writing advice from writers | Nothing Any Good

This is post 20 of 24 in the series “Author Tweets of the Week”

I apologize that new content has been less frequent over the past month or so. I’m working on finalizing my next book: 40 Tips on Creative Writing—A guide for writers to turn your passion into a successful book.

It will be available for preorder hopefully next week. The perfect holiday gift for yourself and your writing friends. I think you’ll love it!
Let’s dive into the Tweets of the Week.

Today's writing session is brought to you by Apricot Brandy and Strawberry Ice Cream.#NaNoWriMo #writerslife #amwriting #ernesthemingway pic.twitter.com/zkyvqOwsQ7

— Writer McWriteyFace (@jessmondywrites) November 5, 2017

Yes, while it’s quite possible Ernest Hemingway was a high functioning alcoholic, (Jack London certainly was), he is a gifted writer and thinker. Anyway, I may have inadvertently taken his advice to heart a few times in my life.

"A writer only begins a book. A reader finishes it." https://t.co/sgejOsDqbt #NaNoWriMo #writerhelp #amwriting

— Rob Bignell, Editor (@InventingRealit) November 9, 2017

I always say, the book is yours until you publish it; then it’s the readers.
These next two go hand-in-hand I think…

Anyone else being visited by the Procrastination Muse? Too Funny! #amwriting #amediting #WritingLife #writingtip pic.twitter.com/p22M4Rmca9

— Evalyn (@Evalyn7) October 30, 2017

As authors & writers we don't get a choice for when the great ideas come. Always keep something handy for when they do.#amwriting #NaNoWriMo pic.twitter.com/RNtCVno4zk

— Writing & Editing (@WrtrStat) November 8, 2017

How true these are! When you’re ready to write and have the time, it’s just tumbleweeds rolling around. Then, when you’re ready to lay down and sleep, the ideas always start flowing. Inspiration and Procrastination need to synch up I think!

"If you can't get quiet enough to hear yourself, your life is too loud." – Terry Guillemets #quote #TravelTuesday #travel pic.twitter.com/E0jCqJaST4

— Marlize Stander (@Winelands) October 31, 2017

Honestly, the reason inspiration comes at night when we’re dozing off is most likely because it’s when we’re quietest. I’m sure inspiration tries to speak to us throughout the day, but our lives are too loud for us to hear her. Slow down, friends. Quiet your lives down.

https://twitter.com/PBurghPRINCESS/status/924848552593035264

Yes. 100x yes.

Whenever I buy a new book, I hear my unread books judging me…#amwriting #amreading pic.twitter.com/lcrdYksYn3

— Lacey London (@thelaceylondon) October 28, 2017

So true. Memoirs of a Geisha has been angrily judging me for years. I’ll get to you someday day. I promise. (Sigh)

”If you live for people’s acceptance you will die from their rejection.” Lecrae

— Elizabeth M. Hurst (@LizHurstAuthor) October 29, 2017

Write with an audience in mind, but don’t write because of that audience. Write for yourself. Don’t write for acceptance at all.

You don’t find time to write. You make time. It’s my job.
NORA ROBERTS#amwriting #writerslife pic.twitter.com/sqpuxR9GzN

— Jon Winokur (@AdviceToWriters) October 28, 2017

I love this Nora Roberts quote. You need to make time to write. Don’t wait for the time to free up for you. Make it happen. Block time off to write.

https://twitter.com/therealeatwood/status/688448271455506433

He. Too good.

All writers dabble in horror: They’re called “first drafts”.#amwriting anyway pic.twitter.com/PmO2UW6kAs

— Dean Gloster (@deangloster) October 23, 2017

Don’t worry about whether the first draft is good or not. Get the ideas and words out onto paper. Worry about quality during editing.

Strive for excellence, not perfection. The truly Good know they are imperfect.#TuesdayMotivation #TuesdayThoughts #amwriting pic.twitter.com/Fl3zr05N74

— Dan Buri (@DanBuri777) November 7, 2017

There is no such thing as perfection, friends. Strive for excellence. Perfection is a fleeting desire.

Be happy with who you are, the writer and the person. Find your writing voice. Keep writing till you do. #amwriting #amediting pic.twitter.com/CF5yxvwcus

— Writing & Editing (@WrtrStat) October 31, 2017

What a wonderful note to end on. Take a deep breath. You are proud. You are are brave. You are writers.

Go write, friends! Find your writing voice and write to your hearts content!

Don’t forget to follow me on Twitter and Facebook.

Find more writing and publishing tips at Nothing Any Good.

During the blog tour and marketing efforts for my new book, I have been asked by the majority of interviewers some variation of the following question:

What piece of advice would you give to young writers?

I thought I would share with you what my answer has been.

Over the years I have been lucky enough to be offered an abundance feedback from mentors and teachers I trust. I have also been lucky enough to hear excellent commentary from a few creative people who I admire greatly. There are three ideas that have stuck with me throughout all my writing endeavors. These sentiments helped to get me over the hump and, as Brené Brown would say (or Theodore Roosevelt before her), “Dare Greatly” in my writing.

When asked about the fears and doubts that she had with her writing, Elizabeth Gilbert–best-selling author of Eat, Pray, Love—said she finally had an epiphany that her “writing muse” was telling her that this isn’t her story. If she doesn’t tell it, she bemoaned, then the muse would move on to someone else who will. Ms. Gilbert discussed how freeing this was for her. She was no longer declaring to the reader: “Listen to me. I have something to say.” Instead, she was writing through her muse, her inspiration. It was almost as if she had no other choice but to write. This opened her up to write every day without fear of the result.

Ira Glass is an American public radio personality and the host and producer of the radio and television show This American Life. He has a great quote for young creatives. In short, he encourages that your work is not going to be good when you’re first starting out. You may have an excitement for your craft and a killer taste for what’s good, but your execution is poor. The only way to improve your work, the only way to close the gap so that your work is as good as your ambitions, is to do a lot of work. Write. Every day. Every week put yourself on a deadline to write something new. It’s going to take a while, but that’s normal. Good writing doesn’t come the first time you sit down.

Louis C.K. is one of the most thoughtful and innovative comics alive right now. I once heard him speak about his HBO show, Lucky Louie, which was cancelled after one season in 2006. He was asked if he was disappointed and if he looked back at it as a failure. His answer was unequivocally: “No.” For him it was just another experience that taught him how to hone his craft, which was invaluable.

So those would be my three pieces of advice for young writers.

One, don’t worry about whether you have anything important to say. If you are inspired, say it.

Two, write constantly. You won’t become a good writer unless you’re writing all the time.

Three, take every writing experience and use it to hone your craft. Something is not a failure simply because the public doesn’t receive it the way you would like.

Looking for more tips to inspire you and kick your writing into gear? Get Dan Buri’s 40 Tips On Creative Writing now. Don’t miss another opportunity to take your writing to the next level.