The Best Writing Advice to Kick-Start Your Year
There is a lot of writing advice out there, from whether to use the Oxford comma to how long you should write each day. Truth is, writers shouldn’t be consumed by all writing advice. Otherwise, they’d never write. That isn’t to say that writers shouldn’t listen to other writers and learn from them. However, it’s best to take what benefits you and lose what doesn’t. So, without further ado, here is the best writing advice to kick-start your year.
Write Every Day (If Possible)
You’ve probably heard this advice a crazy amounts of times before, and it still holds true. Writing every day cultivates your talent and enriches your creative juices. Now, it doesn’t matter how much you write as long as you do write. Some of us only have one hour between work, school, family, and chores to sit down and write. Even if all you have is ten minutes, take advantage of it. Writing is the only way to become a better writer. Who knew?
Take A Break When You Feel Stuck
Don’t let anyone tell you that a writing break is bad. Sometimes we need to step away from our work to see what we’ve become too familiar with. So if you’re facing a writing slump, by all means take a break. Just don’t let that break last for weeks. And if you just finished writing a novel and need a break before you write another, take that break. In the meantime, relax, travel, and do all the things that inspire you.
Read Your Favorite Author’s Books to Feed Your Creativity
Reading is a great way to learn to write. In fact, I leaned the majority of writing rules through reading. I’m a big believer in the idea that reading will teach you better than any college course can (though college definitely adds on to that knowledge). Plus, when you read a book you enjoy, you become inspired, and that feeds your creative juices. As a writer, you must always read, but you probably knew that already.
Don’t Throw Away Terribly-Written Scenes
You’re guilty of this, aren’t you? Don’t worry; so am I! But this year, make a change. When you think you’ve written a terrible scene, don’t throw it away or delete it. Save it in another document or folder. It might not be as bad as you originally thought it was. Besides, you might come back to it later and find elements that truly speak out to you. NEVER EVER DELETE YOUR WRITING.
Write Down Your Writing Goals
Last but not least, this year you should start a new tradition and write down your yearly writing goals (if you don’t already do that). Create a goal map for yourself. For example, you can write down something like this: “By the end of 2019, I want to finish writing an entire novel. Each month, I will write roughly 7000 words, which is about 233 words written each day.” A simple goal map like this one makes your goal attainable. It’s not difficult to write 233 words each day (that’s less than an essay). If your goal is to finish a novel in six months, you would recalculate accordingly. Either way, writing down your goals is crucial.
This writing advice is simple for a reason: It helps you reach your goals without making you overwhelmed. That’s exactly why it’s the best advice of the year (and every year for the matter). So go write that novel and enjoy the process!
Be sure to subscribe to my newsletter for free monthly writing templates and writing exercises. In January’s newsletter, you’ll receive the “Show, Don’t Tell” writing exercise. Plus, you’ll always have access to all previous months’ freebies. Sign up to my newsletter in the sidebar on the right.
Also, be sure to check out my YouTube channel where I regularly post writing advice videos and writing humor skits!
The post The Best Writing Advice to Kick-Start Your Year appeared first on Nour Zikra.
