Let's put it into words.

There are as many writing tips out there as there are ways to write. It can be tricky to find that unique voice and style that many aspire to but few know how to describe. The best writing is the kind that pulls us in, keeps us captivated, urges us to go on, and tickles our curiosity. But how do we get to the state where writing flows out of us naturally, where the reader finds our text a joy to read, and where each word follows the other as if they were always meant to be together? Are there any shortcuts?

Your best writing is … simple.

Forget that academic style that you embraced at university. Be aware of your darlings, so you can cut them out. I lean towards writing long sentences. I’m aware of this, so when I write website text or other copy that’s supposed to be easy-to-read, I force myself to break them up and add full stops. The text doesn’t suffer for it – it fits the purpose better. Sharpen your senses so you can pick up your darling words, stare them down and decide if they deserve a place here. I have favourite words, you have favourite words. We all have our darlings, and pretending we don’t just keeps us in the dark. (Bonus points if you can guess one of my best-loved words?)

Your best writing is … bare.

These days, we’ve become used to searching the web and taking in much text in a short amount of time. As writers, we need to get to the core of the message fast, while still creating interesting texts. This means going bare. It means being honest. It means cutting unnecessary embellishments and saying what should be said in the best possible way. It means mulling over sentences and trying one word over another until you get it right instead of creating long paragraphs. The reader’s attention is precious. The reader deserves nothing less than our best writing.

Your best writing is … human.

In the new era of AI, us writers may need to rise with the machines. I don’t mean go to war with them, or create a culture of shunning the others’ work, but we may need to understand each other’s USPs and shortcomings. Write like a human. Add your own story, or the story behind the brand your writing for. Share the struggle. Share the obstacles, so others can be inspired by someone who has walked this path before. Being human means having a complex human experience, not just in life, but in business, too. Adding this layer, or letting it carry the story, might be just the thing that makes your reader remember your brand or business.

Your best writing is … sometimes not enough.

My fiction writing has taught me a great deal about writing. An inevitable part of a fiction writer’s life is going to be – whether one likes it or not, and most don’t – rejection. We writers can deal with rejection in many ways. It can prompt us to do better. Perhaps this particular story is not quite there yet. Maybe the beginning and ending need to be clearer. Perhaps the story arch needs to be sharper, or maybe the story would become more interesting with another layer. Striving to create our best writing means being humble. It means opening ourselves up to learn so we can do better.

Rejection can also be simply that: a rejection. Most agents, literary journals and publishing houses are swamped with stories. The fact is, only a small percentage of work makes the cut. Once in a while, it’s yours, other times other amazing writers are in luck. The writer’s dilemma is to work out when to employ the ‘make it better’ strategy, and when to shrug, grieve a little, and move on to another publishing option that might be a better fit.

Company on the journey

The writer’s path is not always smooth, but for someone who loves stringing words together, it is rewarding. When the hike feels steep, two little words can become great companions, spurring you on and write just a little better. One is courage, the other is resilience. I try to keep both close at hand.