3 Steps to Become a Better Writer

Our main focus on this channel is reading — but today, let's talk about writing. How can you improve your writing? Are there quick tips, life hacks, and secret formulae?

The truth is, you'll only be a better writer if you practice. I can (and do) give some advice, but writing is hard work. That's true for students, for working professionals, and for novelists. All of us have to commit to building good habits in order to make ourselves better writers.

Books on writing I recommend:

Examples of great writing:

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Writing 0:00
Be a Good Reader 00:56
Write Drunk, Edit Sober 2:21
Plus/Minus/Equals 7:17

[kishfoo]

Great advice. I wrote two novels in the span of a year, thought they were perfect and self-published. Didn't sell any. I spiraled down into a Smeagle phase, where everything I read or watched that was produced afterwards, felt like they were all stealing ideas from me. Glad I didn't sell any. I went back after a year of writing a third book, and nearly puked everywhere. Those two first books were horrible. But they did have the base content for a good story. I pulled them off the digital shelves and edited them two more times. Thought they were perfect again but decided to find a professional editor. Best move ever. Now I'm going over the first book with my editor, a chapter at a time, and wow, there's still so much chiseling and sanding to do. If it wasn't for the accidental process and realization that setting my book down for a spell or two, then picking it up again after some time would totally change the way I saw it, I would've blamed a broken system and stopped writing all together. Because of that learning process, it's less painful and easier to swallow my editors criticism and hopefully one day I'll be ready to publish.

[Hirvet]

I think it is important to "copy". We learn by pretending to be our heroes, like children learn by imitating their parents. Not plagiarism, but more like reverse-engineering. It's like a watchmaker taking a watch apart in order to study how it was made.

[dcle]

The key is to not find a mentor in one person. If you’re good already, it would be hard to find someone who’s better than you in all aspects, but there are plenty of writers who are better than you in one aspect. Pull them all in because you all can help each other and grow together. Each of you can be your plus and minus.

[fungalpanda]

I participate in a once monthly zoom writing workshop led by a different published author each month--mostly poets. It's small, but it really makes a difference to have access to other writers when a draft is done. As writers, we spend so much time in solitude, immersed in a screen or journal, hallucinating worlds. And other writers are the only ones who understand. Keep the writing content coming!

[jaygreen]

When you started by discussing “becoming a better writer” it made me think you have to have something to write about that is valuable to your audience. I like the reading point

[thomasgent]

I would advise writer's that reading and thinking about works, fiction or non-fiction, that are so abominable really helps. For me, it inspires me to think of how to avoid pitfalls and mistakes and it triggers in me my own imagination. My own writing then often feels original as my mind tries to discover good ideas in a work that simply aren't there. It is simultaneously depressing while inspiring haha

[chilledoutorange]

I've found being part of the publishing house of my university to be really helpful in improving as a writer. You always have seniors with more reading and writing experience than you to give you feedback. Also, deadlines ensure you get into the habit of getting your fingers on those keys and articulating your thoughts.

Would love to see more content on writing from you. Cheers!

[barbaravoss]

One of the most exciting books I have come across where a writer examines and records his writing process is John Steinbeck's 'Journey of a Novel' about his creative journey and struggles while writing 'East of Eden'. A wonderfully generous and intimate sharing.

[domingo-osabel]

Great video, as always! 👏I absolutely agree with the advice that "A better writer is a better reader." Reading a substantial amount of good books will really influence someone to think better and pen those thoughts. If I may contribute unsolicited advice, one of the secrets to achieving excellence (not perfection) in writing is to ask good questions. These doubts and curiosities are the driving force of any writer (and thinker) to grab their pen and move the cursor of the blank page.

[blessedshadows]

This is such fantastic advice. I often get stuck editing what I’ve just written immediately. I’m practicing building that space before I return.

[WomenLivingTorah]

I listened to a podcast with the author of ‘90 Day Novel, ’ (and I apologize for not remembering his name or the podcast), and he mentioned that many writers have a dozen started and unfinished novels in their home because we have a tendency to edit as we go. His methodology is to just write until you have a completed draft; no editing and rewriting as you go. Blah it out in a stream of consciousness fashion. AFTER you have reached the end of your piece, you can go back and read through it and make revisions. But! The first draft is done. You better know the direction your piece is going to take, and you have something to work with and refine. This tip has taken the perfectionist pressure off, and I’ve been able to write to completion several pieces since implementing this method! Also- I recently found your channel! I can’t wait to watch more videos on classical literature!! Blessings. 😊

[creativewritingcorner]

Good tips! I've been a creative writing teacher for years, and I give all this advice to my students. Particularly that bit about letting your writing suck on the first draft.
Also, over the years I've read several hundred books on the writing craft. Le Guin's Steering the Craft is excellent. My number 1 recommendation for fiction and nonfiction, though, is Stein on Writing by Sol Stein. For style and communication of message, I suggest William Zinsser's On Writing Well.

