Writing is a skill that can be learned. No matter what anyone tells you, you can become a good writer with practice and experience.

Every writer is different. What works for one person may not work for another. So experiment with different techniques and tools to find the right fit for you.

Writer’s Starting Kit

Write

You’ve decided to become a writer but don’t know where to start. First, get a pen and paper and start writing. Write about anything. Where you live, how you feel or a book you’ve recently read. The topic doesn’t matter, for now, just write! Don’t make excuses, 10 minutes a day is all it takes to start off.

2. Practice

Write a little more, every day. Try writing about topics that make you feel moved and expand on what you don’t know through research. Look at other blogs to help inspire you. Find your passion and write about it, whatever the topic.

3. Read

Apart from writing, you’re going to need to read and read a lot. Read articles if you’re not into full-length novels. Try short stories, essays, blogs and so on. There is so much content out there that you’re bound to find something that interests you.

4. Education

Keep learning and expanding your skills. Take courses. Read craft books and articles. Watch online videos. When we’re continually learning something new, it builds your confidence and fuels your creativity.

5. Practical work

Social media can act as a platform for your work. To improve, we need to get constructive feedback. Writing small pieces on a social media platform, in writing groups or on a blog can help improve your skills. It’s also a great way to express yourself and help find your own writing voice.

Creative Workshop

Many writers find it hard to get inspired or don’t know where to look. You can find inspiration everywhere. Many creative ideas are formed through the things we like to do. For instance, reading quotes that touch you could spark an idea for a story.

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins was inspired by channel surfing. Two different channels intermingled and formed the idea behind the books.

I follow beautiful photography pages on Instagram, not only because of the scenery but also to get the creativity flowing. If you look deeply enough, you’re sure to find something.

Creating Contents:

Read a book.

Watch a movie.

Go for a walk.

Use writing prompts to get you started and inspired.

Listen to music.

Look at some art.

Creating Emotion

When it comes to writing emotional experiences, we are the perfect tool. At some point in our lives, we have all felt love, grief, sadness, happiness, pride, hunger and more. Anytime you feel that emotion, write it down and use it.

If you have a bad day, write down how you feel. Describe the emotion behind that feeling and use it. For example, you feel nervous about the test results you’re waiting on. When we feel any emotion our bodies physically show it. When I’m nervous my hands get clammy and my heart races. You can use the way your body conveys that feeling and convert it into writing.

We have so many experiences in our lives. So many little moments we can use to make our writing more real.

Building off real-life experiences will authenticate your writing. You will be a better writer for it, trust me!

Conquering Writer’s Block

Rapid drafting. Using sites like writeordie help keep you on track.

Work on something else for a while. If you’re stuck in a rut, switch it up and focus on something else.

Exercise or meditate. Anything that calms the mind will help get you more focused.

Rather than trying to pull from your own thoughts and ideas, use writing prompts or short exercises to motivate and inspire.

Read. Use other authors as inspiration and take notes on technique.

Go back to your Outline and change, expand or improve your ideas.

If the reason why you’re procrastinating is because of the work being too daunting, break it up into smaller tasks.

There are many tools and ways to overcome your writer’s block. In some cases, writer’s block stems from fear of failure or inadequacy. To overcome those thoughts we need to look at the bigger picture.

Overcoming Writer’s Doubt

Everyone goes through moments of self-doubt. Writers get rejected. It’s part of life. Pushing through those feelings will help overcome your fears. Know that having doubts does not mean you can’t write, it just means you’re human.

When you love doing something, giving up isn’t an option.

“I have spent a good many years — too many, I think — being ashamed about what I write. I kept hearing Miss Hisler asking why I wanted to waste my talent, why I wanted to waste my time, why I wanted to write junk. I think I was forty before I realised that almost every writer of fiction and poetry who has ever published a line has been accused by someone of wasting his or her God-given talent.” — Stephen King, On Writing

We only get better at something through practice and hard work. But practicing your writing alone with no feedback can be tough when trying to progress further.

I found joining a writing group to be a great support for any moments of doubt. If you’re connected to something bigger than yourself, you become more driven to reach your goals.

Writer’s Inventory

Always bring a notebook with you. If you can’t bring writing material, use the Memo app (or similar) on your phone. I don’t know how many times I’ve had an idea but forgot to write it down and forgot it later. Join a writers group. Support, feedback, and self-improvement are just a few of the ways writing groups are beneficial. Start a blog. Get yourself and your voice out there and connect with writers and readers. Subscribe to some good writing blogs and groups. There are many useful and inspiring articles on the internet. Many can help you take a step in the right direction. Read, learn, enjoy, share and repeat! Use writing prompts or challenges to improve your skills. Come up with characters names through baby name searching websites and books. Looking for a new word or name? Use google translate to manipulate the word to your liking. For example, Jagare is Swedish for a destroyer. I could change the word to Jagari to sound right for me or I could join multiple words together to make something new. Create a space just for writing. Whether it’s in your bedroom or a quiet space outside, make it your own. Read over anything you write at least 3 times before submitting it. This ensures grammar and typos are less frequent. Join NaNoWriMo challenges. These challenges are a great prompt to help authors be productive. Many writers have found NaNo writing very successful when completing their novels. We all learn differently. If you learn more visually head over to YouTube. Many great authors and writers have channels explaining everything you can think of when it comes to writing. At the start, just write anything and everything. But as you improve, try writing about something you have to say, in turn, you’ll find your voice. Flowery words won’t make your story any better. People want short and concise not elaborate and over the top. Listen to that inner voice, like your gut, it usually has something important to tell you. Write from the heart. A reader will find it easier to relate and connect to you. Don’t add fluff. Nobody wants to read unnecessary and unclear stories that go nowhere. Be ruthless when editing. If it’s not needed, take it out. Be prepared for negative feedback. It’s impossible for everyone to like you or what you write. Support each other. Other writers are not your competition, we are all here to help and learn from one another. Always backup your work. Whether it’s as simple as an article to the first draft of your novel. Technical glitches and failures happen, so be prepared.

