Keep Writing.

  All experts were once beginners. Mistakes are unavoidable and simply part of the process. It would be foolish to give up learning piano because you can’t play La Campanella after your first few weeks of training. Don’t stop writing because your first polished story doesn’t yet seem “publish worthy.” In all things, you won’t start at the top, but you can certainly work your way there. Here are 5 things you can work on to correct mistakes that beginner writers (all of us at one point) make. FAILURE TO HAVE A CORE IN STORY-TELLING Have you ever asked the simple question, “What’s your story about?” only to have the writer sit you down for 15 minutes to try and get you to understand the plot? This is because new writers often try to jam so much information and concepts into their story that it becomes cluttered. There are twenty lessons to their main character learns in their story. Fifteen different objectives they have to complete. Ten different antagonists to battle. Complexity can...

  I heard a surprising statistic on the Bestseller podcast a few days ago. The podcast revealed that roughly 80% of Americans have wanted to publish a book at some point — but fewer than 0.1% have actually done it . There are likely thousands of reasons aspiring writers don’t reach their goal: discouragement, lack of time, lack of resources, etc. Some reasons may be understandable. But it shouldn't be something you don't pursue because you don't know how to do it. To give you a boost on the incredibly difficult yet perfectly possible journey of writing a book, here are a few steps to get you there. CHOOSE A GENRE Hopefully, any aspiring writer considers themselves an avid reader. What genre do you gravitate toward? What type of television shows do you enjoy most? You may have to experiment with some genres before you find one you want to pursue. Be diverse in your search, but be sure to stick to one for your story. That will be important for publishers down the road. Once y...

Your characters should be the most relatable and realistic part of your story. Readers can't relate to killing dragons, but they can relate to the anxiety and pressure of battling adversity or a seemingly insurmountable task. Characters are the fabric of your story, find ways to bring them to life. Here are some ways how you can do just that. Use Real People As Influences There are traits in people, yourself included, that you can exaggerate and apply to your characters. Perhaps you have a little sister who is extremely picky or an obnoxiously sarcastic friend. Consider using these traits to build a foundation for your character. Deriving characteristics from real people is a great first step to building realistic characters. Give Characters Flaws It may be tempting to want your character to solve all the problems, never make mistakes, and just be perfect. Perfection is cool, but it’s the furthest thing from relatable or realistic. Allow your characters to have flaws, faults, and m...

  As an aspiring writer, you have likely heard plenty of advice. My personal advice to you is to take all the feedback you can and keep learning. Some advice is better than others, and some are just plain misunderstood. Here are some common writing myths that I'm not rejecting, but want to help you better understand.   Plotter vs Pantser: One or the Other These are two common writing styles. You have the plotter, who plots most of what will happen and how it happens before beginning the writing process. The contrast is the pantser, who begins writing without an outline and lets the plot shape itself. You may hear that you must be one or the other.   A popular plotter is J.K. Rowling. This should come as no surprise, considering the extent and intricacy of her seven Harry Potter novels. Rowling, who knew how her series would end even before the first novel was published, said, “I always have a basic outline, but I like to leave some things to be decided while I write.”...

Writers are like athletes. They're constantly looking for ways to improve their skills, to top themselves, and to deepen their knowledge of the craft. In other words, they don't allow themselves to stay comfortable where they are at. Wherever you may place yourself on the literary spectrum, from well-established author to aspiring writer, here are 5 easy exercises to improve your writing skills.  1. Increase Your Vocabulary Widening your vocabulary pool will make you a versatile and well-rounded writer. Here's one way you can do it: (1) As you read a novel, write down all the words you don't know. (2) Then, look them up in the dictionary. (3) Finally, practice using each word in a sentence the next time you write. I forget half of the things I look up. However, the moment I apply that knowledge, it's locked in my memory safe.  2. Build on Random Sentences   Select a random sentence from somewhere, perhaps a book or a movie, or even a conversation you've had. The...

There is no one way to write. Although there are rules which every writer must follow, the creator is ultimately the rule maker. However, any wise creator knows to ask for assistance. Writing is often a lonely journey but it doesn’t have to be traveled alone. After all, the best way to get somewhere you aspire to be is to ask the person who has been there.   Here are 8 writing tips from authors who have walked the path and know what it takes to get there. 1.  You may not write well every day, but you can always edit a bad page. You can’t edit a blank page. - Jodi Picoult This advice may seem obvious at first, but I believe it to be profound. The best way to improve at something is to practice. Don’t wait until you feel “inspired.” Make writing a habit and not just a hobby.  When I was 18, I participated in a church service and humanitarian mission that required me to learn a foreign language. Cebuano, the native language of the Central Philippines, did not come natur...