[fuadmancity]

i agreed on the second point, sometimes when we write, we think thats need to be perfect one and no mistakes, we forget that we can edit it later .

[kieranhooton]

The write drunk and edit sober approach resonates with me so much and the newfound clarity of making a conscious effort to act in that manner will certainly help me produce something rather than nothing at all so thank you!

Perhaps a video on planning an idea might go nicely with this? Just a suggestion. I myself find that getting an idea is relatively easy but taking that idea and making it into a fully structured narrative where there are clear themes and a clear order to everything is the hardest part. I have so many ideas but not one is ready to be written because of plot holes or underdeveloped characters etcetera. A ‘how to plan a novel’ or ‘how to flesh out a novel idea’ type video could be incredibly useful. As I say it’s just a suggestion. Thank you for everything you do, there isn’t enough of YouTubers like yourself and I don’t have anyone in my personal life so videos like these are what keep me inspired and keep me from feeling so alone :)

[suggyz]

I’m still learning how to write well myself, but I have picked up a few things along the way:

If you learn how to accurately copy a master’s work in extremely exacting detail, it can serve as a suitable plus substitute. Learning how to copy one writer’s style accurately teaches you how to read/copy other writings more effectively.

Never underestimate anyone’s abilities. Being new and inexperienced doesn’t necessarily make someone any less clever and insightful. Every single “equal” level collaborator I have had was actually a “plus” in disguise. Every “minus” level relationship I’ve ever had has turned into a “plus” level relationship in time.
Everyone has a distinct point of view, and if you are open enough to see it, it can change your entire approach fundamentally.

[Primavera_Eterna]

This video came on the right time for me. I have the problem of always thinking that what I'm writing is already the final version, and that makes me freeze. Yes, I have to write and then revise as many times as necessary until I am satisfied with the final result. Thank you for the vídeo. It was a great help. 🙏

[Z-ManSC]

The ➕️ ➖️ equal thing is definitely the most useful advice I've heard on a while thank you, I think its one of those things you kinda sort of know but when worded you suddenly see the light that was always gleaming through

[lavenderpatchouli]

I really enjoyed the final chapter of this video, where you talked about plus/minus/equals. I love this dynamic and I personally think it is very helpful for all parties involved. In high school, I had a Creative Writing class that used this method in some fashion. We would have group constructive feedback sessions several times a week, which consisted of my fellow seniors (who were more experienced at writing like me, so my equals), the minus (underclassmen) that I could give advice to, and my teacher, or my plus. I enjoyed all four years of that class very much :)

[benmartizz]

I really enjoyed this type of video about writing! I am a 17 year old who writes poetry and essays surely the tips mentioned will work wonder because one of the tips--- about read to write good--- had already been a huge help in my writing.

[mannymistry]

A few techniques transformed my writing of fiction. 1) I decided to write under a pseudonym. That way, anyone that I know who might end up reading it, won't know its by me and that means I write in my true voice without any self-censorship whatsoever. 2) If I have been published (short story in a magazine for example), I never read reviews or critiques of my work. I will take feedback from a publisher I have submitted to and I do have a writer friend who will look at an unfinished work, but I always feel that if I look at reviews, it will impact my one true voice (even if subconsciously). If I have been published then I am happy that my work is good enough for others to read and that is good enough for me. 3) I spend a good deal of time structuring my story and building characters before I begin to write. This means I do not interrupt my momentum by entering plot cul-de-sacs once I have started writing and its easier for me to step into the shoes of my characters when I am writing from their point of view. 4) I adopt a minimalist approach to my prose. I avoid adding any extra words when they are not needed (multiple adjectives, adverbs that do not add to the prose etc). I am also sparing with punctuation and tend to not wrap verbiage around my prose. 5) I don't like too many descriptives in my prose. I like to use inventive ways to describe things in the world I am creating by the dialogue, feelings and actions of my characters.