Writing Tips By 3 Popular Authors
I’m always looking to learn from other writers. As I progressed into having my own writing voice and my own style of telling stories, I’ve found various lessons and insights that were helpful. Here is a collection from three authors I’ve enjoyed.
Robert Heinelein’s Rules of Writing:
1. You must write.
2. You must finish what you write.
3. You must refrain from rewriting, except to editorial order.
4. You must put the work on the market.
5. You must keep the work on the market until it is sold.
6. Start Working on something else.
Heinlein’s rules were the very first set of writing tips I remember reading. Of course, this was a long time ago and the industry has changed a lot since he wrote those rules, especially in regards to Rules #4 and #5.
Kurt Vonnegut’s Basic Tips for Writing:
1. Use the time of a total stranger in such a way that he or she will not feel the time was wasted.
2. Give the reader at least one character he or she can root for.
3. Every character should want something, even if it is only a glass of water.
4. Every sentence must do one of two things—reveal character or advance the action.
5. Start as close to the end as possible.
6. Be a sadist. No matter how sweet and innocent your leading characters, make awful things happen to them—in order that the reader may see what they are made of.
7. Write to please just one person. If you open a window and make love to the world, so to speak, your story will get pneumonia.
8. Give your readers as much information as possible as soon as possible. To heck with suspense. Readers should have such complete understanding of what is going on, where and why, that they could finish the story themselves, should cockroaches eat the last few pages.
I included Vonnegut’s tips because I love everything that has anything to do with him. His voice as a writer made a big impact on me and 'Slaughterhouse-Five’ is one of my all-time favorite books. I also enjoy how frank he is in everything he says, even his writing advice.
Stephen King’s Tips for Becoming a Better Writer:
1. Get to the point.
2. Write a draft, then let it rest.
3. Cut down your text.
4. Be relateable and honest.
5. Don’t care too much what others may think.
6. Read a lot.
7. Write a lot.
Stephen King’s tips are last because I relate to them the most. If I were going to suggest some tips for aspiring authors they would most resemble the list King put together.
For another list of writing tips, check out an article the Guardian posted a couple years ago, with writing tips by the likes of Margaret Atwood, Elmore Leonard, Richard Ford, Neil Gaiman, and others.
If these tips help at least one aspiring writer, then they have served their purpose. If you’ve found other writing tips that are particularly useful, I’d love to hear them.
Robert Heinelein’s Rules of Writing:
1. You must write.
2. You must finish what you write.
3. You must refrain from rewriting, except to editorial order.
4. You must put the work on the market.
5. You must keep the work on the market until it is sold.
6. Start Working on something else.
Heinlein’s rules were the very first set of writing tips I remember reading. Of course, this was a long time ago and the industry has changed a lot since he wrote those rules, especially in regards to Rules #4 and #5.
Kurt Vonnegut’s Basic Tips for Writing:
1. Use the time of a total stranger in such a way that he or she will not feel the time was wasted.
2. Give the reader at least one character he or she can root for.
3. Every character should want something, even if it is only a glass of water.
4. Every sentence must do one of two things—reveal character or advance the action.
5. Start as close to the end as possible.
6. Be a sadist. No matter how sweet and innocent your leading characters, make awful things happen to them—in order that the reader may see what they are made of.
7. Write to please just one person. If you open a window and make love to the world, so to speak, your story will get pneumonia.
8. Give your readers as much information as possible as soon as possible. To heck with suspense. Readers should have such complete understanding of what is going on, where and why, that they could finish the story themselves, should cockroaches eat the last few pages.
I included Vonnegut’s tips because I love everything that has anything to do with him. His voice as a writer made a big impact on me and 'Slaughterhouse-Five’ is one of my all-time favorite books. I also enjoy how frank he is in everything he says, even his writing advice.
Stephen King’s Tips for Becoming a Better Writer:
1. Get to the point.
2. Write a draft, then let it rest.
3. Cut down your text.
4. Be relateable and honest.
5. Don’t care too much what others may think.
6. Read a lot.
7. Write a lot.
Stephen King’s tips are last because I relate to them the most. If I were going to suggest some tips for aspiring authors they would most resemble the list King put together.
