In need of some sage writing tips and not sure where to turn?
Sometimes finding the right writing advice can be next to impossible, especially if you’ve never been to a writer’s workshop.
Even then, some of the advice you receive at such workshops can be downright questionable if not utterly useless. So what’s an aspiring writer to do?
Well, when in doubt, turn to the Internet!
The World Wide Web is not only a fantastic resource for cooking recipes and DIY projects, but it’s also a phenomenal writing hub if you know where to look.
You can find some of the best tips, tricks, and guidance from some of the world’s top experts and professional writers.
In this post, you’ll find 51 top articles, which contain the best writing tips you can find online. This list has been broken down into categories based on profession to help every writer find the best tips for their work.
The Best Advice for Writers in General
1. 34 Writing Tips that Will Make you a Better Writer
Sometimes the best advice you can ever get as a writer doesn’t come from experts, bestselling authors, or writing teachers. Sometimes we learn the best tricks of the trade from our peers. That’s exactly what Daily Writing Tips, a website committed to helping writers from every field, compiled in this article. This post features 34 tips written by readers and fellow writers, covering everything from proofreading advice to reading suggestions that will improve your writing.
Articles for Fiction Writers
2. 10 Tips for Writing
The author of the fantastic writer’s resource, Create Your Writer Platform, Chuck Sambuchino knows more than a thing or two about writing. In this piece written for Writer’s Digest, he gives some refreshing tips on how to work through writer’s block, stay focused, and hone your craft. One of the best tidbits of guidance Sambuchino has to give: take a breather from social media—thereby freeing up more of your time and energy for that best seller.
3. 21 Harsh But Eye-Opening Writing Tips from the Great Authors
The best way to learn is to take a page—or pages—from the playbook of writers that have come before you, and sometimes that means accepting some hard truths (no matter how much it burns your ego). That’s exactly what you’re going to get with this Thought Catalog post, which compiles bits of advice from famed artists, such Ernest Hemingway, Jack London, and Harper Lee. Some of these quotes you may already be familiar with. However, others may force you to face some serious facts about yourself and the world around you, such as Oscar Wilde’s searing—although apt—line, “Consistency is the last refuge of the unimaginative.”
4. Ten rules for writing fiction (parts one and two)
Similar to the previous Thought Catalog article, this is a list of tips from some of the best contemporary authors. Rather than focusing on harsh truths though, these authors have some useful advice in terms of the “do’s” and “don’ts” of the novel industry. If you’ve always wanted to take a course with some of the best authors around, but couldn’t get into Yale or Harvard, these articles serve as a free crash course, with tips from some of the world’s finest writers including Elmore Leonard, Philip Pulman, and Zadie Smith.
5. 42 Fiction Writing Tips for Novelists
If you’re looking for an extensive guide, with a variety of tips on how to improve your writing, then you’ll really enjoy Writing Forward. This is a blog dedicated to helping writers improve. In this article, Melissa Donovan gives 42 helpful ideas that you can implement in your routine to maximize your productivity and creativity, ranging from thinking about symbolism in your text to adding subplots to your novel.
6. Clean up your Narration: Four Tips for Fiction Writers
In this fun and witty article, Write to Done helps you improve one very specific—and ultra important—part of your novel: Narration. The fact of the matter is, if you can master narration you can write a best seller. Good narration is what keeps readers coming back for more, which is why brushing up on this skill is important. However, narration can be daunting. This article provides you with some very real, implementable tips on how to tackle the narration leviathan without feeling like you’re sinking in detail.
Articles for Nonfiction Writers
7. 5 Nonfiction Writing Techniques That Will Keep Readers Turning Pages
Fiction and Non-fiction have a lot more in common than you’d like to think. As The Write Life proves in this article, many of the circumstances that surround fiction writing (like needing to hook your audience) also apply to non-fiction. For that reason, many of the same techniques can be used to develop the best book possible. The best advice author Alexander Limberg has to offer? Don’t let your writing feel stale! Liven it up and be imaginative about the information you’re presenting.
