7 Writing Tips from 2020

1. Check, recheck and recheck the rechecking

When submitting to any publisher, magazines, and the like, make sure to check for any specifications.

I make the terrible mistake of forgetting to do that. Some publishing houses are incredibly particular. A slight intervention with their specifications could simply have your entry disqualified despite the quality of your story.

Check for the formatting specifications, mode of submission, date of submission, other specifications, and most importantly, the prompt if given.

2. Don't get too many characters in your story.

Remember that feeling of reading the book and seeing this character name pop up and you had to skim back three pages to go and look back at who exactly that was. It gets even more terrible for the reader if you have too many James, Jacks, Jakes, Johns and Jackies all in one story.

3. Remember that the reader doesn't know everything

While you may know everything about your story, your characters and their feelings, your reader doesn't. Lay your story out in front of the reader as though you were telling a little child if you have to. We don't want any misunderstandings or confusions now, do we?

Although it's really difficult, it can help if you learn to read your own story as though it were written by someone else.

4. Sometimes, it's okay to write only for yourself.

That is just the opposite of what I was saying in the last sentence but I had to include this here. There are times when I've written stories, quotes or poems well aware that the reader wouldn't understand a single word off it due to the lack of context. Sometimes, that is completely fine (maybe not if you're sending in your writing to be published or into a contest).

Readership for your writing is of high importance, but just because your readers prefer something you don't write, you shouldn't be changing your writing style or genre or anything for that matter. Remember that the moment you begin writing for others, to be congratulated, to be published, to earn or for any other reason other than you, you've begun to step up on the staircase to slowly losing your art.

5. Try Writing Sprints

A writing sprint is simply when a few people, or you alone, decide on a particular timeframe and write only. Some people do 15 minute sprints, while others prefer to do 25 minutes. Choose what works best for you.

I tuned in for the NaNoWriMo Sprint Reedsy held on 13th of November and I was quite happy with what I could write in their 3 sprints of 15 minutes each. Here's a link to one of Reedsy's NaNoWriMo Sprints. My comment has a quick appearance on the livestream too!

6. Creating an ambience

I've noticed that writers love writing in libraries, cafés, and other such places. Due to COVID-19, we've been finding ourselves unable to visit these places. Instead, you can watch an ambience video on YouTube as you sit down to write. There are several videos that give you the ambience of Coffee Shops, Libraries and the like.

Some writers prefer using typing sounds or scratching of pen sounds. When I type on my laptop and listen to these typing sounds, it helps me type faster. Here are YouTube links to a few of my favourites.

New York Public Library Ambience by WALKING on The Street

Typing sounds by ASMR PPOMO

Tokyo Coffee Shop Sounds by Jun's Tokyo Stroll

7. Try tracking your writing submissions

I'm usually that friend that keeps using a timetable and organiser for everything. I wrote down the submissions I had to make in a diary for the first few months of the year, and then used Microsoft To-Do for the months in the middle, and moved on to a SpreadSheet Tracker by the end of November.

I find that writing the submissions I had to make in diaries was more productive than using a digital To-Do list. I've just been exploring and am starting to get used to the SpreadSheet tracker. You could choose whatever works best for you.

The reason I say this is for two reasons. Firstly, it helps you keep track of the submissions you have to make. This way, you won't miss out on the submission deadlines by accident. Secondly, it gives you a sense of accomplishment and motivates you to write more.

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Please note that this post is not sponsored by any of the content creators mentioned here.

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