom always forced me to read. She always promised me anything if I decide to read to her. I was a shy little girl who did not talk that much. I can recall that as I entered into my teenage years I started to read more. High school was when I really got into reading so I read a lot of books and wrote a lot. My English teacher in high school made me enjoy reading. She made us choose the book we interested us a students. Also I have learned that I only enjoy reading books that I am not force to read. I like picking out my own books to read instead of assigned books to read because they get boring. I was very passionate about what I read and would always discuss it with people.

Writing has always created a safe space for me because it lets out my thoughts. I write to be free. I write to be heard. I write to have a voice. It takes a lot of time for me to be focused when writing. When I have a paper to write, I sometimes get anxious. I think way too much about the paper. I have pictures and outlines in my head about the structure of the paper. If I cannot think about any ideas to write, I get stressed out. And when I get stressed out, I get mad. A lot of people knows that when I pick up a pen or when I start to write, you better not dare talk to me. I remember the day I was writing a paper, thoughts were flowing in and it felt good. Then my friend decided to come in my room and start yelling. As soon as I heard her voice, all the rush I had to write my paper was completely gone. I don’t like typing when I first start out to write. My mood determines the way I write. When I am stressed out, I tend to have a hard time at writing. My reading life kind of correspond with my writing life. Without reading, I can’t write. Reading a book helps me become better in writing because I take notice of the grammar used and how I can apply it to my own writing.

My weakness in writing is my lack of confidence to believe that I can write. My writing is improving and I have definitely come a long way. Since English is not my first language, I get discouraged by how my writing skills are. The first essay I ever wrote was hard for me to write. I didn’t k ow the first step of how to put a paper together. I would start writing and get frustrated that my ideas are not coming together. I knew what I wanted to say but my thoughts weren’t translating into the paper. To help develop my confidence, I always say to myself that I can I write. Before I start writing anything, I think about the content for a while. Then I write my ideas in bullet points and not look at it until the next day. After this, I start taking out ideas that make sense to me in my outlines. When I first got this assignment, I had to plan out what to write. I wrote new paragraphs everyday so that I could think of new ideas. Any form of writing for me takes a lot of time and effort. My writing style is that I like to write at home in my room or any place where there is complete silence.

My writing practice will help me succeed in the academic community because I will be less stressed about writing and taking every process step by step. In Anne Lamott’s “Shitty First Draft,” she explains the importance of writing of being ok with what you write first. She said “Very few writers really know what they are doing until they’ve done it” (Lamott). This is honestly true because I go through this process every time. Trusting myself in the process that what am writing will come together in the end. If my friend is struggling with writing, I will tell them to trust the process. Don’t sweat it too much and take it step by step. Write one or two paragraph a day and go back to rereading. Rereading also helps me improve my writing. I always go back to edit or take out ideas.

I like writing in various context because it challenges me to become a better writer. Even when I text, I text in full sentences. I think that writing a lot now will prepare me for future writings because I know that I will be doing a lot of writing as a Psychology major. My favorite tools to write with is a pencil because I feel more connected with my brain and my thought process. I don’t like when I start out writing to type on a computer. I like getting my ideas out on paper before typing. My writing practice will nurture my writing because it let me express and trust myself that I can write a good paper.

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Essay on Literature

Who Are You As A Writer Essay

Type of paper: Essay

Topic: Literature , Education , Relationships , Writing , Media , Television , Students , Life

