A lot of new authors would love to master the art of writing. Unfortunately, many of them want the quick-and-easy, insta-route to success. Although writing a good book is subjective, mastering the process isn’t something that happens overnight.
Not to mention that you need to take your audience into consideration. You’re not going to write like Stephen King for a bunch of first-graders.
So, what can you do to master the art of writing – or at least to the point of putting together something decent for your core readers?
19 Tips to Master Your Writing
First and foremost, realize that everyone progresses at their own pace. While some of us can seemingly whip out a story overnight, others might struggle for a myriad of reasons.
Not everyone is going to create worlds at the same pace. That doesn’t mean you’re any less of an author. All that means is that the individual either has a lot of practice with being efficient or simply has a natural talent to convey things from the mind.
As you progress, you will find some things much easier to come by. As long as you’re constantly working for self-improvement, you’ll succeed at your own rate. Just never give up on yourself or what you’re creating.
So, what can you do to master the art of writing for yourself?
1. What Does “Master” Mean to You?
The term “master” can mean different things to different people. Some might view it as a measurement behind how much they can write in a single day. Others may focus on positive feedback from a wide range of readers. A lot of authors view it as a measurement of how much they make in royalties very month.
When all is said and done, you’ll have to figure out what “master” means to you. Is it storytelling prowess? Is it your ability to market the book? Are you more focused on a handful of people loving your worlds?
Too many people get hung up on trying to quantify the term “master.” In reality, it is different depending on the view of the author and what he or she wants out of the experience.
2. Who Are You Writing For? Your Audience!
Genres, age groups, education levels, and culture will all affect the style of your writing. This comes from understanding your audience and whom you wish to inform or entertain.
You wouldn’t want to write a college-level manuscript for a bunch of six-year-olds, and vice versa.
Knowing your genre and target audience is key to putting together a good story. It’ll influence everything from plot development to word choices. Regardless of how you slice it, knowing your audience is paramount!
3. Understand Telling vs Showing
One of the most common tips you’ll see from successful authors is to “Show, don’t tell.” What this means is that you want to “show” your reader the story, not “tell” it to them. The difference is in the descriptions of what you’re writing.
More descriptions mean more detail. However, showing also slows the pace of the book. Too many details can lead to a boring read, losing your reader forever.
You’ll need to figure out a good pace and flow for your book to balance the two. Sometimes, you’ll want to “tell” what is going on to get to the more important elements that you’ll “show” in the story.
Descriptions activate the imagination. Readers will “see” the story in their mind’s eye. But not every single element and moment needs to be documented.
4. Consider Thinking Cinematically
Thinking “cinematically” means that you’re imagining the writing as if it were a movie or series on your favorite streaming platform. This is a practice performed by many authors to help describe characters and background ambiance.
For example, I used Kate Beckinsale’s character from Van Helsing as the base for Elizabeth Grey in my book, Shadows of Atlantic City. However, I didn’t just stop at character development. I envision what the entire book would be like if I were to make it a Netflix original movie.
Essentially, I’m the director, trying to describe what other people are seeing with words instead of a video camera. I was geeking out a bit when I learned that a lot of other authors do the same thing or something similar.
5. Consider Plotting or Planning
Although some people prefer to write by the seat of their pants, not knowing what is happening next (pantsers), it’s not always the best course of action for every author. In fact, this method of writing is one of the most prevalent that I’ve seen for those who get stuck with writer’s block.
Now, I’m not saying that every pantsing author gets writer’s block or has trouble crafting a story. But more often than not, pantsers do usually have issues with the flow of a storyline. At least from what I’ve seen on various social media channels and the authors whom I’ve spoken with during live interviews.
I plot out, or plan, all of my books. It essentially gives me signposts of where I want the story to go and how it unfolds. I often have to change the rest of the outline when characters do something unexpected, but it’s still easier for me than just winging it.
I am a master plotter for the stories I am writing. It’s what works best for me, but that doesn’t mean it’s the epitome of a good story. The method that works best for you is the one you should use.
Nonetheless, plotting can help guide you to what you want to convey.
6. Practice, Practice, Practice
No one comes out of the gate and writes an instant best seller. There is a lot more to writing a book than just plugging words into an app. And one of the best ways to master your writing is through practice.
Writing is a skill, and like any other skill, you need to remain practiced at it if you want to be any good. Practicing is probably one of the most influential ways to improve writing skills across the board.
You can practice in a number of ways. For example, you can write short stories for yourself, publish manuscripts on Wattpad or Inkitt, or maintain a blog of flash fiction. As long as you’re still writing, that’s what matters.
Of course, the best practice is when you incorporate something you’ve learned. That way, it gets integrated into your process and style, vastly improving your overall skills as a storyteller.
7. Set Realistic, Daily Writing Goals
A lot of experts push for writing every day. As I mentioned earlier, it all comes down to practice and growth. But I’ve also seen a lot of people bite off more than they can chew – that includes myself.
You need to set realistic goals based on what you can truly handle. Don’t make them too easy, but don’t overwhelm yourself either.
One of the tricks I did when writing professionally was to simply write one more word today than I did yesterday. This gave me a baseline and an understanding of just how much I could handle throughout the day.
