This post was originally published at Novelicious.com and is now at WritingTipsOasis.com. WritingTipsOasis.com acquired Novelicious.com in June 2022.
Fayette Fox’s debut novel, The Deception Artist, is published today and is about childhood and make-believe, truth and lies.
1) Make time for your writing. Even if you can only devote an hour a week, set yourself a goal and consider tracking your hours and word count with a spreadsheet so you can see how you’re doing.
2) Become a hungry reader. Think critically about other authors’ literary devices, what you like and what doesn’t work for you.
3) Avoid research rabbit holes. When you need just the right historical detail for a scene, rather than breaking your flow to embark on what may become a lengthy Google search, just make a placeholder (i.e. ***late ‘80s fashion) and keep steaming onwards.
4) Read your writing out loud. Any clunky prose or awkward dialogue will jump up and bite you.
5) Don’t refer to your writing as “just a hobby”. If you don’t take your writing seriously, why should anyone else? If you write, then you’re a writer. Own it and take pride in your craft.