Top 10 Tips for Authors: Advice from Bestselling Writers
Today, I’m excited to share my top 10 tips for authors, inspired by the advice of bestselling writers.
One thing I’ve learned is that writing success doesn’t have a one-size-fits-all solution. Every writer has a unique process, and what works for one might not resonate with another. That’s why it’s essential to explore different strategies, take what works, and discard what doesn’t.
These writing tips will guide you from the early stages of drafting to honing your craft and eventually publishing your work for the world to enjoy.
So without further ado, here are my favorite writing tips from authors who have achieved remarkable success in their careers.
Tip #1: Make a schedule
The first and most crucial of our writing tips from authors comes from Taylor Jenkins Reid, author of The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo and many other well-loved novels. Taylor’s advice is straightforward: make a schedule.
Why does a schedule matter so much? Because writing a novel can feel like an enormous mountain to climb, and without a clear plan, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed.
However, when you break your book down into manageable chunks through a schedule, writing a book becomes something finite and achievable. Writing with a consistent schedule is one of the most practical writing tips for authors, helping you stay committed even when life gets in the way.
I personally love this advice because it turns writing into a daily habit rather than an unpredictable task. If you’re serious about completing your book, this is one of the first tips for authors to implement. Set a realistic schedule and stick to it!
Tip #2: Don’t define your work by word count
Next up is Brit Bennett, the author of The Vanishing Half, with some fantastic writing advice from authors: don’t define your work solely by word count.
Writing is about more than just the number of words you produce in a day. Some days you’ll breeze through thousands of words, and other days, the words won’t come as easily. And that’s okay!
There’s a lot of invisible work that goes into crafting a great story. You might be thinking about your plot, developing characters, or reimagining key scenes. Both mental work and actual writing are equally important.
This piece of writing advice from writers serves as a reminder that not all progress is measured by word count. Writing success isn’t just about hitting a specific number of words but about ensuring that each word serves the story you want to tell.
Yes, keep up with your writing schedule, but remember that any time spent working on your story, however that manifests, is time well spent. Even if it doesn't result in word count.
Tip #3: Write wherever you want
Third up in our writing tips from authors list comes from Rumaan Alam, author of Rich and Pretty and That Kind of Mother.
Alam’s advice for writers? Write wherever you want, whenever you can.
I love this one because, like it or not, our lives are unpredictable and life is often chaotic. Finding uninterrupted time to sit at a desk and write might feel impossible, especially if you’re juggling a job, family, or other commitments.
However, as Alam says, you don’t need to have the perfect setting to write. One of the best tips for authors is to embrace the flexibility of writing on the go. Use your phone’s notes app, write in a journal, or even scribble down ideas on scraps of paper when inspiration strikes.
One of the writers in my program, who is a doctor, completed her entire first draft on her phone, using her notes app in between patient consultations. If she can manage to finish a novel in her spare moments, then there’s no reason you can’t, too.
The key writing advice for writers here is to fit writing into your life however you can.
Tip #4: Let your characters be imperfect
Adam Silvera, author of They Both Die at the End, offers an important writing tip: let your characters be imperfect.
It’s easy to become attached to your characters, especially when you’ve spent months or even years developing them. But the characters who stay with readers are the ones who are flawed and human.
Real people make mistakes, have difficult choices to make, and aren’t always sure about their decisions. Allow your characters the same freedom to be messy and imperfect, as it adds depth and relatability to your story. The stories that will speak to us as human beings and reveal something greater than just the setting and the events are the ones that show us imperfect characters—characters who make mistakes, who are faced with dilemmas and are asked to make difficult choices, just like we are in life.
Silvera’s writing advice from authors is particularly useful for writers who feel too protective of their characters. Letting them make mistakes or face dilemmas makes your narrative more complex and engaging. Perfect characters don’t create tension—flawed ones do.
Tip #5: You don’t have to start at the beginning
This next bit of advice comes from Maggie O’Farrell, author of Hamnet, and it’s one of the most liberating tips for authors: you don’t have to start your story at the beginning.
Sometimes, getting started on a story can be the hardest part. But the great thing about writing is that you don’t need to begin at the very start. If the middle or end of your story excites you more, then start there! You can always circle back and fill in the blanks later. This flexibility can help you avoid writer’s block and keep your creativity flowing.
It's totally up to you what order you want to get the words on the page, and giving yourself this breathing room to get your story out, however you want, can help the words flow faster and help you overcome paralysis.
O’Farrell’s writing advice for writers is a great way to reduce the pressure of trying to write your book in the perfect order. It encourages you to write what excites you first, and often, once the words start flowing, the rest of the story will fall into place.
Tip #6: Give yourself space
John Niven, author of Kill Your Friends, provides this piece of writing advice: give yourself space between writing and editing.