After a few days, you’ll get an idea of how much you can write throughout the week.
8. Be Clear and Concise
No one cares if you’re a champion at using a thesaurus. Using clear and concise language is less likely to confuse readers while giving the manuscript an even flow for pacing.
A lot of authors will tell beginners that this also includes removing filler words, unnecessary adverbs, and keeping the text short and to the point.
Something I would add to those tips is to avoid redundancies and repeated phrases. I’m not just talking about using the same words repeatedly, either. I’ve seen writers explain the same thing in two consecutive sentences, only worded differently.
This happens a lot when writers get hung up on word counts. Each sentence needs to have a unique purpose to the rest of the story. Don’t just regurgitate the same scene with different words.
9. Keep the Readability High
The readability of your manuscript is key for your audience. The higher the score of your text on the Flesch Reading Ease, the easier it is for people to read. This is why a lot of authors are quite popular, as they make the story easy to digest regardless of age group or education level.
Of course, this doesn’t matter much if your audience is more advanced. Still, a lot of experts will tell you that an easier-to-read manuscript allows for a greater audience to appreciate the story.
Make your books easy for everyone, and you increase the odds of making more sales.
Personally, I don’t think reading should be monitored by a gatekeeper with a thesaurus. Everyone should be able to enjoy a story without having to struggle with dialogue or scene development.
While keeping the readability high may help master your writing techniques, it all really depends on your target audience.
10. Shorter Sentences Are Usually Better
Shorter sentences don’t just make the text easier to read, but they also force authors to use better words to describe ideas and meaning. Why write out a 50-word sentence when something less than 20 will do? There are plenty of authors who purposely aim for the simple when writing.
Now, this doesn’t mean that every sentence should have fewer than 20 words. Some things cannot be succinctly described in such a manner. However, trying to get into the habit of using more powerful and impactful words can make all the difference.
A good tool to help with readability is AutoCrit. The AI will analyze the structure and highlight what you need to change. It won’t write the text for you, but it will guide you on how to properly address the book’s reading level.
11. Shorter Paragraphs Are Usually Better, Too
Shorter paragraphs in your manuscript help with readability much in the same way as shorter sentences. It’s about making the text easier to digest while helping the reader maintain focus and the flow of the narration.
Focusing on a single idea per paragraph improves comprehension of the text. It also gives you the chance to modify the pacing to make the book slower or faster while still engaging the reader.
Something else you should consider is how ultra-short paragraphs can add emphasis to the scene. This method is used a lot by authors of all kinds, as it’s a great way to accentuate a scene with an impactful statement.
12. Always Proofread and Edit Your Writing
Proofreading is always a given. When writing for an audience, you want to make sure you’re putting your best foot forward. Granted, you’re not going to catch every mistake. In fact, professional editors and AI don’t always catch various problems in writing.
No system is infallible.
However, there are things you can do that can reduce the number of errors you make in your writing. For instance, you can:
- Use the Grammarly Chrome Extension
If you use online writing apps like Reedsy or Campfire, the Grammarly Chrome extension is your best friend. Not only will it highlight problematic issues, but it will also correct spelling errors in real-time as you type. Just remember that no system is absolute. - Have Friends Go Over the Manuscript
If you don’t have the money for professional proofreading or editing, a few friends can help you find problems in your writing. Another set of fresh eyes can make all the difference. - Give It Some Time
Once you’re finished writing, give yourself a few weeks away from the manuscript. When you come back to it, you’ll find all kinds of grammatical errors and inconsistencies you didn’t catch. That’s because it’s no longer fresh in your mind, and your brain is more apt to find those problems.
The bottom line is that you don’t want to put something out there that is riddled with issues. It’s not going to be perfect, but you still want to give your readers something they can enjoy and understand.
13. Read the Story Aloud
Reading the manuscript out loud is a great way to edit. If it doesn’t make sense to you, then you probably want to reword the section.
Reading aloud does more than just help you find poorly structured sentences. It can also help you with what I call the “cringe factor.” This is more apparent in dialogue, but if any part of your story makes you cringe while reading it out loud, you may want to consider rewriting it.
If it makes you cringe, imagine how your readers feel when they get to those sections.
The other side of that coin, however, is that not everyone will read the same elements in an identical manner. How one comprehends a story or description varies wildly. But getting rid of things that make you cringe will be a great boon to your manuscript.
At the end of the day, reading the story out loud will help you master your writing as you find those parts that just don’t make sense.
14. Research Is Key, Most of the Time
Research is a vital element for a lot of books and genres. You want things to be as realistic and relatable as possible. Even fantasy authors often research various creatures, magic forms, and other nuances to help guide their ideas about how their worlds unfold.
While writing Shadows of Atlantic City, I spent a great deal of time researching life in 1874, New Jersey. I also looked up a variety of monsters in folklore and how they behaved in the stories of old.
Sure, you have some literary license to make things up or change a few details here and there. But, the manuscript still needs to be believable to your audience. They will quickly point out inconsistencies and problems in reviews and on social media.
