Last Updated on October 21, 2022 by Nathaniel Tower
The act of writing seems simple. At least for the prolific essayist-novelist Joan Didion, who once mused in her landmark essay “Why I Write” that writing is the act of arranging words. This is something you can take into your own writing practices. At the same time, it’s also true that converting thought to text is much more complex than what Didion describes.
Authors must meet the standards set by already-bestselling works. They must also contribute a new perspective to an ongoing discourse that their writings tackle. To top it all off, they must meet these expectations with a distinct writing style that takes years to cultivate.
Fortunately, you can confront these challenges by reinforcing your writing foundation. Here are 4 ways you can do just that by enhancing your literary writing skills.
Polish your fundamentals
It’s essential to have a strong foundation in grammar before anything else. Our post “9 Ways to Become a Better Writer” explains that a good grasp of grammar helps you structure your sentences better. To polish your grammar skills over time, make it a habit to check everything you write for grammatical errors. This includes messages, posts, and even comments.
Once your grammar is spotless, experiment and break rules if it helps add value to your book. Charles Dickens pulled this off by using run-on sentences for creative purposes in A Tale of Two Cities. Though grammatically incorrect, it served Dickens’ purpose of mocking the objects of criticism in his book.
Set a writing routine
It’s also vital that you hone your storytelling skills, which you can do with daily practice. Committing to a daily writing schedule sets you up to write more. For example, famed Japanese author Haruki Murakami—and a frontrunner for this year’s Nobel Prize for literature—shares that his infamous 4 AM routine helps him write at least 10 pages a day.
Murakami recalls that his former routine left him tired and unable to focus, as he could only write after midnight. Now that he writes early in the morning, he can concentrate better. This is because routines wire your brain to write within a given period. With a routine, you can write every day, even without inspiration or motivation.
Related article: Do you need to write every day?
Read across genres
Reading gives your writing practice direction on how to improve. In fact, the best writers are also the world’s most voracious readers. Margaret Atwood fans would rejoice to know that The Handmaid’s Tale author has a reading list that spans across genres—from romance classics by Jane Austen to crime staples by Agatha Christie.
That’s why Maryville University recommends reading various forms and genres of literature. You can start by reading through your favorite authors’ recommended books as a starting point. Over time, you’ll expose yourself to a diverse range of styles and techniques. You can try to adopt these different influences as you practice writing. This should help you work toward your own unique writing style.
Practice with flash fiction
If you’re in a slump, you can try breaking your writer’s block with flash fiction. Word count limits in flash fiction—which usually have you cap your pieces at 1,000 words—push writers to present profound ideas in a concise but engaging manner. This challenge, along with the short amount of time flash fiction provides, helps make flash fiction a refreshing exercise that can ease you out of your rut.
Better yet, you can join flash fiction competitions. Some of these have word count limits shorter than 500. For instance, Florida State University hosted the iconic World’s Best Short Story competition in 1986. Notably, the event only allowed participants to write stories of up to 250 words. By challenging yourself and joining similar competitions with such extreme restrictions, you can hone your skills and even develop new writing techniques.
Becoming a greater writer takes time, grit, and effort. By adopting these tips, you can maximize the time you spend on your craft so you can exponentially grow as a writer.
Written by: Annie Garfield
ANNIE GARFIELD is a freelance writer who specializes in all things literature. In her free time, you’ll find her rereading her favorite Margaret Atwood books or watching historical shows on Netflix.