Ever get that cringe feeling when reading back something you just wrote or ever read it back and feel like it's the best thing anyone's ever written? I've experienced both.
After writing something new, it’s difficult to judge it objectively. You might think it’s brilliant, or you might cringe at every word. Either way, it’s hard to see your work clearly in the immediate aftermath. That’s why one of the most helpful writing tips from authors is to step away from your manuscript for a while before revisiting it with fresh eyes.
By giving yourself time away from your draft, you’ll be able to spot areas for improvement more easily, and you’ll have a clearer perspective on what’s working. This is a piece of writers’ tips that will make the editing process more productive and less emotionally charged.
Tip #7: Write what interests you
Lee Weatherly, author of Broken Sky, provides some valuable writing advice from authors: write what interests you, not what you think others want to read.
You’ll be spending a significant amount of time with your story—potentially years—so it’s crucial that you’re genuinely excited about it. Are you going to be able to sustain a story of 70,000 words if what you're writing about is what you think other people want to read and not the story that you want to tell?
Trust me, I've tried that before and it doesn't work. Let yourself take you to the stories that you are interested in and write that. Your writing will be better and you'll have a better time.
If you’re writing something purely because you think it will sell, that lack of enthusiasm will likely show in your work. On the other hand, if you write what you’re passionate about, your energy and excitement will shine through, making the writing process more enjoyable and the story more compelling.
This writing tip for authors is a reminder to follow your instincts and tell the story you want to tell. Readers will connect more deeply with a story that feels authentic to you.
Tip #8: Turn no into not yet
Maggie Stiefvater, author of The Raven Cycle, shares this encouraging piece of writing advice from authors: turn “no” into “not yet.”
Whether you've just started pursuing your passion or you've been at this for years, it's easy to get discouraged, especially when you hear a lot of no's.
Rejection is an inevitable part of the writing journey, whether you’re submitting to agents, publishers, or even sharing your work with critique partners. But a “no” doesn’t mean that your writing career is over. It simply means that you haven’t reached the right person, or the right time, for your work yet. Every successful author has faced rejection, and perseverance is one of the most crucial tips for authors.
A no doesn't have to be the end and it shouldn't be because we're all going to get a lot of no's. It's just part of the process.
Stiefvater’s advice reminds us that writing is a marathon, not a sprint. Keep pushing forward, and eventually, those “no’s” will turn into “yes’s.”
Tip #9: Don’t get bogged down with the details
Tip number nine is from Stephen King himself, author of a million stories that you know including Carrie, The Shining, The Dark Tower series, and others. His tip is don’t get bogged down with the details when you're first starting out.
It can be tempting to get lost in research. Whether you want your story to be realistic, or whether you're writing fantasy with a lot of world building, there's a temptation to be accurate, or wanting to flesh out every little detail.
But research can often derail us from what should be our primary goal in the first draft which is finishing the first draft and getting that version of the story down on paper. In that version, it's okay to not have all the details.
King’s writing tips for authors emphasize the importance of getting the story down first. You can always go back and fix the details later.
This writing advice for writers is essential for anyone who struggles with perfectionism. Remember, the first draft is just that—a draft. The goal is to finish, and revisions are where the magic happens.
Tip #10: Write whatever you want
My last tip is from Emerald Fennell, author of Monsters and a screenwriter of the film Promising Young Woman, and this empowering writing advice is to write whatever you want.
There are lots of reasons why we might be hesitant to get something down on paper.
You wonder if it'll be good. Maybe it'll be terrible. Maybe you'll write something that might offend your friends or family, or maybe you worry it won't be what you imagined in your head.
Honestly it probably won't be, and that's okay. It's normal.
But you can't write your book without writing your book, especially for a first draft. There are very few people who will likely see that version anyway.
Don’t be afraid to write something that might seem silly, offensive, or not quite what you envisioned. The key is to get the words down. There’s always time to revise and improve later, but you can’t edit a blank page. Fennell’s writing tips from authors encourage you to write with freedom and without judgment, especially in the early stages of drafting.
How much money can I make on my book?
So bestselling or not, how much can you really make on your book? It's a good question, and one I get a lot, because there's very little data out there unless you're a publishing industry insider.
It's actually a really hard answer to find. I made it my mission to find out.
I compiled data from over 1400 published authors and found average and median book advances based on all kinds of metrics, including genre, whether it was their first book or not, whether they had an agent or not, and who their publisher was.
I've put all of this information into a free workshop which you can watch right now. It's really good. I'm talking pie charts, graphs, the whole deal!
Click the link below to find out everything you want to know about current book advances and what you can realistically expect to make on your book.
If you're serious about becoming a professional author, this really is a must watch. You're not going to find this data laid out this way anywhere else. So click below and you can watch this totally free workshop right now.
