Happy New Year to you all.

Kissy? I just made that up. But whenever I edit my novels, I always do my best to make them as good as I can for the reader. I hear and read lots of great writing by friends and there are a couple of universal mistakes that keep cropping up – we all make them – that I thought I’d flag up, and then we can put them behind us. Since it’s a new year. And since we’re all making a fresh start.

So – Kissy. K-I-S-S-Y. My brief guide to getting better at what I do.

K. Keep it simple. When I started my masters course in writing I was determined to show that I had a good writing style, and really all I had was clutter. Beautiful language is lovely to read – think of Jeanette Winterson and Sarah Winman – but there’s a valid reason Dickens isn’t universally read nowadays, (although I love him.) And many readers find Joyce incomprehensible. (I love him even more.) Most readers like to concentrate on a story with a pace that fits the genre and the time they have available to read. Keep sentences a sensible length. Don’t over-egg your writing with long words and adjectives. Adverbs aren’t needed often. Let the narrative flow. I try to remember – if it doesn’t add anything to the novel, take it out. There’s a difference between style and indulgence, and the balance isn’t always easy to find.

I. Insist on the best and only the best in your writing. Don’t be afraid to cut out anything that isn’t working. Chop, change. Upgrade. And don’t be demoralised by it – be positive. Accept what others in the know suggest. Editing means we get the best version of our story out there and having so many bright professional minds working as editors on our side is so important. There are other ‘I’s too. Inspiration – seek it out. Inclusivity, imagination, integrity. And I – you’re the writer – keep yourself safe. Don’t be hard on yourself….

S. Show, don’t tell. So many writers I know, who are really gifted, launch into telling the reader information instead of finding ways of showing it in the story. Showing is much more interesting and stylistically much nicer to read; pausing a good story to tell us someone’s background or information about them takes away the impetus and impact. Work at this one, even though it’s tough. It will pay off. It’s a hard habit to shake, but we need to keep telling to a minimum.

S. Study. Read around the genre you’re writing in all the time. And other genres. Find out what works for you in terms of others’ inspirational novels. And what doesn’t work for you, (without being negative.) You need to know yourself as a writer. Think about what you read, and ask yourself what readers love about it. Why is it so successful? Then ask yourself how you can get the good practice into your own writing. We are all on a journey. We are all improving.

Y. Your reader is who you’re writing for. You won’t please them all, and that’s ok. I read books that aren’t right for me – I wish the writer success and move on – but as an author, you’ll have many readers who’ll warm to your stories and engage with your characters. Remember that. A novel isn’t about you as the writer, however much you may want it to be, unless you’re writing anecdotally. By all means use what you know as a resource, but keep your own life separate from your writing. No catharsis. No personal stuff. No venting. No revenge. Love your characters. Love what you do. But keep the reader in full focus at all times.  

There is one final thing, which has really become part of my attitude this past year. Those of you who know me and my writing will know I’m a positive person. I focus on improving and enjoying the writing journey. But recently I have learned to hold my nerve. I’ll say it again.

Hold your nerve.

There will be setbacks along the writing journey. Ones which will happen naturally and others, which we might not see coming. Don’t think that because things are wobbly now, they’ll always be wobbly. Take a breath. Hold your space. Believe in yourself. It will come right. Rise above any negativity and problems – it’s only temporary – and surround yourself with positives. Wish for what you want and keep that thought in focus. It’s out there.

On that note, I wish you happy writing and much success. There are so many great writers out there, and more to come, and I’m always happy to share the journey.

After all, I’m learning from you too. xx