3 Harsh But Eye-Opening Writing Tips From Great Authors By Joe Baldwin

There are loads of people who think they can write novels, sing, dance, or even paint, but the thing is having the creative desire to do so doesn’t make you an artist. I had a friend who dreamed of becoming a writer, but he couldn’t even make it to the half page of a school essay. He realized thereafter that writing wasn’t really for him. Just like him, there are many people who are ready to take out their pen and paper, that doesn’t mean they’re going to write something anytime now.

It’s also the same with other types of art. When someone tries to sing, write or take on the dance floor, they might be able to get some of the lyrics and tunes. They might be able to get some of the dance steps right, but that doesn’t mean that they could do it in a creative way like dancers do.

They might be able to write a few paragraphs but doesn’t mean that it’s going to make sense. Writing, just like most creative areas, is half art and half science. People might be able to hire an expert to teach them a few tricks, but that wouldn’t do much to help them become the writer or artist they truly aspire to be. It might give them a few points, but there is only one way to become a writer, and that’s by going through loads of failure.
Writing isn’t just a matter of words. It’s more about the art of using them in such a way that it stirs human interest. And to do that, one needs experience. Even one of the world’s greatest writers such as Vladimir Nabokov went through a harsh rejection when he first submitted “Lolita” to Knopf.  But guess what? Later on, his piece sold about fifty million copies.

So, even if you think you’re a really fantastic writer, you’re still bound to receive criticisms from people, perhaps even some mockery. Not to worry, though. It’s all just part of the whole process.  Anyhow, let’s dig on some of the writing advice from great writers. After all, we’re all going to tear into the publishing industry anytime now, so let’s might as well be prepared.

“The first draft of anything is shit.” -  Ernest Hemingway

Some people imagine writing a novel and turning it into a publishing firm the next day. Well, the process is actually more complicated than that. The first draft is only the preface of the whole writing process.  There are 5 kinds of drafts in the writing process: (1) the junk draft (2) the structure draft (3) the rough draft (4) the surgery draft (5) and the last draft. The junk draft is as you guessed is the first draft. It’s not surprising to find loads of typos and errors here. After all, not even great writers can perfect their craft during the first try. The structure draft is the part where you’ve managed to read your junk draft for the first time and realized that there was something wrong with the order. It didn’t quite make sense, and so you decided to restructure the idea flow. The rough draft is when you already have something that’s a work in progress. This when your piece is already in good shape, but you still need to work on some of the parts. The surgery draft is when you already removed some bits and excess from your piece that might sway the reader from the real essence of the story. And finally, the last draft! Your story isn’t for you. It’s for the people who will be reading it. This is when you already asked some people to read your manuscript and ask for feedback. Your story isn’t for you. It’s for the people who will be reading it.

So, you see? There’s no harm in reviewing the first draft before making it your final piece. If you’re just going to write a book any anyway, make it the best.

“You can’t wait for inspiration. You have to go after it with a club.” – Jack London
I know loads of writing enthusiasts who are dying to write their first book. They never did. Why? They keep on waiting for that grand inspiration that’s going to tell them the plot to their story. Look, it’s true that sometimes inspiration just hits you like a ton of bricks, but these instances are so rare that you’d be waiting your whole life, and you still won’t have your book yet. Writing prompts and inspirations aren’t magic, and riders aren’t magicians either. Writing is a skill. You have to go and work for it.

If you really want to write a book and then you’ve got to work for it too. That being said, you can’t just wait for some random inspiration to hit you right in the face and tell you what to write about. You have to go and decide for yourself what to write about, and then from there, you can start seeking ways on how to write it.

There are three rules for writing a novel. Unfortunately, no one knows what they are. ― W. Somerset Maugham

People who want to be good at writing thinks that they can be better by asking experts to teach them their tricks, but it’s just like what I’ve said in the beginning of this article: writing is half art and half science. It’s true that you won’t make it far as a writer if you don’t know how to use proper grammar, or if you don’t the exact words to use, but the thing is you won’t make it far either if you only arm yourself with writing technicalities. Most of the aspects that make up writing have something to do with creativity. That’s something you need if you want to succeed in the writing industry in the long run. But creativity isn’t something you can learn overnight. Nor is it something you can purchase from the grocery store. Creativity is art. Creativity is developed, and you do so by looking for your inner writer.
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Having a good potential as a writer doesn’t mean that it’s going to be easier for you in the process. Sure, you might already know the basic technicalities of good writing, but you’re still going to go through the same struggle that every writer is supposed to go through. It’s the only way for you to grow as a writer.

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​Joe Baldwin is a native US resident & professional Article writer for https://essaylook.com. He studied English literature and creative writing. He has experience with online web content including blogs, web page content, news, public relations, press releases, and long form sales and industrial presentations.