10 Published Authors Share Their Best Writing Advice

By Marissa DeCuir

The writer’s life can be creatively fulfilling and packed with possibility — and it can also be arduous, frustrating, and downright lonely. Sometimes you just need another writer friend (or ten!) who gets it, has been there, and can give you that little bit of encouragement or great piece of advice that inspires you to keep going.

We’ve got you covered! We asked ten of our published authors to share the best writing advice they ever received, and to tell us what inspired them to persevere and keep creating. Think of it as your own personal support circle when you need a creative pick-me-up! Here’s what they had to say:

‘You got this’

“From those who published books before me: ‘Put butt in chair.’ (Plus a variation on that theme: ‘Sit. Stay.’) From my storytelling instructor: ‘Don’t worry about your memoir: it’s YOUR story. Write it down.’ From my writing coach and all-round cheerleader: ‘You got this.’ So, to every fellow writer out there: Keep on keepin’ on. We NEED your art.”

— Margaret Davis Ghielmetti, author of Brave(ish): A Memoir of a Recovering Perfectionist

Write, actually

“The best advice I received as an author was to be one rather than simply talking about it. I was advised to take classes, read and dissect books in the genre that interested me, and network, but most of all, actually write. Once I got words on paper for what became my first book, I could see my way to a beginning, middle and an end. With that knowledge, I knew I could persist in following my passion to write.”

— Debra H. Goldstein, author of Three Treats Too Many and other Sarah Blair Mysteries

Just keep swimming

“The best writing advice I’ve heard is from Dory–yes, that blue fish. When she gets stuck, what does she tell herself? ‘Just keep swimming!’ That goes for writing, too. And often her friend Nemo, in searching for her, would say ‘What would Dory do?’ The answer is always something wacky and unexpected–out of the box. To me, that’s a reminder to think outside the box and try something radically different.”

— Dori (with an “i”) Jones Yang, author of When the Red Gates Opened: A Memoir of China’s Reawakening

Consider a mindful approach

“‘A writer writes.’ I don’t remember when or where I first received this advice, but it fuels my daily writing practice. Whether I lock in for a stellar word count or labor to squeeze out a few measly sentences, I’m comforted by progress and validated by discipline. No matter how slow or frustrating the process may feel, I’m living my dream—in the moment, every day.

This mindful approach to writing helps me enjoy all the stages of publication, from inception to promotion. What a special joy it is to be celebrating award nominations for The Ninja Daughter, preparing for the virtual launch of The Ninja’s Blade, and writing the next Lily Wong adventure!

— Tori Eldridge, author of The Ninja Daughter and The Ninja’s Blade

Don’t be afraid to change gears 

“One author told me it’s good to take time with your writing, to make sure you’re saying what you want to say, in the way you want to say it, good to devote the time to craft your work. But then again, she said, you’ve also got to be willing to move quickly toward spontaneous opportunities. Both of those things have proved true. One gear is not enough.”

— Shelley Blanton-Stroud, author of Copy Boy

Listen to yourself

“For me, writing was a call that became persistent, until I answered. My operating principles were less ‘advice’ and more ‘inner listening.’ For me, the helpful reminders were to get behind my eyes, breathe easily, and connect with the inspiration that drew me to writing this book in the first place. That’s where flow occurred. If it wasn’t happening, I needed to prime the pump by fun and simple writing–poetry or prose–or direct my attention elsewhere. Balance was key.

One helpful reminder was knowing that I wouldn’t be called to write this book without having the ability to answer the call. Still, writing memoir about rape was full of emotion. At challenging points, I relied on a strong circle of women friends to support me in moving forward. Having community to hold this vision with me was invaluable.”

— Anne Reeder Heck, author of A Fierce Belief in Miracles: My Journey from Rape to Healing and Wholeness

Join a writer’s group

“The best advice I ever got was to join a writers group. You can learn a lot from the candid criticism of your peers. Fellow writers have a big advantage over beta readers. They can tell you not only what doesn’t work, but also how to fix it.”

— James A. Ross, author of Hunting Teddy Roosevelt

Your book is your business

“My favorite authorship advice is to remember that authoring a book is owning a business. When I heard this advice, I thought business ownership was an interesting way to view authorship, without realizing this was a fact, not a figure of speech. While writing and developing my book, I became aware of the teamwork and moving parts involved, and then I understood.

Many will think your writing career is a ‘fun distraction’ from your ‘real work’—someone said this to me the other day, even though I just published a book available in bookstores—so you are responsible to defend your authorship as a business just as worthy of your time and attention as your other obligations. That’s how you get your book finished and noticed.”

— Katie Burke, author of Urban Playground: What Kids Say About Living in San Francisco

Know your ‘why’

“Know your why. Dig deep to understand why you are writing. If it’s for fame or recognition, you’re going to have a short career. Every time you come to the page, your resounding why should be there—and that needs to be separate from how your work is received, who deems it worthy, or how it sells. Your why keeps you coming back to the page no matter what. Strengthen and sharpen this why every chance you get. You own your reasons for writing. That is your real purpose.”

— Rea Frey, author of Because You’re Mine, Until I Find You, and the soon to be major motion picture Not Her Daughter

Celebrate your wins

“The best advice I’ve ever gotten is ‘celebrate your wins, no matter how small they are.’ In this pandemic-y time, it’s especially important to find moments of joy and happiness. So if someone DMs you saying they love your book, or if you get invited to be on a panel, or you finish a rough draft of a new project, celebrate it!”

— Suzanne Park, author of Loathe at First Sight and The Perfect Escape

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AUTHOR BIO: A former award-winning journalist, Marissa DeCuir now helps authors share their stories and messages with the world as president of Books Forward publicity and Books Fluent publishing. Under the 20-year-old JKS Communications brand, the companies are committed to elevating voices, breaking barriers, and promoting books that empower, inspire and move the world forward.

Interested in what’s possible for your book sales and building readership? Check out our services, tell us your goals, and get a customized publicity campaign tailored just for you: https://booksforward.com/

Tags: featured, women writes

Category: Contemporary Women Writers, How To and Tips