For another list of writing tips, check out an article the Guardian posted a couple years ago, with writing tips by the likes of Margaret Atwood, Elmore Leonard, Richard Ford, Neil Gaiman, and others.
If these tips help at least one aspiring writer, then they have served their purpose. If you’ve found other writing tips that are particularly useful, I’d love to hear them.
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So... how are you enjoying 50 Shades of Grey so far? : )
One of my favorite writing rule is number one on Vonnegut's list, but it is very difficult to really know when one is actually following it.
Hakon, that's very true. And it directly relates to one of the rules Margaret Atwood provides in the Guardian link. She says that what one person finds incredibly interesting, another person will think to be a waste of time.
Yes, people have different tastes, and because of that one is never going to please everybody.
I read the book from which I assume you took King's tips. "On writing" is its name if I recall correctly. Interesting to say the least. And very accesible. Well, it is also part biography.As I see it, first thing is "write" :P Then, write even if you don't feel like it. Write every day, almost every day if you are really busy with other things (like a job, because you have to feed your ass :P). Write even if that writing is not good.
I wish I could write, not necessarily as a career (most likely I will have a career in law, as this is what my job is right now), but for me. Why? 1. for my peace of mind, as a meaning to get disconnected from this world, its roughness or my thoughts, my fears etc. 2. because "If you can't find what you are looking for (in other people's books), then write it yourself". I am trying to find that book, that has in it exactly what I want, but I can't quite find it, so maybe I should write it. That book I would want to discover on the shelves someday.
But I am lazy, and afraid. Writing, as working, is something (in my opinion) that has to be constant, not today and maybe 2 months from now. Afraid, because I feel I can't write, something more than amateurish and something more than 2 pages long.
So that's why my "tips" are those above.
And don't forget to change that "o" with "a" in Gaiman :P
John wrote: "2. because "If you can't find what you are looking for (in other people's books), then write it yourself". I am trying to find that book, that has in it exactly what I want, but I can't quite find it, so maybe I should write it. That book I would want to discover on the shelves someday."This reminds me of a quote by Toni Morrison, speaking about one of her earliest books: "I wrote it because it was the book I wanted to read and it didn't exist yet." That's also the driving factor in why I write the types of books I write. They are very polarizing, with people tending to either love them or hate them, but they are definitely the books I would want to read, and so I write them.
Considering that some of King's books are monster tomes of 500+ plus pages, I love his tip Number 3. :D(btw I love King.)
There are lots of 'rules' out there. (Some of us prefer to think of them as guidelines.) One thing to remember, this is advice from established, successful writers. They are offering what has made them successful. Not everything works for everybody. And the best rule I know is simply this: Write. I am on other writing forums and one common problem I see among new writers, whether they be old or young, is constantly seeking out 'answers' or looking for critiques on their work. They want to know:
What is good, what is bad; how do I fix it, what do I do now; what tense should I use, POV?; what about adverbs, what about show not tell; what about starting with a hook, or starting with background; should I outline, or fly by the seat of my pants; and what about betas; and what about that writing teacher who told me...
And on and and on ...
The problem is so few of these new writers are actually writing. Anything.
So the first, last and best rule (in my writing book) is write. Just write something, anything, good or bad, for yourself or for others, to be published or not. Just write.
Seriously, you would be surprised how many new writers - or those who want to write - do not do this.
I appreciate your lists, Chris. I, too, am a big fan of Vonnegut. My other favorite writer's tips are Elmore Leonard's, i.e., #10,"Try to leave out the part readers tend to skip."
Thank you for the list! And I agree with John: for me the cardinal rule is to write every day. Even if it's just one paragraph, or one scene, write every day.
Ginney, I was just saying the other day how I have Vonnegut's 'The Sirens of Titan' on my bookshelf and won't read it just because I like knowing there is still something of his I can read for the first time. (one day)Ronel, I definitely agree. The rules/suggestions/etc are great, and I've gotten use out of a few of them, but just sitting down and actually writing is the only absolute must. Good to remind myself of that sometimes.
Re: Vonnegut.
The other day I had to make a "tough" choice:
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