Words: 1800

Published: 01/16/2020

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Writing seems to intimidate many people. High school students and college freshmen dread writing the required essays, largely in my experience, because they are afraid of writing. People regard being a writer as something that requires a definite commitment to writing, that there is a certain point in one’s life when the person says, “I am going to become a writer.” But for many people, becoming a writer is not a decision they consciously make; it sneaks up on them little by little. Whether one becomes a writer by way of a conscious decision, or whether one wakes up one day and realizes writing is a critical part of living, being a writer entails becoming sensitive to not only your life but the world around you. Becoming a writer is something that occurred gradually in my life. The process resembles what Bateson described as lots of zigs and zags. When I was in my teens, I wanted to be a fiction writer, to write novels. One of my high school English teachers invited me, along with about five or six other students he though had writing potential, to be in a writing group. We met once a week, reading short stories and poems we had written, and offering suggestions to each other about our work. I planned to finish high school, attend college, and then immediately move to New York City and officially become a “writer.” I envisioned myself working for a publishing house as an editor or something similar, figuring that such a job would give me an inside line into getting my as yet imaginary novel published. Despite my adolescent ambition, my life did not work out that way. Yes, I graduated from high school and attended college. But by the time I started college, I had been in a relationship with a boyfriend for a couple of years. I switched career goals to becoming a doctor because he was pursuing a career in health care. For the couple of years that I focused on science classes, my writing was limited to creating lab notes of experiments and responding to short-answer questions on chemistry and biology exams. It wasn’t until our relationship ended that I realized I had no real desire to become a doctor, but at that time I had lost the impetus to become a writer. My lack of serious writing for those two years made me afraid that I would no longer be able to write, and my fear paralyzed me. I briefly entertained the idea of becoming a professor of literature, until classmates and my professors mentioned the “publish or perish” mentality that dominated academia. In retrospect, it’s ironic; as someone who had spent several years planning to become a writer, I was now so fearful of writing that just the thought of having to write a few scholarly papers a year made me switch career paths again. Even though I decided I didn’t want to be a professor, though, I still had to write papers for my classes. And this is where the change occurred. My professors gave me good feedback on my papers. One of them even wrote, “You have a gift for writing.” In small increments, my confidence and pleasure in writing returned to me. In my classes, I also discovered a related gift. Occasionally a classmate would ask me to review his or her paper. I found that I could quickly read someone else’s writing, figure out which parts were fine and which parts needed work, and explain to the person why that part needed work and what the person specifically needed to do to fix the problem. At times it was easier to show the person, rather than tell him or her; I would take a sentence that was problematic, revise it, and watch the light bulb go on over their head as they saw how changing a few words could make their writing so much clearer. While I don’t have time to edit other people’s papers on a regular basis, I still enjoy doing this type of peer review. It makes me feel that I can use my writing skills to help someone who may not have understood what the instructor meant. The kind of writing I had been doing in my classes was still what I thought of as private writing; it was intended to be seen by the professor and possibly other students, but not by the public. My first piece of public writing came about entirely by accident. I had read a newspaper story that angered me so much, I wrote a letter to the editor in response to it. The subject of the article doesn’t really matter; it was simply a political and social issue that resonated with me. A few days later a friend called me to tell me he had seen my letter in the paper, and that was literally the first time it occurred to me that my letter could be read by anyone who happened to read the newspaper that day. I had finally written something for public consumption. A few people made favorable comments about it and most importantly to me, nobody responded to it by saying I was uninformed about the issues. In an odd way, writing that letter made me become a much better reader. I wanted to make sure that if I wrote about other political or social issues, I was fully aware of different aspects of those issues. I began reading the news much more thoroughly, determined to be able to write and converse about important issues intelligently. I still did not think of myself as a writer, though. To me, that word still had a capital W at the beginning of it, and meant someone who made a living by writing books. I continued to write papers for classes, and then the day came when I once again fell into writing something more or less by accident. I don’t watch a lot of television, but I do like to read about television. In any given way, I spend more time reading about television shows than I do actually watching them. I had found a website that specialized in discussions about various television shows; it provided very snarky recaps of a few shows that I watched. The website also had discussion forums, and those forums were what dragged me in to the final step of realizing I am in fact a writer. For the first couple of months that I visited the website, I only “lurked.” In Internet language, that means I read other people’s posts but did not create any of my own posts. One day, though, someone commented on a relationship in one of the shows I watched. This particular relationship was one which, judging by comments, 95% of the viewers thought was absolutely wonderful and extraordinarily romantic. To me and to this other poster, the relationship was essentially the definition of dysfunctional and toxic. I opened a Word document and wrote a couple of paragraphs agreeing with the other poster, and adding my own insights about why the couple’s relationship was horrendous. Before I knew what I was doing, I copied and pasted those paragraphs into a response in the discussion thread, clicked the button to post it, and within a few seconds my words were on the Internet for anyone to read. That particular act of writing got me hooked. Writing and posting in discussion forums on a regular basis has made me a better writer for several reasons. When I write about a television show, I have to read what others have said about the show so that I’m not simply repeated something that’s already been said ad nauseum. The thoughts of other posters often make me consider multiple perspectives and give me insight. If I want to sound intelligent and informed, I have to be intelligent and informed. I make comparisons to other television shows. I point out that a particular episode of a show is obviously based on a real-life event. I evaluate how effectively a show’s writers have delineated a particular character. When I post about nonscripted shows, such as news shows or documentaries, I pay more attention to the news and to current events. Posters frequently respond to my comments; we exchange ideas and have a dialogue. While I am not a person who supports myself as a writer, I do consider myself to be a writer because it is now an important part of my life. In the same way that I can’t envision a life without listening to music or reading, I can no longer envision my life without writing. Through my writing, I have become a more engaged citizen of the world. I notice what is happening in the world around me. I want to know both what is happening and why it is happening, so that when I write I can possibly articulate my understanding of those things. The obstacle of fear of writing, that I thought so insurmountable only a short time ago, has turned out to be only an obstacle in my head. When Zinn wrote about being optimistic because things that seem unchangeable or insurmountable can in fact change or overcome, he was talking about larger issues. For me, though, his insight reflects what has happened in my life so far in becoming a writer. Ultimately, writing is not just putting words into a blank Word document to fulfill the requirements of an assignment. Writing allows people to express their ideas, sometimes in fact to discover their ideas. When we write, do we always know what exactly we are going to say? In my experience, I do not and often when I actually see the words in front of me, that is the first time I realize exactly what my thoughts are. Writing allows me to know myself better and allows me to interact online with people I would never meet in real life. Lavelle noted, “Many view writing as a learning opportunity — a chance to 'revise' their thinking, while others seek to reorganize or list 'bits' of information (476). I see my own writing definitely as a learning opportunity, for me to learn more about myself and others. The way I view writing right now means that writing will be a part of my life forever, and I am curious how I will evolve as a writer.

Works Cited

Bateson, Mary Catherine. “Composing a Life Story.” . Ed. Paul Loeb. New York: Basic Books, 2004. Print. Lavelle, Ellen. "Writing Style and the Narrative Essay." British Journal of Educational Psychology 67.4 (1997): 475. Supplemental Index. Web. 6 Dec. 2012. Zinn, Howard. “The Optimism of Uncertainty.” A People’s History of the United States. New York: HarperCollins, 1995. Print.

