I stumbled upon The Word Man talking about semicolons and had to share it.

What are the writing tips people wished they’d known sooner? I sent a request for comments to a wide variety of experts in various fields and asked them that exact question.

Believe in Yourself and Set Small Goals

As a first-time author, it took me four years to turn my book idea into reality. One of the biggest lessons I learned was to believe in myself and quiet the “Who am I to write this?” voice. What helped me get unstuck was setting small, achievable goals. I’d commit to writing for 15 minutes, celebrating any extra time I wrote, rather than setting unrealistic goals and feeling like I failed.

Another game-changer? Letting the first draft be bad. The purpose of a first draft isn’t perfection—it’s progress. The only goal of a first draft is to get your ideas out of your head and onto the page, no matter how messy. For aspiring authors, my advice is simple: underpromise to yourself, overdeliver when you can, and embrace the messiness of the creative process. Every word moves you closer to your goal.

Use First Drafts to Explore Ideas

I’ve often found that aspiring authors fall into the habit of self-editing their initial drafts too—sometimes to the point of censoring themselves and avoiding writing altogether. As a writer, I’ve done this myself before, so I know it’s easy to get caught up in what you want your final piece of work to look and feel like.

As an editor, I always encourage aspiring writers to use their first drafts to get their thoughts out on the page. Don’t stop yourself from writing because you’re worried about making mistakes; first drafts are the place to explore your ideas and experiment. Nothing is written in stone, and you have the ability to change things after you write your first draft.

Once the draft is written, you can then go through the manuscript and self-edit. Following that, you can work with an editor. However, you can only edit what’s on the page, so give yourself permission to write and start doing it!

Plan and Outline Before Writing

The most valuable lesson I’ve learned about the writing process is the importance of planning and outlining before diving in.

Early in my career, I used to jump straight into writing, only to get stuck midway through. Now, I realize that creating a clear structure and understanding the purpose of the content from the start saves time and makes the writing more cohesive.

For aspiring authors, my advice is to embrace the power of drafts. Don’t aim for perfection in the first go—let your ideas flow freely, and refine them later. Writing is as much about editing and refining as it is about creativity.

Capture Ideas Immediately

One of the best writing lessons I’ve learned is to stop waiting for the perfect moment to write. Ideas don’t care about your schedule.

I keep a running note in my Notes app or Google Docs to dump thoughts the second they hit. It doesn’t have to be polished—it just has to exist.

Getting ideas out of your head and onto the page is how momentum builds. Edit later. Capture now.

Embrace Rewriting and Editing

The biggest lesson? Writing is rewriting. I used to think the first draft had to be perfect, but it’s really just the raw material you shape into something great. The magic happens in the edits—cutting fluff, tightening sentences, and finding the heart of the story.

My advice to aspiring authors: don’t obsess over getting it right the first time. Just get the words down, even if they’re messy. Progress beats perfection, and clarity comes with the grind.

Have at least some idea of where you are going with your story

It took me a long time to discover that if I had at least some idea of where I was going with my story, writing it was faster and easier. I’m not a planner by any means – I mostly make it up as I go along because that way I get to enjoy the story unfolding too. However, I like to have a few bullet points for the chapter. Nothing too detailed, just enough to prevent me from stopping to ask, “Okay, brain, what do they do next?”

In the same way that I want to know the destination but not the journey for the plot, I also want to know the same for my characters. I find that a clue or two about how a character will change and grow over the story helps me write them with greater depth. At the very least, I want to have a vague idea about where they start and where they end up.

Writing is a journey; at the very least, you should know which way the compass should point.

Over to you

Now, it is your turn. What writing lesson do you wish you had learned sooner? Do you agree with our pundits or do you have a different perspective?

We’d all love to hear from you – leave a comment, send a reply, or give us a mention.

I asked a panel of experts for their most helpful tips for giving great feedback to aspiring writers. I was not disappointed with the replies.

