The best writing advice I've been given

I spent three years studying creative writing, surrounded by other writers and supported by published authors. As you can imagine, writing advice was constant in discussion and has definitely shaped me, not just as a writer, but as an editor, researcher and human as well. In this blog I’m sharing the best advice that has come my way. 

Kill your darlings 

You’ve probably heard it before. It’s easy when your writing to become attached to characters and scenes. Even certain words and uses of punctuation can worm their way into your heart. However, sometimes they just don’t work. In workshop someone will mention cutting it and you’ll feel as if they've just asked you to get rid of your first born child. It’s important not to take it to heart. The best thing you can do is keep a copy of your darling metaphor, or whatever it may be, then write and read through your work without it. You’ll be surprised how sentimentality about writing can sometimes hold you back. Don’t be afraid to get rid. 

Save your darlings at all costs 

Sometimes you’ll be asked or suggested to get rid of something that you know in your heart is good, brilliant even. Maybe try to explain this, fight for it. Justify it in your work. If you trust yourself that it needs saving then save it. However, it is still worth considering why it’s not working for a reader. Which leads me to my next piece of advice… 

Change it, but change it your way 

In a read through or a workshop someone has pointed out that something isn’t working. They suggest an edit that doesn't feel right but you agree there is something off. Take the advice, change and explore your work but you can do it your way. You don’t have to follow edits or suggestions in the workshop exactly to make them beneficial. 

Share your work 

When I first started Uni the only person to have read my writing was my English teacher. I remember the first workshop I went to and it made me feel like I wanted to vomit. It’s as if you’ve been asked to share something so internal; your heart and soul on a page. What if they didn’t like it? What if they laughed? You will find that in creative writing workshops you are, weirdly  enough, surrounded by other writers all with the same goal. To better their work. You will receive feedback that will hugely benefit you in a supportive and creative environment. Reading others' work is also hugely inspirational and can help guide the edits you want to make in your own work.

Keep a notebook 

It’s simple advice but massively useful. How often do you have small moments of inspiration that get forgotten a few hours later? Don’t lose that precious material and write it down. 

Explore, experiment, push yourself 

I’m not much of a poet. Every now and again I might write a poem but it’s not my writing focus. In uni, however, I still studied poetry modules, including a spoken word seminar that really pushed me. I was writing bizarre and odd things including a villanelle on lady Jane Grey. It was out there. I also massively explored genre prose and scripts. It wasn’t necessarily always my ‘thing’ but it pushed me in direction where I found huge inspiration. I even discovered writing styles that very much were my thing. 

Read, read, read

Some of the best inspiration is in others' work. From genre, to narrative style, character or voice. There are so many amazing writers with books full of inspiration sitting on shelves just waiting for you to discover them. It doesn't even need to be fiction. Non-fiction, travel writing, history or even the news can ignite a writing spark. Researching books, their context and authors can massively benefit you as a writer when you have an understanding of how tropes and genres are created. You can dive into them and take what you need into your own work. This is perhaps the advice I would push the most. Read, read and read some more.