Toolbox Equipment

Everyone needs a little help every now and again. Tools can be an amazing resource to have when writing. Here are a few to pick from.

Online Courses

YouTube

The popular video sharing website allows writers to view thousands of videos for free. YouTube has an abundance of how to guides and videos on writing.

Udemy

This online learning platform helps people master new skills or build on the ones you have. There are over 100,000 courses available to watch.

Skillshare

This online learning community is available through subscription only. Compared with Udemy, It’s more creative orientated so the types of courses are focused on design, photography and so on.

Software tools

Writing, Editing, and Grammar

Google Docs is a free online document that can edit and share on the go.

is a free online document that can edit and share on the go. Grammarly is a free writing application that helps your writing to be more effective and mistake free.

is a free writing application that helps your writing to be more effective and mistake free. Hemingway App is a proofreading tool that helps people write more concise and impactful pieces. Sentences are rated through color coding to point out different types of improvements to be made.

is a proofreading tool that helps people write more concise and impactful pieces. Sentences are rated through color coding to point out different types of improvements to be made. ProWritingAid acts as a grammar checker, editor and writing coach all round into one.

acts as a grammar checker, editor and writing coach all round into one. Scrivener is an all-in-one word processing program. It is the go-to app for authors.

is an all-in-one word processing program. It is the go-to app for authors. Storyist is a full-featured writing app for MAC OS X and iPad. Aimed at screenwriters and novelists, it’s designed to help you structure, write, edit and brainstorm. It also offers a distraction-free environment when writing. If your video or writing project is large. This is the tool for you.

is a full-featured writing app for MAC OS X and iPad. Aimed at screenwriters and novelists, it’s designed to help you structure, write, edit and brainstorm. It also offers a distraction-free environment when writing. If your video or writing project is large. This is the tool for you. StackEdit is an open source markdown editor that is available as a Chrome extension. It has the ability to convert any text to HTML and can also copy any text from WordPress, Microsoft Word or Google docs without changing the format.

is an open source markdown editor that is available as a Chrome extension. It has the ability to convert any text to HTML and can also copy any text from WordPress, Microsoft Word or Google docs without changing the format. Writefull is an application that gives you feedback. It checks a database of correct languages against your text.

Ideas and brainstorming

Scapple helps map out ideas for those brainstorming moments.

helps map out ideas for those brainstorming moments. AWW App is a real-time online whiteboard. Write, draw and share your creations online.

is a real-time online whiteboard. Write, draw and share your creations online. InfoGram’s TreeMap Creator can help you keep track of plot points or other data.

Productivity

Dragon Dictation creates a voice to text for when you are on the go.

creates a voice to text for when you are on the go. Pomodoro.me is a time management tool. If you’re someone who loves keeping track of every minute, you’ll love the Pomodoro technique.

is a time management tool. If you’re someone who loves keeping track of every minute, you’ll love the Pomodoro technique. Focus Keeper is similar to Pomodoro with scheduled intervals for focus and breaks.

is similar to Pomodoro with scheduled intervals for focus and breaks. Write or Die is a website and app that uses a system of rewards and consequences to urge you to keep writing. You have options to set a time, word-count or words per minute that you must not miss. If you do, the site will either play an unpleasant sound, make spiders crawl across your screen, (virtual, of course) or start deleting what you’ve written so far.

Procrastination

ZenPen has a simple interface with a word counter. When you reach your goal or words, a green line appears subtly letting you know.

has a simple interface with a word counter. When you reach your goal or words, a green line appears subtly letting you know. Calmly Writer allows you to stay distraction-free with a simple interface. When you start typing, any option that would distract you from writing disappears from the interface.

allows you to stay distraction-free with a simple interface. When you start typing, any option that would distract you from writing disappears from the interface. Freedom is similar to Calmly, as it eliminates all distractions. It can also block internet, email and social media access for specified times. This allows you to focus entirely on your writing.

is similar to Calmly, as it eliminates all distractions. It can also block internet, email and social media access for specified times. This allows you to focus entirely on your writing. Todolist offers an efficient modular way to make tasks. Sometimes when we procrastinate, it’s because we don’t have a plan or know what we need to do next.

Marketing

Ahrefs is a huge SEO toolkit. It can help you explore competitors, keyword analysis or even website rankings.

is a huge SEO toolkit. It can help you explore competitors, keyword analysis or even website rankings. Buzzstream is a link building tool with the ability to identify websites that request links. One of its main features is discovery. This allows people to find influencers and bloggers contact information for campaigning or reaching out.

is a link building tool with the ability to identify websites that request links. One of its main features is discovery. This allows people to find influencers and bloggers contact information for campaigning or reaching out. Visualize Free lets you represent your data in a variety of graphs and charts.

Writer’s Insight

Unless you have years of experience, no first draft is perfect. Everything needs editing. Write every day, even if it’s not very good. You can always fix it later.

Don’t try to be something you’re not. I’ll never be able to write the way Sarah J. Mass does, that’s not me. Express who you are and build on it. We all have our own voice, trying to be someone else won’t help you grow.

Find your passion and learn to write about it. Writing from your heart will bleed into your story without you realizing and your readers will see and feel this.

Don’t give up! Nothing truly worthwhile is ever easy so why would this be!

Believe in yourself and remember to have fun. Make mistakes and then make some more.

We are not defined by our mistakes, only our actions. So keep going!