8. 54 Tips to Improve Your Non-Fiction Writing
Writing non-fiction is challenging, and it can seem especially trying if you’re a beginner. Need a clear guide on the standard “do’s” and “don’ts”? Check out this blog post, which provides 54 different ways to enhance your writing. The post features a variety of ideas to help enhance the quality of your work, including becoming a better reader and adding to your vocabulary on a regular basis.
9. How to Write Your Memoir
If you’re into writing non-fiction stories about yourself or your family, then you might want to consider writing your memoir. Not sure where to begin? Well, this Reader’s Digest article can help steer you in the right direction. The first step in writing an intriguing story about your life? Getting a perspective about why you’re writing it, according to the article’s author, Joe Kita.
10. Nine Things You Need To Know Before You Write Your Non-Fiction Book
When it comes to non-fiction especially, you need to analyze the market, your potential readership, and even think about your idea from all angles. That’s where this article, published on The Creative Penn, can help. It’s easy to get an idea and write the book, but understanding why the book matters (and convincing other people) won’t just make your books sell, it can also improve your writing tenfold because you will have a stronger grasp of the topic.
11. The Little Known Secret to Writing a Bestselling Nonfiction Book
We hear a lot about what it takes to write a bestselling novel, but we don’t talk nearly enough about how to write bestselling non-fiction. According to Chad Allen, however, there’s a formula. The magic all happens in the research you do before you write the book. The more research you’ve done and the more groundbreaking the topic, the more likely it is to become a best seller.
Articles for Beginners
12. 10 Tips for Beginning Writers
If you’re new to writing, you’ll find that a lot of your insecurities can impact your flow and productivity. Bestselling author K.M Weiland has a few tips to help you get around those issues of self-doubt. The first and last rule according to Weiland? Become a writer only if you love it. If you’re doing the work for any other reason (like fame or fortune) you might be seriously disappointed.
13. Creative Writing 101
If the idea of writing a book, starting a blog, or even putting together a cookbook has crossed your mind, then you probably want to check out the Creative Writing 101 guide. In this extensive handbook, new writers can gain a familiarity with the different types of writing and explore which one best suits their interest. Never tried poetry but think it might be fun? This handbook gives you the break down on the techniques. However, the best part of this article is probably the mistakes section, which gives you a breakdown of the most common mistakes that writers make so you can avoid them.
14. Beginner—Don’t Write That Novel!
We all want to believe that there’s a little Hemingway inside of us just desperate to come out on the page. However, the fact of the matter is: not everyone is meant to write a novel. In fact, many writers find their success lies in writing short stories, rather than full on tomes. Alex Keegan, a writing teacher and editor of 7th Quark explains why. Originally published for The Internet Writing Journal in 1997, the advice that Keegan gives is still relevant. Even if you have the longing to write a novel, Keegan advises all writers to start off small in order to strengthen their craft.
15. 12 Top Writing Tips for Beginners
If you’re adamant about writing a book, then there’s a list of questions and concerns you need to consider carefully. In an article written for the Alliance of Independent Authors, Alison Jack walks you through each of the 12 most important tricks of the trade. Her article provides a variety of unique tips that many creative writing teachers won’t dare to tell you, such as why you don’t need (and probably should have) an epilogue.
16. Protecting Your Work
Something that people don’t tell you about when you first start to write is the importance of knowing how copyright works and how to protect yourself (and your work) from scamming and theft. If you don’t know the basics of copyright in relation to literary work, then this article is definitely for you. It provides a brilliant and simple breakdown of how copyright operates and how to protect yourself from fraud.
Articles for Bloggers
17. 8 Things Every Blogging Writer Should Know
Blogging is both a challenging and rewarding task. Challenging because once you put your work out there, your readers have the opportunity to comment and interact with it. But that’s also why it can be rewarding. However, since blogging is so different from other forms of writing (like novels, non-fiction books, etc) because the publication and feedback process is almost instantaneous, there are a few things to keep in mind. The most important, according to Writer’s Digest, is to not taking comments personally—especially if they’re of the trolling nature.
18. 16 Blogging Tips for Beginning Writers
If you’re not familiar with Grammarly, you need to be. Whether you’re a seasoned veteran or just starting out, Grammarly can help ensure that your writing is always polished. So who better to write the guidebook on blogging? If you’re new to blogging or are just looking for a fresh angle for your next post, this article has some great ideas for how to write blogs that attract readers rather than scaring them away.