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Blog • Perfecting your Craft

Posted on Feb 11, 2021

How to Become a Better Writer: 20 Hacks and Tips

About the author.

Reedsy's editorial team is a diverse group of industry experts devoted to helping authors write and publish beautiful books.

About Martin Cavannagh

Head of Content at Reedsy, Martin has spent over eight years helping writers turn their ambitions into reality. As a voice in the indie publishing space, he has written for a number of outlets and spoken at conferences, including the 2024 Writers Summit at the London Book Fair.

Practically speaking, writing is just about putting one word after another. But as anyone who’s struggled with the question of how to become a better writer will tell you, there are sometimes entire worlds of frustration compressed in the seconds between setting each word down. If that sounds familiar, or you’re simply trying to improve your craft without the existential writerly despair, we’ve got 20 essential tips to share with you.

In this post, we’ll be sharing writing advice for everyone, but you can head to our more specific guides on starting from scratch, writing novels, nonfiction, and children’s books if that’s what you’re after:

How to Start Creative Writing: 7 Ways to Fast-Track Your Writing
Reedsy's guide to novel writing
How to Write a Nonfiction Book in 6 Steps
How to Write a Children's Book in 7 Surprisingly Simple Steps

1. Start by spending more time writing

How to become a better writer | Malcolm Gladwell quote about practice making you better

You’ll get to know your own writing habits better, e.g. the time of day when you’re most productive, or the location where you’re most inspired to write;
You’ll develop writerly discipline (an essential skill if you ever hope to write a book or another long form project); 💪
You'll work out what you really like to write, whether that's literary fiction or epic fantasy;
You’ll stick around long enough for new ideas to occur to you (especially helpful if you’re a pantser, not a plotter ).

2. Practice reading books by other authors

How to become a better writer | Stephen King quote about how important it is for writers to read widely

On the level of vocabulary, sentence structure, and rhythm, the “ease and intimacy” King talks about occurs subliminally, beneath the surface of your consciousness, quietly sharpening your perceptive skills. On the level of plot or structure, you actively discover the creative strategies of other writers. Now aware of what others are doing with their words, you become a native to that “country of the writer”.

Ultimately, the more wonderful things you feed your brain, the richer the pool of knowledge your creativity will be able to draw from.

📚 If you need recommendations, we’ve compiled reading lists for every taste here:

25 Creative Writing Examples to Inspire You Today
The 115 Best Books of All Time
The 60 Best Nonfiction Books of the 21st Century
The 125 Best Children’s Books of All Time
The 30 Best Memoirs of the Last Century
The Best Short Stories and Collections Everyone Should Read

3. Pick up writing skills from other texts

Okay, enough with the subconscious magical learning — you also need to put in serious, active effort. That means taking apart passages that impress or move you and dissecting another writer’s methodology.

This will be most helpful if you focus on texts in your genre or form: read respected newspapers or magazines if you’re hoping to submit to such publications, poetic collections if you long to publish poetry , academic papers by reputable academics if you’re a budding scholar.

How to Become a Better Writer | Alexander Chee extract, annotated to show how you can learn by analyzing other writing

Read each sentence carefully, asking yourself how you would have gone about writing it. Notice the differences between each version: look closely at how the other writer avoids repetition and regulates sentence length, and become aware of all the words that could’ve gone into the sentence, but were trimmed out. If you remember the lessons you draw from this exercise, you’ll be on your way to becoming a better writer.

If you struggle to write consistently, sign up for our How to Write a Novel course to finish a novel in just 3 months.

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4. Study examples of writing theory

Time for some homework: aside from picking up other writers’ tricks by reading their work, you can also study up on basic writing theories . Learning about structure within stories and the different models that dramatists and fiction writers rely on, like Freytag’s pyramid or the classic structure divided into three acts , is valuable for any aspiring writer. These models are guides to centuries of storytelling tradition: demonstrations of how you might apply a structure onto a story.

How to become a better writer | Freytag's pyramid

When it comes to expressing yourself, brushing up on your literary and rhetorical devices is also helpful. After all, as much as people like to pretend writing is a mystical art, divinely bestowed upon one by magical inspiration, a lot of it comes down to active effort on the writer’s part.

Head to these guides to literary and rhetorical devices if you’re ready for school:

💡 45+ Literary Devices and Terms Every Writer Should Know

💡 30+ Rhetorical Devices Everyone Must Know

FREE RESOURCE

Literary Devices Cheatsheet

Master these 40+ devices to level up your writing skills.

5. Create your own voice

Some people’s advice for learning improving your writing skills is to stick to templates. These can be wonderful if you’re writing something meant to be plain, like a legal document or a freelance proposal . (If this is the case, all you need to do to become a better writer is be accurate, precise, and grammatically correct.) For everything else, by all means inform yourself about things like story structure, but never adhere to templates to the point where your personality is extinguished.

If you’ve got a sense of humor, interests, opinions, or possess literally any other quality unique to human beings (as opposed to bots), you can channel that personality into your writing, and lift mundane subjects up with the buoyancy of your voice.

💡 Need an example? Check out this post on the best reading chairs written by Savannah, one of Reedsy’s writers. You might not have a passion for chairs, but you’ll stay for the engaging tone of her writing voice.

