Tips and Rules for Writing Success

*Important note: This post is a running update of tips and rules for writing success. It may be worth bookmarking this post and coming back to it from time to time to see what my brain and the writing experts out there have cooked up.*

-Rule #1: Just do it. *cue Nike swoosh* Seriously, just write. It doesn't always have to be good. Just get some words out on a page or screen.

-Rule #2: Read. Like, a lot. The more you read, the more you absorb the way words work, which inevitably makes you better at writing. 

-Rule #3: Always edit your writing, regardless of what the purpose of the piece is. You'd be surprised at how much better it gets just after reading through it once and making minor tweaks.

-Rule #4: Thou shalt know thy audience. You can't reach them if you don't know who they are. 

-Rule #5: Make outlines. You need a clear path to take your writing on. Trust me, it saves you tons of frustration.

-Rule #6: You can never take too many notes. Even if it seems irrelevant or you don't know where you'll use it, make a note of your idea.

-Rule #7: This one goes along with rule #1, but is slightly different— write every single day. I can't take credit for this sentiment, but I can't find who the quote is by: "Write for 30 minutes every day, unless you find that you don't have the time. Then, write an hour every day."

-Rule #8: Don't doubt yourself. Believe me, I'm well aware that it's easier said than done, but second-guessing your abilities will get you nowhere. Just keep practicing. 

-Rule #9: When you're having trouble believing in yourself, allow others to believe in you. 

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