It’s the time of year for gift giving. And it’s not always easy to find great gifts for writers. How do you wrap up a publishing contract? So I’ve gathered up twelve wonderful pieces of writing advice that I’ve gathered in notebooks over the years. Hopefully these carry you through the next year of writing.
- “When you’re writing, think about how word choice can show readers your unique voice, your signature perspective, and your personal style. Then embrace your imperfections in order to activate your unique voice. ” –Lesa Cline-Ransome
- “If you know someone better equipped to tell the story, hold the microphone for them.”
- “To really draw readers in, give your main character a relatable problem.” – Rachael Stein
- Edit for brevity.
- Know your audience. If you’re writing for kids, but you don’t spend any time with kids, it’s time to change that.
- There’s no such thing as too much research.
- Ask yourself the questions a kid reader would ask.
- Spend as much time reading as you do writing.
- Protect your writing time.
- Don’t pitch agents in their DMs.
- You can write a book to explore what you are struggling to handle.
- Truth is not universal.