6. Experiment with your writing style

How to Become a Better Writer | Samwell Tarly from Game of Thrones writing at his desk

Hit a plateau? If you don’t feel like you’re improving, it’s time to switch things up. Try writing something completely different to cleanse your palate with the literary equivalent of pickled ginger in a sushi restaurant. Experimentation seems to be working for George R.R. Martin, who has for decades been writing short stories , novellas and even reference books between instalments of his novel series A Song of Ice and Fire — evidently, switching between different forms has helped this author of epic fantasy stay inspired and motivated.

We’ve got over 1,000 creative writing prompts you can browse for inspiration, as well as an interactive plot generator if you need someone to establish plot parameters for you. We know writers struggle to set themselves deadlines, so you could even join our weekly writing contest — we’re happy to provide you with some external pressure, and $250 if you manage to win!

7. Outline your book

Openings and endings don’t just matter in fiction. Inherent in all good writing is story: a narrative with a full-fledged arc that must start and end in places that make sense and add value to the entire text.

Writing students commonly struggle with slow or delayed story openings — where the writer takes too long to clear their throat. They can fill two or three paragraphs, several pages, or even an entire chapter before they get to something interesting.

To sharpen your beginning, try deleting parts of it to get a feel of your work without them. You may find a later passage is more gripping to your reader — you’ll then know you’ve found your true opening.

Endings are similarly crucial. As editor and former publisher Jasmin Kirkbride points out, “Every subplot and all the different strands of your main plot should reach satisfying, clear conclusions. If they are meant to be left ambiguously, ensure your reader knows this, and create something out of that uncertainty.”

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8. Write with a clear vocabulary

As you edit your work , you’ll be thinking of what you intended to say at the time of writing. For that reason, you’ll need to maintain a level of mental alertness that enables you to evaluate whether or not what you ended up writing actually does convey what you wanted to say. This is particularly important if you’re writing nonfiction.

How to Become a Better Writer | Example of wordy sentence before and after editing

9. Self-edit for errors in your prose

While we’re discussing lazy, unmemorable writing, this is a reminder that fillers are another literary ‘bad habit’ to actively resist. Cluttering up your prose, these short words sneakily crawl into your writing and distract your reader from the essence of your point.

In her free Reedsy course on self-editing, Lisa Lepki identifies the most common words in the English language as the culprits of literary clutter. Lisa advises writers to avoid “meandering around [their sentences’] meaning”, and offers this sentence as a wordy example:

“Andy went over to the far end of the playground to see if there was a rake that he could use to tidy up all of the leaves that had fallen down in the night.”

Lisa offers this distilled alternative:

“Mountains of leaves had fallen overnight, so Andy checked the playground for a rake. ”

Free course: How to self-edit like a pro

Rid your manuscript of the most common writing mistakes with this 10-day online course. Get started now.

10. Cut the repetitive sentences

One practical way to become a better writer is by consciously analyzing your writing to identify repetitive patterns. This is hard to do during the drafting process, especially if you write your first draft quickly , but it’s mercifully simple in retrospect. So dig out some past writing samples ( creative nonfiction , poems, short stories — anything will do), grab some coloring pencils or highlighters, and mark every instance of repetitive language.

Study your words on multiple levels:

The lexical level, i.e. specific verbs, adverbs or adjectives you might be repeating (are your characters constantly grinning?);
The sentence structure level, like if all your examples come in threes;
The narrative structure level, like if you unwittingly but consistently lapse into new flashbacks.

The point of this exercise is to identify your personal linguistic reflexes — known in linguistics as your “idiolect”. In terms of language use, it’s your fingerprint, and familiarizing yourself with it can help you identify repetition and edit it out of your writing.

💡 If you want to learn more about idiolects, check out this post by one of Reedsy’s writers.

11. Avoid clichéd language

Clichés are every writer’s stumbling block, ever an uphill battle — though the battle has its ups and its downs, and what matters most is not the destination, but the friends we made along the way. You get our point, hopefully: clichés are lazy, overly familiar, platitudinous, and often boring. Every time you use a cliché, you’re wasting an opportunity to be original and authentic.

Primarily, our issue with clichés is no moral qualm about authenticity. It’s the simple fact that they completely drain your writing of its ability to be memorable. Lifeless, it falls to the ground, faceless and forgotten.

Which contemporary author are you?

Find out which of today's greats is your writerly match. Takes one minute!

12. Understand the ideas behind your work

You’ve already taken the first step toward seeing the bigger picture by honing your opening and ending. Now it’s time to look at all the extraneous stuff outside your text: in other words, situate your writing within a wider framework of similar work.

How to Become a Better Writer | Alan Lightman quote, to show the importance of providing context

13. Respect your reader’s attention

Don’t lose sight of the fact that there’s a person on the other end of the line. Be a compassionate writer by imagining yourself as the reader: is that fourth paragraph detailing the history of a secondary character’s nomadic tribe really necessary? It’s certainly great world-building , but if it puts your reader to sleep, it’s got to go.

Similarly, do not manipulate your reader. Pointless plot twists or clickbait will erode your readers’ trust, and hollow hot takes will impress no one. Stick to substance, and skip the paratextual circus act.

14. Get feedback from an editor

Nobody writes flawlessly. Most published writing undergoes significant editing both by its author and professional editors. For example, Raymond Carver’s classic short story collection What We Talk About When We Talk About Love is known to have been extensively shaped by Carver’s editor, Gordon Lish.

