Tag: tips for new writers

10 Reminders for Writers Who Are So Done With the Internet (Ugh)

3. Once you learn about distracting website blocking apps, you’ll never go back.

Meg Dowell1 Comment

1. Twitter isn’t the only place to share your work/connect with writers, and it’s probably not the best, either.

2. Writing forums and Facebook groups still exist – and they might serve as better communities to be a part of, if you can find positive, supportive ones.

3. Once you learn about distracting website blocking apps, you’ll never go back.

4. You don’t “need” the internet to write a book. You don’t have to know every detail when you’re writing a first draft, even if your brain tries to convince you otherwise.

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12 Tips for Writers Struggling to Rebound After Rejection

5. Don’t ask yourself what you did wrong. Instead, look at what you can do better next time.

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1. Make it about the work you submitted, not yourself. Your work and your worth are two separate things.

2. Don’t treat rejection as a failure. View it as a chance to learn and grow. (I know that sounds like a fluff response, but never underestimate the power of asking: “What do I need to learn from this experience?”)

3. If your rejection came in the form of an email or phone call, try not to keep rereading or replaying it over and over. There might come a point where you can look it over to learn from it (if it includes helpful feedback), but not right now. Not yet.

4. Work on a project for no reason other than it brings you joy. Focus, for now, on what makes you happy.

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The Hardest Lessons a Writer Will Ever Learn | The Blank Page

Writing is a constant cycle of learning, applying what you’ve learned, and learning even more.

Meg Dowell2 Comments

The Blank Page is a new weekly series on Novelty Revisions dedicated to any writer who is just beginning their journey or starting again after a long pause. Check back every Monday for more tips and inspiration.

Writing is a constant cycle of learning, applying what you’ve learned, and learning even more. Even those who have mastered their craft still learn new things every single day.

Not all these lessons are easy to accept. But they will change your life as a writer all the same.

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Sometimes Writers Aren’t Actually Looking for Feedback

Sometimes we set out to tell a story because we can’t escape its call. It’s not always necessary to tell us everything we could have done better.

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Many, many writers are desperately searching for feedback on their work.

And rightfully so. Constructive criticism boosts confidence and helps writers set goals for improvement.

But not every writer wants (or needs) specific feedback on their work from strangers.

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12 Reminders for Writers Who Feel Like They Have Nothing Valuable to Say

You will always regret the words you never say/write.

Meg Dowell3 Comments

1. Your words are enough. And so are you.

2. You have every right to express yourself and write about what interests and inspires you.

3. What’s “valuable” to a person differs by the person. Just because one person might not resonate with it doesn’t mean it doesn’t matter.

4. Honestly? The only person who has the right to decide whether or not your words have value … is you. Almost all that self-doubt is likely coming from somewhere or someone else.

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10 Things Every Nervous Writer Should Know

3. Rejection isn’t the end of your journey. For many, it’s the beginning.

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1. More writers are nervous about writing, querying, publishing, etc. than you think. We just don’t talk about it enough.

2. Fearing failure is normal and OK, as long as you’re also willing to face that fear.

3. Rejection isn’t the end of your journey. For many, it’s the beginning.

4. If you don’t feel like sharing your writing with a bunch of strangers (yet or ever) … you don’t have to.

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10 Secrets to Writing More (and Getting Really Good At It)

3. Write about things that interest you even if it’s “just for you.”

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1. Set a goal. Define exactly what “more” means for you personally.

2. Write consistently. NOT EVERY DAY (unless you can/want to), but on a schedule. The more you practice writing on a schedule, the easier it gets.

3. Write about things that interest you even if it’s “just for you.”

4. Embrace the First Draft Philosophy. Write now, edit later.

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12 Strong Habits of Writers Who Don’t Give Up

3. You treat mistakes and rejection as learning experiences instead of epic failures.

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1. Reminding yourself that facing a challenge does not mean you’re a bad writer.

2. Reaching out to other writers when you need help. Sometimes a quick “you got this!” is enough to calm your nerves and help you refocus your efforts.

3. Treating mistakes and rejection as learning experiences instead of epic failures.

4. Leaning on your support system. Sometimes it’s a friend or family member. Sometimes it’s someone in your online writing network. It could be a mentor, an instructor, an editor — if you have someone or something to hold you up, you’ll never sink low enough to seriously consider quitting.

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10 Truths to Remember If You’re a Writer Feeling Discouraged

3. Rejection isn’t a sign that you’ve failed. It’s an excuse to keep trying.

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1. You will have highs, and you will have lows. It is part of the journey. There is nothing wrong with you. You are not “broken.”

2. There will be haters. But if you focus on those who genuinely care and want to see you succeed, the voices of those haters will suddenly be a lot harder to hear.

3. Rejection isn’t a sign that you’ve failed. It’s an excuse to keep trying.

4. There’s giving up. And then there’s pivoting to something that’s worth your energy instead of sticking with something that isn’t.

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Whose Writing Feedback Can You Trust? | The Blank Page

The one thing most new aspiring writers worry about the most? How to get credible feedback on their work.

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The Blank Page is a new weekly series on Novelty Revisions dedicated to any writer who is just beginning their journey or starting again after a long pause. Check back every Monday for more tips and inspiration.

The one thing most new aspiring writers worry about the most? How to get credible feedback on their work.

Once you’ve finished your draft … once you know it’s a piece of writing you don’t want to leave sitting in a drawer for the next decade … how do you go about finding feedback you can trust?

Here are a few do’s and don’t’s.

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