19. Write Like a Pro: 5 Techniques Top Bloggers Use to Write Successful Blog Posts
Because the blog writing process happens in real-time (i.e. you write it, edit it, and then publish) you have to use different strategies to attract readers. It’s not enough just to have amazing content since Internet readers tend to be more inclined to hit the back button. This article gives you a range of style and structural techniques that are rarely talked about, but incredibly important when it comes to getting readers to stay on your web page.
20. 10 Writing Tips for Bloggers
Since blogs are shorter than novels, short stories (in most cases), and even some columns, you need to master the art of clear, concise writing. And that’s exactly what Amy Johnson, a LifeHack contributor, gives you in this post. As she points out, you can blog about almost any subject you can think of—so it’s really important that you find a subject you know a lot about and enjoy. Another key point: don’t be one of those bloggers that go off on tangents.
21. 15 Outstanding Tips for Blog Writers from Popular Bloggers
They say that one of the best ways to learn how to write is to familiarize yourself with the work of the best writers. That still applies to blogging. Even though blog writing is a much newer field compared to classical literature, there’s an infinite number of blogs out there. Finding the best ones and reading them on a steady basis can help you get a better sense of where to go from there. Not sure where to start? This article gives you a list of some of the most successful bloggers. Even better, they have advice on how to become a better blogger yourself.
Articles for Business Writers
22. Ten Tips for Better Business Writing
Whether you’re a business columnist, or you own a business, writing plays an integral part of almost everything you do. That’s why it’s really important to know how to craft emails, presentations, and even reports in a way that’s both professional and interesting. Refer to this Forbes guide by Helen Coster on better business writing.
23. 12 Tips for Better Business Writing
When it comes down to it, skilled writing can be the difference between a booming business and a failing one. I know, that sounds over the top. But seriously, it’s the truth. Think about any advertisement, blog post, or even radio spot you’ve ever heard. Whether you decided to do what that ad was asking is a direct reflection of the creator’s writing strength. For that reason, there are 12 crucial steps you have to take into account when writing any business document as Lifehack contributor, Dustin Wax, points out.
24. 10 Quick Tips for Better Business Writing
Entrepreneur is a great resource for any aspiring enterpriser. It provides a wealth of information on almost every business subject, including how to become a better writer. In this article, Gregory Ciotti focuses on the 10 things that really good business writers know that distinguishes them from others. So what do the good business writers seem to have in common? They keep it simple and brief.
25. 7 Quick Tips for Better Business Writing
Like Entrepreneur, the online business forum Inc. is another fantastic website to visit for all kinds of business advice. If you’re looking for some quick and simple tips to improve your business writing overnight, refer to this post by Christina DesMarais. You can apply these tips to emails, proposals, or memos to give your writing that professional flare it might be missing.
26. 10 Editing Tips for Business Writers
Editing is important no matter the kind of writing you’re doing, but it’s especially important when you’re writing for business. Professor Richard Nordquist gives ten tips to write (and edit) the most effective emails, reports, and memos. This is a particularly great resource if you’re looking for a way to cut down on excessive wordiness but aren’t sure where to start.
Articles for Journalists
27. Six Tips for Writing News Stories That Will Grab a Reader’s Attention
Journalists are the unsung heroes of the writing world. You have to be creative, crafty, and professional, while also getting to the heart of the matter. So how can you make your writing do all three things? Tony Rogers has some answers, and many of them are by the book when it comes to journalism. If you’re new to the field then this is definitely the intro guide for you.
28. News writing
If you’re looking for the key elements of what makes a news story, then Peter Cole has a real treat for you in his article in The Guardian. In it, you’ll learn exactly what to put in the intro of your story, the bulk of your piece, with addtional advice on how to use quotes, and when and when not to use adjectives thrown in for good measure.
29. Reporting and Writing Basics
Reuters is one of the best hubs for news. It also follows that it’s one of the best resources for learning how to write great columns, articles, and news stories that are interesting and informative. Check out this guide for a practical approach to news writing.
