In this post, I’m going to share a few tips that will help you get started as a writer. Even if you aren’t a beginner, make sure to keep reading because these tips can be useful to anyone.

1. Read

If you’re like me, you probably already like to read. But as a writer, don’t just read… read critically. Think about your favorite books. What techniques did the author use to keep you engaged? What mistakes did they make? Why do you like some books more than others?

These questions will help you grow as a writer. By learning from other authors, you can build on their successes and avoid their mistakes.

2. Research

Personally, I don’t like doing research, but it’s very helpful at any stage of writing. So whether you subscribe to a blog (like this one), or you buy a writing how-to book, make sure that you’re doing your research.

You do have to be careful when you research, because what works for one writer might not work for you. There are tons of different styles, structures, and processes out there. What you want to do is find the methods that fit your writing. And to the Christian writers out there, you should always make sure that the content you read is honoring to God.

3. Write

You can learn a lot from reading and research, but nothing beats writing. Sometimes, you have to learn from your own mistakes. You can get a lot of knowledge from other writers, but you have to find your own style. So even if you never share your first writing projects, they will teach you valuable lessons as you write them.

4. Take advice

Since you’re here reading this blog post, you probably realize that this is a crucial part of the writing process. Any writer at any stage is constantly learning from those who have gone before them. And, trust me, it’s a lot easier to avoid a mistake altogether.

This ties in with doing research, but it goes beyond that. One of the best things you can do for yourself is make friends who are also writers. Have them critique your writing, and return the favor by critiquing theirs. Both sides of this process will help you grow and look at things from a different angle.

5. Learn to edit

Even though having a writing buddy is great, it doesn’t mean that you can slack off on your own editing. When it comes down to it, only you know exactly how you want to write your story, so it’s up to you to make the final decisions.

Learn to be hard on yourself, but not too hard. Sometimes, we can critique ourselves too much, which might lead to burnout or writer’s block. However, you also need to have enough self-control to be able to cut the things that need to be cut—even if it’s a favorite scene, character, or other element.

6. Know when to move on

While editing is a great tool, sometimes you just need to face the fact that your story is never going to be completely perfect. At some point, you have to force yourself to move on to a different writing project.

You can definitely come back to those old projects in the future, but I’ve found that it’s hard to grow until you’ve laid them to rest for the time being. I look at each of my stories as a stage in my writing life, and, in order to move on to bigger things, I have to let those stories rest for a while.

There are so many other things to learn as a writer, but these tips are a great start. Always remember that if you are honoring God in your writing and doing what you love, that is a huge step in the right direction.

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