Most of the experts had something to say about giving feedback. Others had equally interesting and potentially helpful tips that were somewhat tangential to the question. If you like, as you read you can play, “Who read the question?”

Without further ado, let’s dive into the replies I got:

Balance Encouragement and Constructive Feedback

For me, the most important aspect of giving feedback to an aspiring writer is to find the balance between encouragement and feedback on how to improve. Too much encouragement and they won’t feel the need to make their work better. Too much feedback on improving it and they feel defeated. In my informal coaching of writers, I find that focusing on “advice” rather than “feedback” is the key. I ask questions to encourage them to figure out how they can grow rather than what they are doing wrong. The goal is to inspire them to keep going, not give up. One question that I always ask myself when giving advice is, “Will what I am sharing help them take a next step or be an obstacle to their progress?”

Jones Loflin, Keynote Speaker and Author, Helping Others Prepare for Excellence

Give Respectful and Honest Feedback

As an editor, giving feedback is one of the most crucial parts of my job, and it’s something I enjoy. However, I’ve also been on the other side and have received feedback; I know as a writer that it can feel like a risk sharing your work with others. If you are in the position to give a writer feedback, it’s essential that you do so in a respectful, honest, and balanced manner with an aim to help the writer improve. 

Point out when a writer does something well, but also offer (polite) constructive criticism on ways the writer can improve their craft. I think new editors are sometimes afraid of coming across as harsh, which is understandable, but it’s entirely possible to critique someone in a kind way. Personally, I’ve seen my writing grow the most when I implement constructive feedback, and I’ve also seen other writers improve when they’re willing to do the same.

Writers need feedback to get better. You can provide the best possible commentary and help writers grow when you give candid, balanced responses that respect the writer’s work and aim to help them succeed.

Emily Deaton, Editor and Book Coach, KWE Publishing

Read Like a Writer

Read great writing—like a writer. We normally read for pleasure or to learn something, but reading like a writer means reading for craft. Instead of focusing on content, read to understand how the book is written. Every piece of writing follows a form of some kind (this can be a genre, like sci-fi or memoir) and the writer applies their style to the form (like how Stephen King writes horror novels differently than Dean Koontz). Sometimes they innovate on the form, too. 

So, take your favorite writer and ask yourself: What do you like about their writing? What form or style is the writer using? For example, I really admire Todd Herman’s self-help book, “The Alter Ego Effect.” I noticed that he writes a lot of stories with dialogue (using conventions of fiction writing) and carries an extended metaphor of superheroes to teach his ideas—and that happens throughout the entire book. He also creates his own proper nouns to teach his proprietary usages, like the “Heroic Self.” I also like how he breaks up the chapters with bold headings for sub-sections when the narrative shifts, which keeps me visually engaged.

Keep a list of the writing conventions and styles you like and practice them. Decide which ones you want to emulate in your writing. And when you’re reading something you don’t enjoy, ask yourself: What don’t you like about the writing? Those might be things to avoid so you don’t write a book you wouldn’t enjoy reading.

Cindy Childress, Founder, Childress Business Communication

Use Empathy and Focus on Growth

My most helpful tip for giving feedback to aspiring writers is to approach the process with empathy and a focus on growth. Begin by acknowledging the strengths of their work—this builds confidence and encourages them to keep improving. When addressing areas for improvement, be specific and constructive. Frame your feedback in a way that offers solutions, such as suggesting alternative phrasing or approaches. It’s also essential to tailor your feedback to the writer’s goals; ask them what they hope to achieve with their work. Finally, remember that feedback is a dialog, not a one-way street. Encourage writers to ask questions and view the process as collaborative.

Ade Robinson, Editor-in-chief, Music Production Nerds

Start With Strengths, Then Improve

When I read, I always start with what the author did well. For instance, they might have nailed the style or the tone. That makes them feel good before they work on things they could do better, like making their points stronger or clearer. I could say something like, “I really like how you organized your introduction.” Now let’s work on making the ending stronger. This balance helps the person not only keep going, but also get things done. When you respond, be clear and nice, and think about what will happen next. This way helps writers feel up instead of down, and it also makes them want to keep learning.

