Writing is a continual learning process, so it’s important to keep practicing. Even great writers are continually honing their skills and experimenting with storytelling. We all have our unique writing voices, which are part of our style, so it’s important to embrace that as you enjoy the creative journey.
Here are 10 tips to take your writing to the next level:
Your characters should be well-rounded with complex motivations, strengths, flaws, and desires. Because we are all complex creatures with a range of motivations, strengths, flaws, and desires. So, make them relatable by giving them unique voices and personalities to connect with your readers.
This tip will be in a lot of writing advice posts because it’s that important. Instead of explicitly stating (or telling) the emotions or events, use descriptive language and vivid imagery to allow your readers to experience the story. Show characters’ actions, thoughts, and dialogue, which will reveal their emotions and convey information (which will help avoid info dumping).
Mastering dialogue may be lofty, especially for the newer writer, but look to always be improving. The better handle you can have on crafting your dialogue as realistic and engaging, the better off you will be. Well-crafted dialogue reveals character traits, advances the plot, and adds tension or conflict. Also, incorporate subtext, implied meanings, and verbal cues to add depth to conversations. Vary the speech patterns, vocabulary, and sentence structure to reflect unique characters. Because we humans talk in incomplete sentences, and we’re never (a vast majority of the time) speaking in perfect English (or whatever language you’re writing).
A clear beginning, middle, and end is important. An engaging opening hooks readers as it builds rising action that creates tension and conflict in the middle. Then the ending has a better chance to provide readers with a satisfying resolution. Don’t be afraid to experiment with different narrative structures, too, which can add complexity and intrigue. To paraphrase Shrek said in his eponym movie, people are like onions and you need to peal back the layers.
Avoid large information dumps. Find creative ways to integrate your characters’ backstories, world-building, or explanations into the narrative. It’s a slow leak because you have tens of thousands of words to tell the story. Use them.
Additionally, maintain a good pacing by alternating between action, dialogue, and introspection. This helps keep readers engaged and eager to know what happens next.
Engage the reader’s senses by incorporating sensory descriptions to enhance the atmosphere and immerse them in the story. Describe sights, sounds, smells, tastes, and textures to create a vivid and immersive experience.
When editing, focus on a sense or two as to not get overwhelmed. But don’t overdo your senses. You’re not constantly smelling or hearing or touching things in real life, or at least cognizant of it, so you’re characters shouldn’t as well.
Everyone wants to have an easy, relaxing life, but that’s boring for storytelling. That’s why it’s important to create internal and external conflicts to challenge your characters and drive the plot forward. Struggles, obstacles, and unexpected twists keep readers engaged, and more importantly invested, in your story’s conclusion.
Conflict isn’t the only thing that keeps a reader engaged. Readers want to see your characters evolve and change throughout the story. When developing arcs through challenges that force your characters to confront their flaws, they should also have difficult choices, and thus, they will learn valuable lessons.
Revise and polish your work meticulously. Cut unnecessary scenes, tighten sentences, and eliminate repetitive or wordy passages. Pay attention to grammar, punctuation, and consistency. Seek feedback from beta readers or join writing groups to gain fresh perspectives.
As the cliché goes, cut your darlings. Cut the words you worked so hard at producing, but in the end do not help the story. Unnecessary words, sentences, paragraphs, scenes, and probably chapters that don’t help move the story forward are slowing the reader by being a distraction.
Expanding your reading horizons helps you become a better writer. There are benefits for reading different genres, authors, and writing styles. I read a graphic novel recently and I think I learned some things about dialogue.
Ultimately, though, you should read in the genre you wish to write. How are you to write a detective novel if you’ve never read a detective novel (or even watched a detective movie or television series), read what you like, take notes of interesting ways stories are told. Accomplished writers know what they’re doing (most of them at least) but if you’re struggling with an aspect in your writing, see how they do it and learn from them.