This post was originally published at Novelicious.com and is now at WritingTipsOasis.com. WritingTipsOasis.com acquired Novelicious.com in June 2022.
Julia Llewellyn is a journalist and author. Her latest book is TEN MINUTES TO FALL IN LOVE. You can read our review here.
1) Don’t write unless you read. If you spend your evenings watching TV or on Facebook, rather than devouring your latest acquisition from the library, then writing is not the job for you.
2) As proved by the amazing success of 50 Shades of Grey, write what you want to read, not what you think others want to read. If you try to fake enthusiasm for a genre or subject it’ll show. Readers respond to your passion and enthusiasm.
3) Get a draft of the entire book down, rather than rewriting each sentence until it’s perfect. A bad finished product that can be reshaped is better than no finished product. Hemingway said: “First drafts are ****”, so remember that and hack on.
4) An hour a day’s concentrated writing with no internet connection is probably more valuable than nine hours interspersed with online dabbling. This is a lesson I preach endlessly but don’t follow. I should.
5) Try to find a writing buddy. Writing is a lonely, tough and usually not very lucrative process but your friends will think you’re sitting around in a negligee, nibbling bonbons and earning zillions every time you touch the keyboard. Someone who understands what you’re going through is invaluable.