Bill Leslie: 20 tips to become a better writer
Bill Leslie shares his decades of journalism, songwriting and creative writing experience with aspiring writers. Here are 20 simple tips to help you grow as a writer.
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Every year I hear from high school and college students who want to improve their writing skills. In response, I decided to jot down 20 writing tips that I try to follow and share them, with the hopes of helping encourage a generation of new writers and journalists.
I would love to hear your ideas on the topic, and I invite you to email me at bleslie@wral.com.
20 tips for becoming a better writer
1. Read as much as possible.
Pick out five to ten writers you admire. Study the way they communicate. Scrutinize the way they set up their stories.
2. Write every day.
Great writers are disciplined writers. They practice their craft at a specific time every day. Treat writing like it’s a job.
3. Start an idea book.
Jot down interesting phrases that might serve as a catalyst for your next story or book. I have a PHRASE category on my iPhone Notes app. That works well.
4. Learn as much as possible about your subject.
Thoroughly research your topic before writing about it. Charles Kuralt called this “the cluttered mind” theory. You never know when some obscure fact may come in handy for a writing assignment.
5. Give rhythm to your writing.
Read it aloud. Does it sound good?
6. Remember the power of “threes.”
The human brain remembers more effectively if it is presented with three thoughts. An example is “lions and tigers and bears.” Or Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar who said “Friends. Romans. Countrymen. Lend me your ears.”
7. Learn to re-write and be comfortable with it.
When you run out of interest or energy, put your writing on the shelf and return to it after a nap or a walk.
8. A long walk can do wonders for writers and thinkers.
Thomas Jefferson took a long walk every morning and claimed exercise stimulated creativity.
9. Close the door. Silence the phone. Write in a quiet place.
Create a comfortable writing place free of distractions and interruptions.
10. Avoid jargon or buzzwords “like the plague!”
Don’t overdress your writing with flowery words. Don’t be pretentious.
11. Visualize what you want someone to experience while reading your story.
Relish the art of description. But don’t overdo it. Keep things moving!
12. Write down interesting things you read about in the news.
Strange stories can serve as a catalyst for great writing. Here are three examples I took directly from the news several years ago.
- A 72-year-old grandmother was ticketed for speeding at 100 mph trying to get to a hair appointment. Later, she lit a cigarette and set her hair, heavily laden with hairspray, on fire.
- A former dentist will spend a year in jail for using paper clips in root canals instead of stainless steel posts.
- A man tried to rob a Subway Restaurant but couldn’t get into the register. So he stole nine bags of chips. Crumbs from those chips led police to the suspect.
13. Keep a list of interesting names.
John Grisham says the average book has about 200 characters so you will need a lot of good names if you are writing fiction. Hunt Riddle, Saul Cheslock and Trudy Moody were three of the more interesting names I came across in my childhood.
14. Join a writers group.
Find a writing partner. Attend roundtable discussions for writers.
15. Learn the value of a great outline.
It can really help to bring your story together and keep it on track.
16. Embrace editing.
Begin the process by eliminating unnecessary words. Ask yourself: “How can I tighten this copy?”
17. Don’t hold back.
Say what you think. Be original even if that means you are a lonely contrarian. Readers are always hungry for fresh and interesting ideas.
18. Set a project timeline and stick to it.
19. Travel if you can.
New places and cultures are great for stimulating creativity.
20. Go easy on yourself when you face criticism.
It takes a lot of hard work to be a good writer but if you really want it, you can do it!
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