Six Simple Writing Tips
From Romance Author Kelli
A. Wilkins
Hi everyone! One of the most common questions I’m asked when I
do an interview is, “Do you have any writing tips or advice for writers?” Well,
I sure do! These six practical tips are based on advice I received in my
writing classes when I was just starting out and discoveries I made as I wrote.
So, let’s get started…
Take Writing Classes:
I took my first writing class at a local community college “for something to
do” and was hooked. Writing classes are an excellent way to learn the basic
mechanics of writing, to understand storytelling techniques, and to explore
different genres. However, they’re not for people who “think about wanting to
write” but never do. Homework and class participation are required.
In most cases, the instructor gives you an assignment (to
write a short story or an opening chapter of a novel) and has you share it with
the class. (This may sound easy, but over the years I saw dozens of people drop
out of writing classes because they actually had to write!)
Writing classes help you overcome a fear or shyness about sharing
your work with others and different readers give you feedback (and critiques) on
what you’ve written. Before I took a writing class I never shared my work with
anyone, but I quickly learned to move past a personal attachment to the work
and be open-minded when it came to suggestions and comments.
Connections you make with other writers can also continue once
class has ended—you may form your own writing group or get together to critique
each other’s stories. If there are no “in person” writing classes available in
your area, consider taking online classes or attending workshops at writing
conferences.
Avoid “Bad” Words:
Make a list of words you find yourself repeating (or over-using) in your
writing. If you belong to a writing group or have a critique partner, ask them
to identify words you use too often. (They may be more obvious to an outside
reader.) After you’ve finished a story, do a search for each word and either
delete it (if it’s not needed) or change it to a different word.
Some of my “bad” words are: glanced, looked, laughed, that,
even, just, once, would, could, felt, shook his head, somehow, started to,
although, even though, suddenly, a minute later, a few minutes later, after a
few minutes…
She knew that he liked
limes. = She knew he liked limes.
I can’t even believe you
just said that. = I can’t believe you said that.
It’s also a good idea to search for similarly-spelled words
and make sure you’re not accidentally using the wrong word. Spellcheck won’t
know you meant to say “tried” instead of “tired”. Some to look out for include:
gaps/gasp, gong/going, from/form, though/thought/through.
Rejection Really is
Subjective: Got rejected? Join the club. Everyone (and I mean everyone) gets rejected. Rejection is
probably the only 100% guarantee in writing. If you send your story (or query)
out to five people, you’ll get five different responses. Rejection is hard to
deal with, but as a writer you have to understand that the editor is rejecting
the story, not you.
All editors are not created the same, and sometimes you’ll
never know why your story didn’t make the cut. You might get a form letter that
tells you nothing, or get no response at all. Other times you might get a
cryptic line about “not what we’re looking for” and sometimes you’ll get a
paragraph with some explanation (weak plot, characters are not interesting,
etc.).
Several years ago I received two rejections in the same day
for the same book. Editor A said she loved the story and the characters were
fantastic but didn’t see a market for a wrestling romance. Editor B said she
despised the characters and hated the clothes the heroine wore, but would
consider re-reading it if I changed the entire plot and made the heroine into a
perky sexpot.
Who was “right?” Neither of them. I considered their
rejections a perfect example of “everyone has his/her own opinion” and moved
on. The important thing to remember after you’ve been rejected is to keep
going. If the editor made suggestions (change the ending, add more dialog, make
the heroine a blonde with four kids) consider the comments and either make the
changes or don’t. No matter what, it’s your story. But keep writing and
submitting, because you never know when you’ll get an acceptance.
What’s Where?: Keep a list of when and where you submit your writing. Note the title of the piece (or query subject), date, and publication. This way, you’ll know what’s where and how long ago you sent it. This is handy in case you need to follow up on a wayward query or submission. I also make a list of places to submit to next, (just in case of rejection!) so I’ll know where the story is headed.
Reading Everything is Fundamental!: Writers are usually doing one of two things: reading or writing. Read anything and everything—in your genre and out of your genre—to expand your horizons. The more you read, the more you’re exposed to different styles of writing, tone, voice, and characterization. Read fiction, non-fiction, magazine articles, writing magazines, and the back of cereal boxes. You’ll see how other writers (even famous authors) create setting, mood, and how they tell a great story. (And why not learn from the best?)
Give Yourself Time to Rest: No, this doesn’t mean get lazy and slack off when you don’t feel like writing. A day (or a few hours) off can be a reward for finishing a long project, for completing all the work on your writing “to do” list for the week, or for celebrating a sale. Go for a walk and stretch after sitting in front of the computer and let your mind recharge. Give yourself some freedom and “play” time—you’ve earned it! Taking a mini-break from writing is also helpful if you need to break out of writer’s block. Think about something else besides your story, and in most cases, an idea or a great plot twist will pop into your head when you least expect it.
I hope you enjoyed these writing
tips and find them useful. If you’re interested in learning about the writing
process and getting more tips and writing advice, check out my non-fiction
writing guide, You Can Write—Really! A Beginner’s Guide to Writing Fiction. The
book is designed for writers who need a
boost of motivation and simple instructions on how to get started. It’s
packed with writing tips, advice, and fun exercises.
If you’re ready to write, order your copy here:
Kobo: https://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/ebook/you-can-write-really-a-beginner-s-guide-to-writing-fiction
Scribd: https://www.scribd.com/book/298448384/You-Can-Write-Really-A-Beginner-s-Guide-to-Writing-Fiction
I welcome comments and questions from readers. Be sure to
follow my blog for the latest updates and visit me on social media.
Happy Reading,
Kelli A. Wilkins
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Kelli A. Wilkins is an
award-winning author who has published 100 short stories, 19 romance novels,
and 5 non-fiction books. Her romances span many genres and heat levels.
In 2016 Kelli began re-releasing
her romances previously published by Amber Quill Press. Visit her website and
blog for a full title list, book summaries, and other information. Kelli’s
third Medallion Press historical romance, Lies, Love & Redemption, was
released in September 2016.
Her writing book, You
Can Write—Really! A Beginner’s Guide to Writing Fiction is a fun and
informative non-fiction guide based on her 17 years of experience as a writer.
It’s filled with writing exercises and helpful tips all authors can use.
If you like to be scared, check
out Kelli’s horror ebooks: Dead Til Dawn and Kropsy’s
Curse.
Kelli posts on her Facebook author
page: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorKelliWilkins and Twitter: www.Twitter.com/KWilkinsauthor. She also writes a
weekly blog: http://kelliwilkinsauthor.blogspot.com/.
Visit her website, www.KelliWilkins.com to learn more about all
of her writings, read book excerpts, reviews, and more. Readers can sign up for
her newsletter here: http://eepurl.com/HVQqb.
CATCH UP WITH KELLI
Here are a few links to find Kelli & her writings on
the web
Amazon
Author Page: www.amazon.com/author/kelliwilkins
Newsletter
sign-up: http://eepurl.com/HVQqb
Medallion Press Author Page: http://medallionpress.com/author/kelli-wilkins/
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