No matter what you’re writing, give your work time to cool before stepping back into it with the fresh eyes of an editor. Assess the clarity of your meaning, expressions, overall structure, your tone, and the mood of the piece, and compare these to the vision you had when you were writing.

Any writing intended for publication should also be professionally edited — and lucky for you, you can hire some of the most experienced fiction or nonfiction editors in the publishing world, right here on Reedsy.

Give your book the help it deserves

The best editors are on Reedsy. Sign up for free and meet them.

Learn how Reedsy can help you craft a beautiful book.

15. Be open to constructive criticism

How to become a better writer | Professor Bhaer from Little Women

Becoming a writer means releasing your work into the world, and with that comes both praise and criticism. But neither will help you become a better writer if you shut all feedback out. Though some of the criticism you’ll receive may not be helpful, some of it will be, and you’ll struggle to improve your writing if you refuse to see that. Open your heart up to constructive criticism, and you’ll see your writing flourish.

16. Invest in your career with a writing course

While we’re on the topic of learning: there’s plenty of classes and courses you can take, if you’d rather study in a more structured way. If you’re serious about becoming a better writer, whether that’s an author, journalist, ghostwriter , or freelancer , a class can give you access to the wisdom of more experienced professionals — and a real-life class also means meeting mentors and kindred spirits.

You can check out writing courses online — we’ve got a bunch of completely free courses you can take:

FREE COURSE

Author and ghostwriter Tom Bromley will guide you from page 1 to the finish line.

👩‍🎓 How to Write a Business Book — taught by business coach Alison Jones

👩‍🎓 The Non-Sexy Business of Non-Fiction — taught by author coach Azul Terronez

Still hungry? Consider pursuing a writing degree. These aren’t just for people looking for creative writing classes — MFAs also focus on nonfiction, so if that’s what you see yourself writing, there are plenty of options. Only you know which program and school would be the best fit for you, and the Internet will be your friend as you work the answer out.

17. Keep company with other writers

Everything’s better with company. Whether your choice is to join a local writing group, critique circle , or an online Facebook group, having friends who are writers means you’ll have someone to bounce ideas off, someone to support you if you feel insecure about your writing, someone to inspire you to work harder, and someone to offer you advice and opinions about your project. All important aspects of improving your skills! ✊

18. Write content consistently

Writing takes a lot of determination and discipline, especially when you’re working on a longer work like a book or a series . Sometimes things won’t work out, and you’ll be frustrated, impatient, demotivated, and temporarily hopeless. All of this is fine, and an entirely normal part of the process. When you get to this stage, be gentle with yourself, but do not give up.

Writers are often the most stubborn of people: so go ahead and keep writing in spite of yourself, in spite of your insecurities or personal failures, and in spite of what anyone else might think. If that doesn’t earn you the ‘badge’ of a writer, we don’t know what does.

19. Don’t give up on your words

Your ideas will be exciting, but they won’t always be masterpieces. Some you can fix with a zealous edit. Others, not so much. Accept this as a reality and let them float down the river of oblivion.

We know this sounds contradictory to our last bit of advice, but trust your intuition to decide whether it’s worth persevering with a particular project. For example, there’s no point in trying to resurrect the passion you had for a project you started long ago, if the inspiration has long since left you. There is also little point in pursuing something you began simply because you felt it was what you were supposed to be writing. If it doesn’t speak to you anymore and you see no way to revive the spark, cut your losses and move on.

20. Embrace failure to become a better writer

Finally, just as you’ll have to handle criticism, you’ll also undoubtedly face rejection and failure. Whether you’re rejected by literary agents , fail to get a publishing deal, or have your stories, pitches, or poems rejected by literary publications, you must remember that failure is an inescapable and inevitable fact of life, and does not determine your worth as a writer.

How to Become a Better Writer | CV of Failures

Be assured that others fail, too, even if they only fail in private. One of our favorite reminders of how common failure is is the famous CV of failures published by Princeton professor Johannes Haushofer , where he lists every program, award, and position he was rejected from, as a reminder that everyone experiences failure. And if you need a writer-specific example of success despite failure, remember that Douglas Stuart’s novel Shuggie Bain , winner of the 2020 Booker Prize, was rejected 32 times before it received a publisher’s offer.

You don’t need anybody to officially ordain you as a writer — you’re a writer if you believe you’re a writer and write anyway.

We hope these tips help you figure out how to become a better writer. Your quest is noble, and we believe in you!

Continue reading

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Character creation can be challenging. To help spark your creativity, here’s a list of 100+ character ideas, along with tips on how to come up with your own.

How to Introduce a Character: 8 Tips To Hook Readers In

Introducing characters is an art, and these eight tips and examples will help you master it.

450+ Powerful Adjectives to Describe a Person (With Examples)

Want a handy list to help you bring your characters to life? Discover words that describe physical attributes, dispositions, and emotions.

How to Plot a Novel Like a NYT Bestselling Author

Need to plot your novel? Follow these 7 steps from New York Times bestselling author Caroline Leavitt.

How to Write an Autobiography: The Story of Your Life

Want to write your autobiography but aren’t sure where to start? This step-by-step guide will take you from opening lines to publishing it for everyone to read.

What is the Climax of a Story? Examples & Tips

The climax is perhaps a story's most crucial moment, but many writers struggle to stick the landing. Let's see what makes for a great story climax.

