Write Everyday
If you do nothing else, write everyday. You're not going to get good at anything without practice and writing is no different. It takes discipline and some days are easier than others, but writers write. There are no shortcuts and there's no getting around that.
It doesn't matter what you write. You can be working on a novel, you can be writing about your day, you can be writing stream of conscious. What's important is that you sit in front of the computer, or with a notebook, and just write with no interruptions.
Get Feedback
You can't write in a vacuum. You need honest criticism of your work from other people who can write. They are going to be able to tell you what works and what doesn't and they are going to point out where you shine and where you fall flat. Getting feedback from friends and family is fine, but if their feedback is "I liked it, it was good" that isn't going to help you. You need people who can discuss the elements of writing with you. Structure, plot, character, style, voice, etc. Seek out and cultivate a group of people who are serious about their writing.
Getting feedback is a fine line to walk. You have to know what criticism to listen to and what criticism to discount. But first you have to listen. Too many writers, when they get feedback, get defensive when they're not immediately praised for their brilliance. Taking criticism well requires thick skin and an honesty with yourself. It's the only way you're going to grow as a writer.
Of course, writing isn't done by committee. Take those suggestions that work for you and use them. Throw everything else out. A good rule of thumb is if everyone, or a majority of people, are confused by something (plot, character, structure, etc) in your story then it needs to be fixed. If one person says that an element didn't work for them but no one agrees with them, then you need to decide for yourself if they're right. You'll get a feel for this as well as for the group that you're writing for.
The corollary to this is that you have to be writing second (and third and fourth) drafts. Hemmingway famously said that the first draft of anything is shit. You have to continually be revising your work. Too many people write a story once and it goes in the drawer while they move onto their next story. They'll improve, but it will be a slow hard road. Go back to old stories, take the time to more sharply define your characters and their conflicts. Cut away anything that's not absolutely necessary to the story. You'll be amazed at what you learn about your own writing when you're forced to write second drafts and really see where the problems are.
Read Everything
You still can't write in a vacuum. You have to read. Reading teaches you how to put together a story, how to create characters, how to create plot and define conflicts. Pay attention to what other writers are doing.
How do they create characters and conflict?
How do they keep the plot moving?
How have they structured the story?
How do they keep the reader invested in the story?
When you read, ask yourself why you like the certain elements and why you don't like others. For the elements you like, use them. The ones you don't, figure out why they don't work and then do it better.
This isn't about copying an author's style or stealing from them. This is about learning from them. If an author creates characters that you love, figure out what it is about those characters. Is it that they have compelling back-stories? Is it that they are larger than life? Tragically flawed? If you love the characters because of the back-stories that the author gives them, then you'd better be giving your characters detailed histories. If you're bored by an author's characters, figure out why the characters are boring and how to do it better.
Posted by Ben Corman at 11:26 AM