15. Be Open to Critiques
Critiques and reviews can do a lot to help you master the art of writing. They can show weaknesses and strengths, especially if more than one reader is sharing the same information.
Of course, not all criticisms are going to be constructive. After all, you can’t please 100% of the people 100% of the time. But the people who leave honest reviews and critiques are often worth reading.
For instance, if several people were complaining about the pacing being too slow, it might be worth looking into ways to quicken the story. You don’t want a reputation for being a boring author.
My point here is that not all criticisms are meant as attacks against you or your abilities. The hard part is sifting through them to figure out who is being honest and who is being a troll.
16. Use Beta Readers Before Publishing
Beta readers sometimes go along the lines of helping you edit or proofread the manuscript. However, they are usually focused on making sure the story is well-written and structured. Instead of focusing on grammar, they’re focused on plot and character development.
Does the story make sense, or are the characters likable? This is an example of the many questions beta readers will help you answer.
Case in point, one of the main characters of my book, Kingmaker, was completely different in the first draft than when it was published. Based on the feedback from beta readers, I overhauled the character completely throughout the entire book. And it was for the better, as he became far more likable and relatable.
That is just one example of how beta readers helped reshape Kingmaker. And I feel the book was much better overall because of them. In that instance, the feedback was valuable in my quest to master my writing skills for the series.
17. Don’t Compare Your Writing with Others
They say that comparison is the thief of joy. This means you don’t want to compare yourself to others, as it may make you feel inadequate regardless of your progression.
This is especially true when it comes to publishing books. Every author and every audience is different. The success of someone else doesn’t have a bearing on whether or not you’ll be successful yourself.
Yes, I think it’s funny to compare my writing to Stephen King’s. He only writes 2,000 words per day, and I usually double (and sometimes triple) that workload. But there is a stark difference between us: he has skills and a massive audience.
I know that every book I write and publish is going to be better than the last. That’s because I am always in a state of improving my abilities. In other words, I am more focused on what I can do to master writing rather than what Stephen King or any other author produces.
18. Read the Works of Others
I am a believer in reading at least twice as much as you write. Not only is it a relaxing pastime, but it gives you the chance to analyze how other authors are writing their books.
What do you find interesting in the story? What does the author do to bring those characters to life for you? How did the author progress the plot that kept you flipping the pages?
Analyzing your peers and how they perform will help you master your own strategy for what works in your writing. Of course, this is true with just about any skill-based profession, really.
Everyone from a famed quarterback in the NFL to champion poker players analyzed the performance of their peers. It mostly centers around what they can do differently or how they can adapt to improve their own skillset. Reading is no different.
19. Don’t Be Afraid of Learning
It takes more than just being able to string coherent sentences together to master writing. There are a lot of nuances about putting together something people will love that you might not think to Google.
Education will help you uncover those nuances and help you become a better author.
For instance, I learned a lot of things during the Reedsy masterclass for How to Write a Novel that I would never have thought to ask. Tom Bromley did an excellent job of breaking down the different elements of a book and how they work.
It was extremely eye-opening, and it made a huge difference while writing Shadows of Atlantic City. Nowadays, I’m working on starting my journey to get a master’s degree in creative writing.
Never assume you know enough to get by. There are a lot of cogs turning while writing a book that will influence your success. And there are a lot of courses out there on the Internet that will make a profound difference in how you tell a story.
Remember, A Good Book is Subjective
There is no doubt that writing a “good” book is subjective. It all comes down to the target audience and whether they like your style. Not everyone is going to write a golden book that gets a lot of praise.
Take Stephen King, for instance. He’s one of my favorite authors, but I personally know a lot of people who don’t like his style despite being fans of the genres in which he writes.
Does that mean Stephen King is a poor author? Absolutely not. It just means the people who don’t like his storytelling simply don’t like his style. Nothing more.
People are going to hate your book for a myriad of reasons, and a lot of them are stupid. For example, someone could give you a bad review because of the typeface you used. Perhaps they didn’t like the color of the paper.
You could ultimately attract vitriol because you killed off a character the reader liked.
Generally speaking, a good book comes down to your ability to tell a story and if your readers enjoy the experience. Learning how to structure a novel will help, but it’s no guarantee that your book will be a best-selling novel.
Also, don’t assume that what you write is terrible. And don’t assume that you know whether someone is going to like your style – you’re not psychic.
At the end of the day, you’re not going to be everyone’s favorite author. However, you will be someone’s, and that’s what really matters. Even the worst story ever written has a cult following today.
Work to improve your mastery of writing, but don’t get hung up on thinking you’re terrible. A lot of success comes down to self-confidence. Thinking you’re a bad author is contrary to that.
Are You Mastering Your Writing?
Perhaps the most important element to master your writing centers around being open to self-improvement. This includes learning more about what you want to create as well as self-confidence.
Some things will take longer to master than others. And that’s OK, as long as you’re willing to keep improving yourself and your writing. No one is going to wake up one day and be the best there is at crafting a story.
Patience with yourself is key. Don’t get frustrated because you can’t type 2,000 words per day in your manuscript. Be proud of the fact that you’re constantly growing and becoming better at your own pace.
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