Benjamin Tom, Digital Marketing Expert and Utility Specialist, Electricity Monster

Provide Specific Examples and Actionable Advice

I understand the importance of providing constructive feedback to aspiring writers. My most helpful tip is to focus on specific examples and actionable advice. Instead of simply stating that something “needs improvement,” I provide specific examples of what could be improved and offer concrete suggestions for how to do so.

For instance, instead of saying, “The introduction is weak,” I might say, “The introduction could be strengthened by adding a compelling anecdote or a more impactful hook.” This type of specific feedback helps writers understand the areas where they can improve and provides them with actionable steps to take.

Diana Royanto, Writer, Milkwhale

Promote Your Writing Boldly

Let everyone know what you do.

I was years into my writing career and I still had people ask, “Oh, when did you start doing that?” or “Is that a hobby?” or “Did you always enjoy writing for fun?”

People don’t realize that writing can be more than a hobby, and people can make a living doing it. But you have to be bold and show off what you do, don’t be shy about “offending” people on your social media accounts by posting self-promotional bits, and certainly let people know this is your career and you’re just as proud as any other business owner out there.

Scott Sery, Copywriter, Sery Content Development

Balance Praise With Actionable Insights

I’ve found that truly impactful feedback includes a balance of praise with actionable insights. For example, when I mentor writers, I first highlight what they did well, such as writing a compelling hook. Recognizing their strengths helps with their confidence and sets them up for a little bit of critiquing.

I then move into the areas that need improvement. But I’m careful with how I phrase this feedback. Instead of saying that a portion of the writing is weak, I might recommend specific edits. I also encourage them to ask follow-up questions, which helps it feel more like a conversation.

Dan Brown, CEO & Founder, Textun

Overcome Doubts and Keep Learning

Aspiring writers can stumble at various stages of their creative process. The first stage is, “Can I write?” 

Tip: If you don’t think you can, the doubt itself would not be there. The desire backs the doubt, so it means you want to, if you want to, you would learn it if you have a gap, and then you would become a good writer. 

“What will others think of my writings?” 

Tip: Start by thinking that others will laugh at your writing. But as you persevere, you will find people who believe in it. 

“What is the next stage in the writing process?” 

Tip: Keep learning; there is no age where you need to stop learning. So keep going; keep improving. Becoming a writer is as hard as becoming an astronaut. A good education or a good hand is not enough. Knowing how to improvise oneself every moment and being ready for it is what will ultimately work. 

“Will my book sell?” 

Tip: This is a fear, and it’s good to be scared, but not acting is not a possibility. Depending on your abilities, a small step each day could go a long way. 

Other tips: 

1. Empty and fill your cup at least once a day, and it could be on any topic. 

2. Write what comes to mind; don’t worry what people think. 

3. Listen better. 

4. Study characters around you more often. 

5. Find your favorite characters from life even if you are not writing about them. 

6. Talk to yourself every day for 15 minutes. 

7. Be thick-skinned. Remember the woods would be very silent if only the best birds sang.

Snehashree Mandal, Writer, TST

Over to you

Did our experts miss anything? What tip for giving feedback to writers would you offer?

Let us know your thoughts with a comment, reply, or WebMention.

Now 2024 is all but over, I’d like to take a moment to thank all of our writers, charity trustees, and other supporters who made 2024 a creative and productive year.

On behalf of everyone who makes Thanet creative work, I’d like to wish all writers and artists, of every kind and level, a prosperous, safe, and above all a creative new year. May 2025 bring you peace, joys, and a willing muse for your soul. Let’s make this coming year a creative and inspired one.

I look forward to seeing you all at one of our upcoming Thanet-based events.

All the best.

Matt

David Packouz is a former arms trader. In this video for Business Insider, he talks about the international arms trade. His story was the subject of the 2016 movie “War Dogs” and Guy Lawson’s book “Arms and the Dudes.”