5 Writing Hacks from World-Famous Authors

If you’ve (or just about to) read our post on 5 Nasty Habits That Hurt Your Writing (And How to Overcome Them, here’s a great equalizer to bring your writing up a notch. Because there’s nothing more fascinating than the works of great writers, let’s talk about some writing hacks and best practices from some of the most influential figures in literature.

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1. John Steinbeck’s Rapid Writing

Steinbeck was a believer in free writing. His advice to young writers? Keep writing, and rapidly at that without looking back and minding the typos, the misplaced commas, and other hiccups—not until you're done dumping the whole thing down. For him, rewriting while being in the process of writing is just a pretty excuse, and it effectively blocks the flow of your writing. Another thing: imagine having an audience of one. Forget you have a hundred readers. Talk to just one person through your writings. This way, your piece becomes more personal, authentic, and becomes like a letter to a dear friend. It also helps you ease out anxieties, because at times, when you think you have a nameless general audience, it will scare the heaven out of you. It makes you paralyzed—like a performer forgetting the lines while freezing on stage. But unlike being on a show, that kind of performance never exists in writing. So forget about performing and start connecting with just a single reader. 

2. Stop Midway, According to Ernest Hemingway

Ernest Hemingway had his counterintuitive, yet productive way of approaching writing. If Steinbeck would say to fire up writing and never stop until everything’s done, Hemingway would surprisingly say otherwise. Because to him, it would be much more effective if he’d stop midway while there is still an idea left in mind to write about. Then, he would start the next writing day using the leftovers from the previous writing session. He justified that starting with the first word is the most difficult step. He understood that when he’d exhausted all of his ideas in just one session, he would have nothing to fall back on during the next writing hour. It was his wise way of using his unwritten concept as a springboard, so he wouldn’t be stuck thinking about how to continue his writing assignment. 

3. Elizabeth Gilbert Says Obey the Spiritual Force of an Idea

The Eat, Pray, Love creator has a strong faith in ideas being mystical and a carrier of magic. She views them as more like a spiritual force, floating in the realm of ether, and visiting a human partner to swoon them into existence. She believes that you must be ready to catch their whispers, and when you are not in the mood to do so, politely decline their invitation. But when you say “yes,” be sure to be faithful and follow through. Because you’ve just “signed” a contract with them, your job now is to partner with them until the idea becomes a tangible material—words that bring them soul and power. The next time you’re out of ideas to write, try to relax and be receptive to anything that comes to mind. Who knows, that absurd concept swirling around your head might just be the next big thing you can write about. 

4. Have a Routine and Dedicated Workspace, According to Maya Angelou

Many writers, like Maya Angelou, advocate the need to have a dedicated place for writing. For them, it helps the mind to be in the mood, free from the casual atmosphere of distractions. Maya Angelou would rent a hotel, go there by seven in the morning, and write until midday or two in the afternoon. She also followed quite a strict routine. She’d get up by 5:30 a.m., get a coffee at 6:00 a.m. with her husband, and off she’d go to work (that is writing) by 7:00 a.m. She’d make sure to keep a normal life and not allow work to consume her. At home, though, she’d read aloud what she wrote for the day because it would help her see some dissonance that she could correct the next day. 

5. One at a Time, Says Stephen King

The thought of treading a thousand steps toward your magnum opus can feel overwhelming. Stephen King has a simple yet profound advice for the overwhelmed writer: write one word at a time. Because to him, “in the end, it’s always that simple. Whether it’s a vignette of a single page or an epic trilogy like The Lord of the Rings, the work is always accomplished one word at a time.” 

Writing can be hard, but not with the right people to help you bring your book ideas to life. That’s why we are here to help you polish your drafts, so you can focus on what matters most—writing. Send your manuscript to themanuscripteditor.com for a complimentary 800-word sample. 

Sources:

• Six Tips on Writing from John Steinbeck

• Should You Really Stop Writing In The Middle Of A Sentence?

• Elizabeth Gilbert on Writing and Creativity

• I Tried Stephen King’s Hack For Writing a Novel Fast. It Worked.

• Masters of Habit: The Wisdom and Writing of Maya Angelou