1. Don’t worry about creating the perfect title/headline before you start writing. Write first, tweak later.
2. Always have a plan, but never the whole plan. It’s never going to go the way you think.
3. No idea is completely original. Write your story, whether it’s similar to someone else’s or not.
4. Don’t spend too much time trying to come up with the most unique idea that’s ever been crafted, either.
5. Start by taking a well-known concept and figuring out how to make it your own.
6. In writing, perfection is overrated.
7. Especially when you’re working on a first draft.
8. Don’t put your full trust in Grammarly or SpellCheck.
9. There will always be at least one person who likes your idea.
10. Give every new idea a chance, even if it turns out not to be a good one.
11. “I don’t think it will be good” is not a good excuse.
12. The only way to get better at writing is to write.
13. You don’t have to publish everything you create.
14. One bad idea is not going to ruin your career.
15. Rejection isn’t just normal; it’s good for you, too.
16. You’ll learn more by failing than you ever will by succeeding in writing.
17. Do good work and you’ll get good results. Eventually. In time.
18. The only way to truly fail as a writer is to never write.
19. You’re the only one in control of whether or not you write what you want to write. Use that control wisely.
Meg is the creator of Novelty Revisions, dedicated to helping writers put their ideas into words. She is a staff writer with The Cheat Sheet, a freelance editor and writer, and a 10-time NaNoWriMo winner. Follow Meg on Twitter for tweets about writing, food and nerdy things.
Meg Dowell Writes 
Reblogged this on Author Don Massenzio and commented:
Check out this great post from the Novelty Revisions blog with 19 Writing Tips to Start Your Year Off Right
Meg, thanks for sharing some inspiration. Everyone writer needs to find what works best. I hope that you experience a wonderful year!
And you as well! Working on anything exciting in 2019? :)
I am going to continue to write a few short stories (with some improvement). I am currently working on a fictional parody of the Three Bears story (a different version with a few twists and turns). I am not ready for anything like a novel.
That’s awesome! Best of luck to you on those short stories. They’re great places to start (and continue, whether you ever end up writing a novel or not!) :)
Reblogged this on Where Genres Collide.
Thank you Meg for these amazing tips! I always appreciate your incredible words of wisdom!
You’re welcome as always! <3
You are a very wise person and I do value you! I was talking to my husband last night about my lifelong dream to write a book someday! It’s crazy because working full-time again, I have a difficult time writing on my blog. Do you by chance have any kind of advice for someone that works 40 hours a week, has 2 cats (one of which has asthma), has a husband battling depression and lives with a chronic illness but they also dream of writing a book? Take care and please know how much I appreciate you!
https://megdowell.com/2019/01/04/how-to-write-when-youre-actually-busy-and-stressed-and-everything-is-chaos/
Thank you so much Meg
Hey – thanks for these tips, very encouraging! Particularly – No. 6. I’m a firm believer in the real barriers of analysis paralysis and perfectionism paralysis in business. Good to know it should also be applied in writing. I’ve heard you should just get that fugly first draft out of the way, then worry about the rearranging, culling, perfecting of it later. Thanks for reaffirming that. Cheers Meg!
Oh, 100% — I’m currently writing possibly the worst chapter in a book I’ve ever written but you know what? I’m writing it and it’s going to get me one step closer to a finished draft that’s easier to work with and that’s all that matters!!
There ya go! #gogirl
Love this post, especially 2 and 5 – I also love putting a spin on traditional tales! Currently working on a Red Riding Hood parody. Good luck with the Three Bears!
That sounds awesome! Glad you were able to relate to this post :)