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1.3 Becoming a Successful College Writer

Learning objectives.

Identify strategies for successful writing.
Demonstrate comprehensive writing skills.
Identify writing strategies for use in future classes.

In the preceding sections, you learned what you can expect from college and identified strategies you can use to manage your work. These strategies will help you succeed in any college course. This section covers more about how to handle the demands college places upon you as a writer. The general techniques you will learn will help ensure your success on any writing task, whether you complete a bluebook exam in an hour or an in-depth research project over several weeks.

Putting It All Together: Strategies for Success

Writing well is difficult. Even people who write for a living sometimes struggle to get their thoughts on the page. Even people who generally enjoy writing have days when they would rather do anything else. For people who do not like writing or do not think of themselves as good writers, writing assignments can be stressful or even intimidating. And of course, you cannot get through college without having to write—sometimes a lot, and often at a higher level than you are used to.

No magic formula will make writing quick and easy. However, you can use strategies and resources to manage writing assignments more easily. This section presents a broad overview of these strategies and resources. The remaining chapters of this book provide more detailed, comprehensive instruction to help you succeed at a variety of assignments. College will challenge you as a writer, but it is also a unique opportunity to grow.

Using the Writing Process

To complete a writing project successfully, good writers use some variation of the following process.

The Writing Process

Prewriting. In this step, the writer generates ideas to write about and begins developing these ideas.
Outlining a structure of ideas. In this step, the writer determines the overall organizational structure of the writing and creates an outline to organize ideas. Usually this step involves some additional fleshing out of the ideas generated in the first step.
Writing a rough draft. In this step, the writer uses the work completed in prewriting to develop a first draft. The draft covers the ideas the writer brainstormed and follows the organizational plan that was laid out in the first step.
Revising. In this step, the writer revisits the draft to review and, if necessary, reshape its content. This stage involves moderate and sometimes major changes: adding or deleting a paragraph, phrasing the main point differently, expanding on an important idea, reorganizing content, and so forth.
Editing. In this step, the writer reviews the draft to make additional changes. Editing involves making changes to improve style and adherence to standard writing conventions—for instance, replacing a vague word with a more precise one or fixing errors in grammar and spelling. Once this stage is complete, the work is a finished piece and ready to share with others.

Chances are, you have already used this process as a writer. You may also have used it for other types of creative projects, such as developing a sketch into a finished painting or composing a song. The steps listed above apply broadly to any project that involves creative thinking. You come up with ideas (often vague at first), you work to give them some structure, you make a first attempt, you figure out what needs improving, and then you refine it until you are satisfied.

Most people have used this creative process in one way or another, but many people have misconceptions about how to use it to write. Here are a few of the most common misconceptions students have about the writing process:

“I do not have to waste time on prewriting if I understand the assignment.” Even if the task is straightforward and you feel ready to start writing, take some time to develop ideas before you plunge into your draft. Freewriting —writing about the topic without stopping for a set period of time—is one prewriting technique you might try in that situation.
“It is important to complete a formal, numbered outline for every writing assignment.” For some assignments, such as lengthy research papers, proceeding without a formal outline can be very difficult. However, for other assignments, a structured set of notes or a detailed graphic organizer may suffice. The important thing is that you have a solid plan for organizing ideas and details.
“My draft will be better if I write it when I am feeling inspired.” By all means, take advantage of those moments of inspiration. However, understand that sometimes you will have to write when you are not in the mood. Sit down and start your draft even if you do not feel like it. If necessary, force yourself to write for just one hour. By the end of the hour, you may be far more engaged and motivated to continue. If not, at least you will have accomplished part of the task.
“My instructor will tell me everything I need to revise.” If your instructor chooses to review drafts, the feedback can help you improve. However, it is still your job, not your instructor’s, to transform the draft to a final, polished piece. That task will be much easier if you give your best effort to the draft before submitting it. During revision, do not just go through and implement your instructor’s corrections. Take time to determine what you can change to make the work the best it can be.
“I am a good writer, so I do not need to revise or edit.” Even talented writers still need to revise and edit their work. At the very least, doing so will help you catch an embarrassing typo or two. Revising and editing are the steps that make good writers into great writers.

For a more thorough explanation of the steps of the writing process as well as for specific techniques you can use for each step, see Chapter 8 “The Writing Process: How Do I Begin?” .

The writing process also applies to timed writing tasks, such as essay exams. Before you begin writing, read the question thoroughly and think about the main points to include in your response. Use scrap paper to sketch out a very brief outline. Keep an eye on the clock as you write your response so you will have time to review it and make any needed changes before turning in your exam.

Managing Your Time

In Section 1.2 “Developing Study Skills” , you learned general time-management skills. By combining those skills with what you have learned about the writing process, you can make any writing assignment easier to manage.

When your instructor gives you a writing assignment, write the due date on your calendar. Then work backward from the due date to set aside blocks of time when you will work on the assignment. Always plan at least two sessions of writing time per assignment, so that you are not trying to move from step 1 to step 5 in one evening. Trying to work that fast is stressful, and it does not yield great results. You will plan better, think better, and write better if you space out the steps.

Ideally, you should set aside at least three separate blocks of time to work on a writing assignment: one for prewriting and outlining, one for drafting, and one for revising and editing. Sometimes those steps may be compressed into just a few days. If you have a couple of weeks to work on a paper, space out the five steps over multiple sessions. Long-term projects, such as research papers, require more time for each step.

