The Best Writing Advice I Received This Year

As we come to the end of the year, I’m reflecting on the writing advice I’ve received.

I’m so grateful to those mentors, editors, and writers who have helped me along the way. Where would we writers be without people like that?

1. There is no “right way” to write—so write your way.

I struggled early on in my writing career to trust myself. For the longest time, I felt like my way of writing was wrong. I didn’t outline as so many other authors did. I even went to a writing workshop where the bestselling writing teacher advised us all to outline, no matter what.

Now, with two novels published and a third on the way (The Beached Ones, spring 2022), I’ve finally learned to relax and have faith in my process. I’ve also discovered that there are other authors I admire who write similarly, trusting the story to reveal itself as they go.

I’ll admit this process takes longer. I’ll never be a writer who can shell out one novel a year. (Not as long as I have to work full time, at least.) But it helps me create original stories that hold my interest and allows me to enjoy the writing.

Which is what matters most, right?

2. Good Writing Advice: Never give up!

You’ve heard this advice before. So have I. But it really came home to me this year.

I started writing The Beached Ones in 2012. I took a trip to research the journey the characters take in 2014. (Read more about that in the post, “Should You Travel to Research Your Novel?”)

Then I spent the next several years banging my head against a wall. I was blocked on the story and couldn’t figure out how to make it work. I started and stopped numerous times. I researched plot and story structure. I tried again. I ran into another wall. I tried something else.

It was extremely difficult. The longer the struggle lasted, the more I figured this story would never see the light of day. But I couldn’t give up. I cared too much about the characters and the story, and I had to see it through.

Imagine my elation when I got the publishing contract—on April Fool’s Day this year!

At that point, I realized more than ever the importance of the advice to never give up. It may take a while, but eventually, persistence pays off.

3. Get at least three books out there.

I’ve heard this advice several times along the way, including this year.

The point is that once you have three books on the market, you are more likely to start to see some traction in your marketing efforts.

The Beached Ones will be my third novel on the market when it comes out, but my first one is out of print now, so I’ll still be behind when it comes to fiction.

But in June of this year, I launched my third nonfiction book, Your Writing Matters. And I’m happy to say that the advice is good. I’m seeing more traction now in the sales of my nonfiction books than I did with only one or two books.

Of course, a lot of it depends on your marketing efforts and how consistent you are with them. I do my best, but sometimes I get tired and take a break from marketing for a month or two. When I do that, sales naturally slow down.

But with three books on the market, they’re holding steady at a higher level than they were before. So I agree—getting at least three books out there (in a similar genre) can help you to build your readership.

4. The book can always be better.

It’s difficult to imagine after you’ve put in 10 or more drafts on a book that it could get any better, but it can.

I’ve been fortunate enough to go through an excellent editing process with The Beached Ones, and I’m extremely pleased with the outcome.

The editors brought up things throughout the book that I didn’t see or think of, but after they mentioned them, I realized how right they were and was happy to adjust to improve the storyline.

Looking back, I’m amazed at how far the book has come—and this after I had already put hundreds of hours into it.

The book can always be better. Stay open to input from knowledgeable people, and not only will your book benefit but you will too. I learned so much from this experience and I know I’ll be applying what I’ve learned to my next novel.

What has been your best piece of writing advice this year?