10 Less Common Writing Tips for Success
Are you a writer looking for some fresh tips to improve your craft? Look no further! In this article, we'll explore 10 less common writing tips that can help take your writing to the next level. From character development to proofreading, we've got you covered. So grab a pen and paper, and let's get started!
📝 Tip 1: Complex Characters
One of the keys to great storytelling is creating complex characters. But what do you do when you're struggling to imagine your character as anything other than one-dimensional? Try temporarily changing their name to that of a real person you like or dislike. This can help you see them in a new light and imagine better traits for them. For example, if you dislike a character and want to write them more fairly, give them the name of a friend you admire. At the end of the draft, simply do a find and replace to switch the names back.
📝 Tip 2: Cut the Last Thing You Wrote
As writers, we often keep talking after we've made our point. But those extra words can weaken our message. Try cutting the last thing you wrote and see if your point is stronger without it. Of course, use your own judgment and don't cut something that's necessary. But more often than not, cutting the last paragraph or few paragraphs can make your writing stronger.
📝 Tip 3: Stop Writing While You Still Have Ideas
It may seem counterintuitive, but stopping while you still have ideas can actually make your next writing session more productive. If you have a certain word count goal for the day and you hit it but still have ideas, it might be best to stop while you're ahead. Summarize what you think should happen in the next scene or chapter so you know exactly what you'll be working on next time. If you burn yourself out of ideas, your next writing session will be a lot of thinking, which will slow you down.
📝 Tip 4: Print Your Manuscript for Proofreading
This may be the most common tip on this list, but it's still worth mentioning. Having a physical copy of your manuscript in front of you can make it easier to spot mistakes. Mark it up with a pen or export it as a PDF or e-book to change the format and give yourself new eyes. You can even change the font to make it easier to spot typos.
📝 Tip 5: Keep Sentence-Long Summaries of Your Scenes
If you're not a fan of writing outlines, try keeping sentence-long summaries of your scenes as you write them. This can give you an overhead shot of your book and make it easier to remember what you've written. It's especially helpful for longer books, where you might forget what you wrote earlier. You can even click and drag to reorganize scenes if needed.
📝 Tip 6: Keep a List of Topic Ideas
If you write short things like poems or blog posts, try keeping a list of topic ideas and brainstorming regularly. Once you have an idea, your subconscious will work on it in your downtime, so you might end up drafting things accidentally. By the time you finish your current project, you could have ten ideas that you've been passively outlining in your head. It's like keeping a project in every stage of the idea funnel so that you have a constant flow of content.
📝 Tip 7: Keep a List of Problems
When writing longer projects, keep a list of problems as you think of them instead of stopping to fix them while you draft. This is helpful for novel revisions, particularly if you notice that one of your characters needs a stronger arc or you're trying to fix a plot hole. Just keep an ongoing list of those things that you can go back to once the draft is finished. This can help you stay focused on the writing process and not get bogged down in revisions.
📝 Tip 8: Summarize Paragraphs
If you get stuck on a paragraph or description, try summarizing what you think should happen instead of trying to write it perfectly. This can help you keep momentum and not lose your train of thought. Write a rough draft or a summary of what should happen, and then come back to it later to fill it out. This can help you stay focused on the big picture and not get bogged down in the details.
📝 Tip 9: Swap Scenes with a Writing Partner
If you have a writing partner, try swapping scenes with them for a fresh perspective. This can help you see your work in a new light and get feedback from someone who knows your story well. You might not keep the scene they write for you, but it can give you ideas for how to approach a certain concept or character.
📝 Tip 10: Write Your Character Going Through Something You're Going Through
If you're struggling to get in your character's head, try writing them going through something you're going through yourself. This can help you connect with your character and write from their perspective. The best lies are grounded in truth, so try to find something in your own life that you can use to connect with your character.
🎉 Highlights
- Create complex characters by temporarily changing their name to that of a real person you like or dislike.
- Cut the last thing you wrote to make your point stronger.
- Stop writing while you still have ideas to make your next writing session more productive.
- Print your manuscript for proofreading or change the format to give yourself new eyes.
- Keep sentence-long summaries of your scenes to help you remember what you've written.
- Keep a list of topic ideas and problems to stay focused on the writing process.
- Summarize paragraphs to keep momentum and not get bogged down in the details.
- Swap scenes with a writing partner for a fresh perspective.
- Write your character going through something you're going through to connect with them.
❓ FAQ
Q: What if I don't have a writing partner to swap scenes with?
A: You can still get feedback from beta readers or writing groups. Or try writing a scene from a different character's perspective to get a fresh perspective on your story.
Q: How do I know when to stop writing while I still have ideas?
A: Use your own judgment and don't force yourself to stop if you're on a roll. But if you've hit your word count goal for the day and still have ideas, it might be best to stop while you're ahead.
Q: What if I don't like the font Comic Sans?
A: That's okay! Use whatever font works best for you. The point is to change the format to give yourself new eyes.
Resources:
- [NovelPad](https://www.novelpad.net/)