In certain situations you may not be able to allow time between the different steps of the writing process. For instance, you may be asked to write in class or complete a brief response paper overnight. If the time available is very limited, apply a modified version of the writing process (as you would do for an essay exam). It is still important to give the assignment thought and effort. However, these types of assignments are less formal, and instructors may not expect them to be as polished as formal papers. When in doubt, ask the instructor about expectations, resources that will be available during the writing exam, and if they have any tips to prepare you to effectively demonstrate your writing skills.

Each Monday in Crystal’s Foundations of Education class, the instructor distributed copies of a current news article on education and assigned students to write a one-and-one-half- to two-page response that was due the following Monday. Together, these weekly assignments counted for 20 percent of the course grade. Although each response took just a few hours to complete, Crystal found that she learned more from the reading and got better grades on her writing if she spread the work out in the following way:

MONDAY	TUESDAY	WEDNESDAY	THURSDAY	FRIDAY	SATURDAY	SUNDAY
Article response assigned.		Read article, prewrite, and outline response paper.		Draft response.		Revise and edit response.

For more detailed guidelines on how to plan for a long-term writing project, see Chapter 11 “Writing from Research: What Will I Learn?” .

Setting Goals

One key to succeeding as a student and as a writer is setting both short- and long-term goals for yourself. You have already glimpsed the kind of short-term goals a student might set. Crystal wanted to do well in her Foundations of Education course, and she realized that she could control how she handled her weekly writing assignments. At 20 percent of her course grade, she reasoned, those assignments might mean the difference between a C and a B or between a B and an A.

By planning carefully and following through on her daily and weekly goals, Crystal was able to fulfill one of her goals for the semester. Although her exam scores were not as high as she had hoped, her consistently strong performance on writing assignments tipped her grade from a B+ to an A−. She was pleased to have earned a high grade in one of the required courses for her major. She was also glad to have gotten the most out of an introductory course that would help her become an effective teacher.

How does Crystal’s experience relate to your own college experience?

To do well in college, it is important to stay focused on how your day-to-day actions determine your long-term success. You may not have defined your career goals or chosen a major yet. Even so, you surely have some overarching goals for what you want out of college: to expand your career options, to increase your earning power, or just to learn something new. In time, you will define your long-term goals more explicitly. Doing solid, steady work, day by day and week by week, will help you meet those goals.

In this exercise, make connections between short- and long-term goals.

For this step, identify one long-term goal you would like to have achieved by the time you complete your degree. For instance, you might want a particular job in your field or hope to graduate with honors.
Next, identify one semester goal that will help you fulfill the goal you set in step one. For instance, you may want to do well in a particular course or establish a connection with a professional in your field.
Review the goal you determined in step two. Brainstorm a list of stepping stones that will help you meet that goal, such as “doing well on my midterm and final exams” or “talking to Professor Gibson about doing an internship.” Write down everything you can think of that would help you meet that semester goal.
Review your list. Choose two to three items, and for each item identify at least one concrete action you can take to accomplish it. These actions may be recurring (meeting with a study group each week) or one time only (calling the professor in charge of internships).
Identify one action from step four that you can do today. Then do it.

Using College Resources

One reason students sometimes find college overwhelming is that they do not know about, or are reluctant to use, the resources available to them. Some aspects of college will be challenging. However, if you try to handle every challenge alone, you may become frustrated and overwhelmed.

Universities have resources in place to help students cope with challenges. Your student fees help pay for resources such as a health center or tutoring, so use these resources if you need them. The following are some of the resources you might use if you find you need help:

Your instructor. If you are making an honest effort but still struggling with a particular course, set up a time to meet with your instructor and discuss what you can do to improve. He or she may be able to shed light on a confusing concept or give you strategies to catch up.
Your academic counselor. Many universities assign students an academic counselor who can help you choose courses and ensure that you fulfill degree and major requirements.
The academic resource center. These centers offer a variety of services, which may range from general coaching in study skills to tutoring for specific courses. Find out what is offered at your school and use the services that you need.
The writing center. These centers employ tutors to help you manage college-level writing assignments. They will not write or edit your paper for you, but they can help you through the stages of the writing process. (In some schools, the writing center is part of the academic resource center.)
The career resource center. Visit the career resource center for guidance in choosing a career path, developing a résumé, and finding and applying for jobs.
Counseling services. Many universities offer psychological counseling for free or for a low fee. Use these services if you need help coping with a difficult personal situation or managing depression, anxiety, or other problems.

Students sometimes neglect to use available resources due to limited time, unwillingness to admit there is a problem, or embarrassment about needing to ask for help. Unfortunately, ignoring a problem usually makes it harder to cope with later on. Waiting until the end of the semester may also mean fewer resources are available, since many other students are also seeking last-minute help.

Identify at least one college resource that you think could be helpful to you and you would like to investigate further. Schedule a time to visit this resource within the next week or two so you can use it throughout the semester.

Overview: College Writing Skills

You now have a solid foundation of skills and strategies you can use to succeed in college. The remainder of this book will provide you with guidance on specific aspects of writing, ranging from grammar and style conventions to how to write a research paper.

