Dear Young Writer...

Should you really listen to advice from the greats?

Dear Young Writer,

The writing greats are called great for a reason. They have a masterful command of language, an expert sense of narrative or rhythm, and the ability to touch our souls with their words. As writers, we can study quality writing to improve our craft. Even without intentionally studying books, I find that I learn through osmosis, absorbing techniques and ideas present in the work. We undeniably learn from the “advice” found within the pages of the greats.

If this is the case, how much weight should we give to their advice outside of books? Perhaps you have experienced this too, young writer, but sometimes I come across advice that doesn’t align with my visions or voice as a writer. Show, don’t tell. A useful rule, but not always. Write in an active voice. Again, useful, but not always. Write every day. Maybe I should follow this one, but again, this rule doesn’t apply to every writer’s circumstances.

In my opinion, listen to this type of counsel but with a grain of salt.

I’m much more interested in advice that feels like a warm hug or tough love than a restriction. You don’t need another writing tip—your voice is already at your fingertips. But it’s nice to know you aren’t alone.

Words of Wisdom

Below I have enclosed words of wisdom from great writers which I think you will find especially useful and inspiring. These aren’t rules or cheat codes or fast fixes. Treat them instead as guiding lights.

"If you want to be a writer, you must do two things above all others: read a lot and write a lot. There’s no way around these things that I’m aware of, no shortcut" - Stephen King

This is a blunt reminder from the king of horror, but it’s a good one. I find that in dry spells for my reading, my writing inspiration also runs dry. The two are linked, and you can’t cheat on one without the other suffering. No shortcuts!

"Writing, to me, is simply thinking through my fingers." - Isaac Asimov

Sometimes, you just have to let the ideas flow. Get the ideas on the page, then revise your thinking so that people thought you were that genius all along.

“Work on a computer that is disconnected from the internet.” - Zadie Smith

Admittedly, this one was tough to hear… but I needed it. This may be one to take with a grain of salt (I love googling synonyms and can’t always lug a thesaurus around), but dear writer, don’t let yourself get lost in rabbit holes or Pinterest feeds or scrolling through Instagram!

“You don’t start out writing good stuff. You start out writing crap and thinking it’s good stuff, and then gradually you get better at it. That’s why I say one of the most valuable traits is persistence.” - Octavia Butler

Oh, how I dread reading my old writing. I thought I was a budding Shakespeare back then, but looking at my work years later makes me cringe. But that is a sign of growth, and you’ll only have writing to look back on if you did it in the first place.

"I would advise anyone who aspires to a writing career that before developing his talent, he would be wise to develop a thick hide." - Harper Lee

Writing is a vulnerable art. We pour parts of ourselves onto the page, and sharing a piece almost feels like sharing parts of ourselves, too. But feedback is important. Even if you write for only yourself, a thick hide helps during the revision process.

"If there's a book that you want to read, but it hasn't been written yet, then you must write it." - Toni Morrison

I believe that every writer has a story to gift to the world that is entirely unique. You have a story to gift to the world. The world may try to tell you that your perspective or identity or story doesn’t matter, but don’t let it.

"A word after a word after a word is power." - Margaret Atwood

Writing is a form of expression, a form of protest, and a form of community. Sometimes the words feel meaningless, but trust me, they have so much power. Don’t forget it.

Conclusion

Though I’m not one of the greats, I can give you one solid piece of advice: no one piece of advice will instantly make you a better writer. That comes from the work—your work. Rather than expecting “fast fixes” to writing, receive the above advice as words of wisdom, as gentle comforts, as tough love reminders, and as little buoys to hold onto during the storm of writing. It’s rough out there, young writer! Knowing we’re not alone makes it just a little easier.

Best wishes,

A fellow young writer.

Thank you to our content writer, Elizabeth and our designer Kayenat!