30. How to Write Like a Journalist- 4 Key Elements
If you’ve always had an inclination towards journalism, but have never thought about trying it until now, there are four basics you have to get down fast. What’s more, even if you’re not a journalist, sometimes you’ll find yourself in a situation where you have to be able to write in the same style, such as if you work in marketing or if you need to write a press release. This is a great guide to getting a handle on what journalism is all about.
31. News Writing Tips for Beginners
There are some journalists who just inherently know how to write a good news story. And then there’s the rest of us. If you’re an aspiring journalist, never fret. You can learn how to write an incredible story if you keep the tips and techniques provided by Media Helping Media, a free internet resource for journalists, in mind.
32. 15 Writing Tips from a Journalist turned PR pro
Frankly, PR isn’t easy. If you’ve had to write a PR editorial, you’ve probably felt this sentiment. The big question that a lot of journalists find themselves asking is “Why should my reader care?” If this is something that’s crossed your mind more than once, Ragan’s PR Daily recommends building a solid outline by following 15 steps.
Articles for Advertising
33. 5 Tips for Writing an Advertisement
Whether you’re a social media manager, a copy expert, or creative advertiser, being able to write a good advertisement that’s interesting, informative, and brief is a must. Solid advertisement can help you attract customers, sell a brand, and even land you bigger and better deals in your business. Thinking about giving it a shot? Check out this article for the basics.
34. The 10 Commandments of Great Copywriting
Looking to expand your business? Well, if you decide to go the marketing route then you’ll need to know the basics of captivating copywriting, including e-mails. Sound intimidating? Never fear, this Entrepreneur article by Gail Goodman covers all the bases. With this article in hand, you’ll have a guide to all the things you should, and shouldn’t do, when crafting your next email marketing campaign.
35. 7 Tips on How to Write Compelling and Effective Ad Copy
Google Ads runs millions of advertisements on a daily basis. So who better to give you advice on the most effective techniques, especially if you plan to advertise on Google? Take a look at this community article for some ideas on how to write a great ad. The incredible thing about this article is that it gives you a crash course in the important details of writing great copy. So even if this is your first time trying your hand at an ad, if you use these basics, you can write a great first draft.
36. David Ogilvy’s 7 Tips for Writing Copy that Sells
The greats in any field have a lot to say about how to do something successfully. That’s especially the case with David Ogilvy, an advertiser so famous he’s now considered the Father of Advertising. So what are some tips you can learn from the late and great Ogilvy? Take a look at the above article to find out.
37. 7 Tips for Writing Effective Short Copy
Sometimes short and sweet is the best way to go, particularly when it comes to advertising. Christina Gillick shares the best ways to write a short ad that attracts customers and actually gets them to do what it is you want them to do.
Articles with Step by Step Writing Guides
38. How to Write a Novel Step by Step
Even after you have all the details on what it takes to write an enthralling novel, you might find yourself wondering, “where do I start?” Refer to this guide if you need a step-by-step breakdown of the process, or are just looking for some new techniques to add to your routine.
39. How to Write a Short Story: 10 Steps to a Great Read
Although they tend to be shorter than novels, quality short stories take just as much planning, editing, and revising. Here’s a list of 10 steps to follow if you want to write (and finish!) a short story. Some of these tips walk you through the revision process while others provide you with exercises that will help strengthen your plot and storyline in general.
40. How to Write Your Best Dissertation: Step-By-Step Guide
Let’s be honest. Students are writers, whether they know it (or like it) or not. If you happen to be one of the lucky people in line for their Ph.D., then it’s high time you find a way to write a compelling dissertation. Not only is your dissertation your ticket to getting your Ph.D., but it can also end up becoming your first book, so it’s really important that you write the best thesis you can. But where do you begin when it comes to making your dissertation a compelling read? EduGeeksClub has you covered.
41. Essay Tips: 7 Tips on Writing an Effective Essay
The same goes for essay writing as well. Writing a good essay can make a world of difference when it comes to your grades, college admissions, and even building up a list of publications for your resume. So don’t cut corners. Take the time to find the best way to write a good essay that’s worth reading. Believe me, your teachers will thank you and you just might find that your future self will thank you as well.
