Years ago, I was stuck writing and rewriting my draft, having been previously traumatized by a couple of fiction classes that left me bewildered and discouraged.

I felt I needed...someone. I wasn’t sure who. Like a friend, but a friend who was a good writer, and willing to meet with me regularly and talk through my book progress and writing struggles. I wanted someone to read my new pages and give me feedback but not edit them yet.

The last thing any writer wants is for someone to think we aren’t original, or that we’re just recycling commonly used phrases and ideas, right? So how do you avoid recycling other people’s writing, whether it’s a plot premise or a turn of phrase? How do you avoid hack topics and cliches? Today, I’m going to share 3 strategies to make sure you’re leaning into your own originality. Let’s go.

Today I'm sharing 10 top writing tips from bestselling authors! The truth is that what works for one writer, isn't going to work for every writer, so one way to help yourself is to explore all the different ways you can find your own success to go from amateur to best selling author yourself.

I'm going to share my favorite strategies from these best selling authors.

This is possibly the most important post I’ve ever made for this series. Today, I’m going to share 3 things that you don’t learn in creative writing classes.

No one ever told me these things. No one talks about these things still, as far as I know. I had to figure them out for myself, and as far as I know I’m the only one talking about them. But they are very very important if you want to write a book and get it published. Let’s go. 

If you pinned me down and asked me to share the one thing I think is most important for a writer to know…this is what I would tell you, and it’s probably not what you think. Let’s go.

Can anyone write a publishable book? No. Sorry. But can you? Maybe. Today, I’m going to share the truth about how to get past writing as just a hobby and make a career of it as a published author. We’re going to take an honest look at what it takes. Let’s go.

Hi, welcome to another installment of ‘Opening the Writer’s Desk,’ where we take a deep dive into the writing tips from today’s most widely-read authors. In today’s episode, we’re going to be taking a look at author George R.R. Martin and the techniques he’s used in his own writing.

I want to tell you two stories: a good story and a bad story about writing communities I’ve been in. But I’ll start with the bad story, so we can end on a high note, and you can first learn what I think you should avoid.

Then I’ll give you something hopeful. Sound good? It’s time to get to the heart of why good—and not destructive—writing communities are so important.

What is voice? How do you find your voice? In the world of writing and writing education, there’s a lot of talk about voice, and it can be a tricky thing to nail down. Today, I’m going to share with you my best tips for finding your voice.