For any college writing assignment, use these strategies:

Plan ahead. Divide the work into smaller, manageable tasks, and set aside time to accomplish each task in turn.
Make sure you understand the assignment requirements, and if necessary, clarify them with your instructor. Think carefully about the purpose of the writing, the intended audience, the topics you will need to address, and any specific requirements of the writing form.
Complete each step of the writing process. With practice, using this process will come automatically to you.
Use the resources available to you. Remember that most colleges have specific services to help students with their writing.

For help with specific writing assignments and guidance on different aspects of writing, you may refer to the other chapters in this book. The table of contents lists topics in detail. As a general overview, the following paragraphs discuss what you will learn in the upcoming chapters.

Chapter 2 “Writing Basics: What Makes a Good Sentence?” through Chapter 7 “Refining Your Writing: How Do I Improve My Writing Technique?” will ground you in writing basics: the “nuts and bolts” of grammar, sentence structure, and paragraph development that you need to master to produce competent college-level writing. Chapter 2 “Writing Basics: What Makes a Good Sentence?” reviews the parts of speech and the components of a sentence. Chapter 3 “Punctuation” explains how to use punctuation correctly. Chapter 4 “Working with Words: Which Word Is Right?” reviews concepts that will help you use words correctly, including everything from commonly confused words to using context clues.

Chapter 5 “Help for English Language Learners” provides guidance for students who have learned English as a second language. Then, Chapter 6 “Writing Paragraphs: Separating Ideas and Shaping Content” guides you through the process of developing a paragraph while Chapter 7 “Refining Your Writing: How Do I Improve My Writing Technique?” has tips to help you refine and improve your sentences.

Chapter 8 “The Writing Process: How Do I Begin?” through Chapter 10 “Rhetorical Modes” are geared to help you apply those basics to college-level writing assignments. Chapter 8 “The Writing Process: How Do I Begin?” shows the writing process in action with explanations and examples of techniques you can use during each step of the process. Chapter 9 “Writing Essays: From Start to Finish” provides further discussion of the components of college essays—how to create and support a thesis and how to organize an essay effectively. Chapter 10 “Rhetorical Modes” discusses specific modes of writing you will encounter as a college student and explains how to approach these different assignments.

Chapter 11 “Writing from Research: What Will I Learn?” through Chapter 14 “Creating Presentations: Sharing Your Ideas” focus on how to write a research paper. Chapter 11 “Writing from Research: What Will I Learn?” guides students through the process of conducting research, while Chapter 12 “Writing a Research Paper” explains how to transform that research into a finished paper. Chapter 13 “APA and MLA Documentation and Formatting” explains how to format your paper and use a standard system for documenting sources. Finally, Chapter 14 “Creating Presentations: Sharing Your Ideas” discusses how to transform your paper into an effective presentation.

Many of the chapters in this book include sample student writing—not just the finished essays but also the preliminary steps that went into developing those essays. Chapter 15 “Readings: Examples of Essays” of this book provides additional examples of different essay types.

Key Takeaways

Following the steps of the writing process helps students complete any writing assignment more successfully.
To manage writing assignments, it is best to work backward from the due date, allotting appropriate time to complete each step of the writing process.
Setting concrete long- and short-term goals helps students stay focused and motivated.
A variety of university resources are available to help students with writing and with other aspects of college life.

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Being a Writer

Updated 16 April 2021

Subject Experience , Love , Writers

Downloads 43

Category Life , Literature

Topic Being a Writer , Relationship , Writing Experience

My relationship with writing

My relationship with writing has been neither a clean nor a hard sailing. I can, therefore, describe it as an average experience the place I have had successful moments in my writing punctuated with some difficulties. Therefore, my relationship with writing is a low profile relationship that cannot be termed as smooth or rocky in any case. The cause for this is that I have been an average writer with hindrances in some areas whilst I do better in other areas.

A flashback to the progress

A flashback to the progress due to the fact that the beginning of the semester can tell a lot about my relationship with writing. Having been a semester signified with numerous essay writing, a lot has opened up about my relationship with writing. I have had success in writing most of the writing activities, which have made me receive recommendation after recommendation. However, all the recommendations come with corrective lines from my professors. Although the writing is always good, I have been informed of my poor plot and flow of events in my writing. Therefore, I have had to redo my work repeatedly to achieve what my tutors wish from me.

More into this

More into this, I am a good researcher. I am capable of getting information relevant to the topic of writing required. I am also in a position to compose the information in my own words into credible writing as per the writing requirements. I can say that all my writing is creative and aligns to the topic of discussion. However, my writing is faced with a problem when it comes to referencing and quoting my sources. I am always in a dilemma when quoting or referencing my work due to lack of credible approach. In that context, I end up having the wrong citations that render my writing incomplete. I have therefore experienced a smooth going in my writing, which is punctuated with uncertainty hardships. I can, therefore, describe my relationship with writing as average since I do not achieve the critical status required despite being a good writer.

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Being a Writer
Subject Experience , Love , Writers. Downloads 43. Category Life , Literature. Topic Being a Writer , Relationship , Writing Experience. This sample was provided by a student, not a professional writer. Anyone has access to our essays, so likely it was already used by other students. Do not take a risk and order a custom paper from an expert.

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5 Reasons You Should Consider Becoming a Writer

1. Your job is to tell stories.

2. You make people feel more alive.

3. You can earn income from your passion.

4. You experience things more deeply.

5. You get to bring meaning to the world.

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