42. How to Write Poetry
One type of writing that often gets overlooked, even though we’re always listening to songs and music in the car, is poetry. If you have a passion for poetry, or are even slightly curious, use this guide as a starting point to find your best form. You can even use this guide as a reference list if you decide to experiment with multiple types of poems.
Articles with Tips on Editing
43. 25 Editing Tips for Tightening Your Copy
Editing can be challenging, but it’s a skill you have to master if you plan on having any kind of successful writing career. If you’re a copywriter, then this is a great guide on what to look for when editing your work, with tips on how to develop an exceptional copy while avoiding some key mistakes that can bring the quality of your work down.
44. Writing Tips: Five Editing Principles
Writing classes are great place to go if you want to learn some useful tips for editing your own work. However, if you can’t find a class or workshop nearby, you can always benefit from joining one online. Even better, you can find workshop resources, such as the Center for Writing Studies, without having to actually join a workshop. Whether you’re a busy professional by day and a writer by night, or if you simply want the advice without the hassle (or the attached fee) then these writing tips are a great place to start when it comes to enhancing your writing in general.
45. 5 Tips for Editing Your Own Writing
Of course, editing isn’t all about proofreading, but you’d be surprised how essential proofreading is. For ideas on how to clean up your writing, take a look at this article. It provides you with some of the finest advice for being your own editor and creating the best version of your manuscript or draft.
46. 7 Quick Writing Tips (and Editing Advice) to Bring Your Words to Life
One of the biggest struggles that any writer faces is writing something that keeps readers engaged. Obviously, your work isn’t going to be perfect on the first draft, but editing can feel monotonous and painful. Something that can make the process bearable is looking at it as an opportunity to add layers to your text. Use the above guide as a checklist when going through your next draft.
47. Editing and the Writing Craft. Tips from an Editor
For fiction writers especially, editing can seem like a daunting task. There’s so much pressure to ensure your work is flawless and ready for other eyes, particularly if you plan on publishing. Joanna Penn, the mastermind of The Creative Penn, has your back, however. She provides readers with a list of commonly asked questions (and answers) that can help writers become their own gatekeepers in terms of editing.
Articles with Tips on Getting Writing Projects Completed
48. How to Finish What you Start: A Five-Step Plan for Writers
Starting a project is easy, but finishing it is the mark of true dedication. Are you one of those writers that struggle to get things done? Then this is the article for you. In it, Ali Luke, writer and writing coach, has some pretty great tips for getting organized and actually finishing your novel.
49. How to Write (and Finish) a Novel
Writing a book is great, but it feels even better when you can hold that finished product in your hand. Here’s a quick guide that can help you develop a game plan on how to finally finish your novel.
50. 20 Tips to help you finish your dissertation
If you’re on the road to your Ph.D., congrats! You’ve done all the research, put in the hours of studying, and maybe even taught a few courses. However, you still have to face the biggest challenge of all. Writing the dissertation. Although it might seem like a behemoth project at first, you can and will finish it if you follow these steps.
51. 5 Tips for Finishing a Writing Project
When it comes to any kind of writing, getting the project done is all about discipline. In the above article, you’ll find a few tips about how you can encourage yourself to buckle down and write, along with some fun ideas for how to hold yourself accountable and encourage yourself to continue pursuing your passion.
What do think of our list of articles containing writing tips? Which are your favorites? Any article we might have missed? Let us know in the comment section!
51 Top Articles Sharing the Very Best Writing Tips is an article from Writing Tips Oasis.
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[author] [author_image timthumb=’on’]https://writingtipsoasis.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/rof3.png[/author_image] [author_info]As a graduate from the University of Arizona in English and Creative Writing, Rofida Khairalla’s love for classical literature and post-modern fiction extends beyond the realm of books. She has provided her services independently as a freelance writer, and wrote on the news desk for the student-run newspaper, The Daily Wildcat. As an aspiring children’s book author, she’s refined her craft amongst the grand saguaros of the Southwest, and enjoys playing with her German Shepherd on the slopes of Mount Lemmon.[/author_info] [/author]