It’s one of those things, isn’t it. The more we practice our craft, the more there is to learn. Despite having years of experience as a product and content writer, I still have a lot to learn when it comes to fiction and storytelling. That said, I want to share what I’ve picked up so far, and I want to help others improve their craft as I improve mine. I’ll add what I’ve learned via my blog page, but for now, here’s some of the best writing advice I’ve received so far:

• Set goals that you can realistically stick to. If you only get enough time to write 100 words a day – do that. If you can double it, do, and be consistent. Before you know it, you’ll have a short story, or you’ll be on your way to writing a novel.
  
• Relax. Take a short walk, have a bath, meditate – whatever you do to relax your mind and clear your thoughts – try and do this a bit every day. Even if it’s only a couple of minutes in the evening.
  
• Practice makes perfect. Everyone starts out crap. Just keep going and soon enough (with applied practice of course), you’ll see a natural improvement.
  
• Read more. You should probably read books if you want to write them. I know some people aren’t going to like this advice, but let me ask – if you don’t read books, why would you expect someone to read yours? I’m not saying you can’t be a good writer without reading, but one of the ways we learn is through osmosis. The best way to study your craft is to study published examples of it. Also, it’s at least worth exploring the market and to see what’s currently selling or selling consistently. Part of becoming an author is understanding your target market.
  
• Just write. Yup. I said it. You actually have to write if you want to be a writer. There’s no quick fix to this, no secret formula. No amount of gen AI is going to compensate for a lack of skill. You need to do the thing if you want to be the thing. If you want to be an author, you have to write a book. I’m not going to dive into the ethics of AI use, but just on a skill level, most people tend to agree that you actually have to put your brain thoughts onto paper for it to count.
  
• Don’t worry about what everyone else is doing. Ok, I know I said to read more to see what everyone else is doing. What I mean is, that you are not in competition with other writers. Your page 1 is someone else’s chapter 30. Don’t compare yourself to them, and don’t waste time looking over other people’s shoulders.
  
• Drink water. This one speaks for itself. I know you’re dehydrated right now. Drink. Your. Water.

Need more help?

I am a freelance graphic designer and content/product writer by trade.

I worked in these fields for nearly a decade, producing campaigns, building brands, designing websites, writing content for products and articles, and running social media accounts for businesses in the UK.

Services I offer:
– Book cover design/layout
– Book promo design such as leaflets/flyers/posters etc
– Social media campaign & management consultation
– Promo/product writing
– Blurb & synopsis writing
– Alpha/Beta reading
– Proofreading

If you’re a new author, or you’re planning to publish a book and you have no idea how to start promoting, get in touch and I’ll get back to you asap. In the meantime, I’ll share what I can via my blog. Happy writing!