Is there a right way to write?  Is there even a wrong way to write?  I won’t bore you with a wordy post debating what’s right or wrong, but I will share the advice I’ve found most helpful…

1. Read. A. Lot.

This may seem simple, but I have found that life will whisk me away from my bookshelf if I let it.  I must make time to read, just like I must make time to write.  Reading inspires me and keeps me saturated in words.  When reading I can hone my own writing skillz by exposing myself to other author writing styles.

2. Write. A . Lot.

You might think this piece of advice would be at the top of my list, but I honestly believe you can’t be a great writer until you are a great reader.  Fill a personal journal with your thoughts, write short stories that explore a single emotion, and take a few minutes to sit and describe the landscape outside your window in detail.  These are just a few ways to exercise your pen and your mind.  It is difficult to improve any talent without regular practice.

3. Create character biographies.

Knowing your characters will help you in multiple ways.  You will find that you stray less from your original outline.  Your characters will tend to surprise you less often.  The dialogue you write for your characters will also flow better. Having an in-depth knowledge of your characters will help your readers feel more connected to them as well.

4. Research is your friend.

You may find yourself chanting this as you perform Google searches, Bing searches, and wade through the millions of Wikipedia pages. There is nothing worse than reading a book that is consistently wrong!  The reader is unable to invest in the story and characters because they are distracted by the lack of validity.  Whether it is as simple as researching a region in Google Maps, or something more complex, like researching the rules players must follow during a Quidditch match, the research will improve your writing and the reader’s experience.

5. Don’t quit!

Lastly, I want to encourage you to keep going!  I have gone through changes in my life that led me to second guess myself, and my ability to finish my own novel.  (I’m preaching to the choir, here!)  Make sure you have people in your life that challenge you, as well as hold you accountable to achieving your goals!  Whatever you do, make sure you finish strong!