Persecuted for his appearance, mocked by those around him, constantly being ridiculed for his size, Tyrion Lannister is one of the most popular characters in A Song of Ice and Fire, a widely admired series of fantasy novels by American author George R. R. Martin. The author himself named Tyrion, the dwarf of Casterly Rock, his favorite character.

The TV adaptation of the series, Game of Thrones, took the world by storm. With 8.9 million viewers, the final episode of the sixth season set a new record of viewership. Here too Tyrion Lannister rules – he is named the most favorite character in the IMDb poll.

Can sarcastic, quick-witted Tyrion teach you anything about the craft of writing?

Everything.

Discover it yourself.

1- Reading is vital for writing

If you want to win a war with the white screen on your laptop, your mind needs an edge that you can only get through reading. The more you read, the better you will write. Just like a whetstone sharpens a sword, books sharpen a mind.

By reading voraciously, you can:

Understand the language better

Have wider vocabulary for your own works

Learn your genre better

Learn the craft of writing from the masters

Reading will not only make you a good writer, but also help you develop stronger analytical thinking skills. Now you have the reason why Trion is the best when it comes to analytic thinking.

My friend, make a habit of reading at least one book per week if you want to excel in the craft.

2- Keep your critics close

They can be harsh, they can be rude, but they will make you a better writer. The Imp of Casterly Rock is never in the favor of silencing the voice of a critic.

Don’t run away from your critics for the fear of they might say bad about your writing. You cannot learn the craft of writing if you don’t receive constructive feedback on what you write.

So keep your critics close – they can be your friends, family members, or anyone who can offer you a constructive feedback on your writing.

3- Write the way you want to write

Well, nobody needs to be a bastard to extract wisdom from the above lines. Never, I mean never let anyone hurt you for how you write and what you write.

There is no rule on writing – Ernest Hemingway used to write in simple English, but his contemporary Faulkner preferred complex sentences with lots of unfamiliar words.

And both the writers were genius.

Write the way you want to write and wear it like your signature style. Nobody will dare to hurt you.

4- Not all can write so feel special about it

What does Tyrion Lannister like the most?

Drinking, reading, and whoring. And what do you like the most?

Of course, writing. That’s why you are a writer. Like drinking, as Tyrion said, writing is not easy.

My friend, everyone would be writing if it were easy.

So, feel special about it. Have some pride in what you do. You will be writing powerful sentences inadvertently.

Remember,

Writing is a craft that requires a lifelong apprentice. Like Tyrion, you will have to go through many transformations to survive.

Only then, you will know how this Game of Words is played.