10 Great writing tips from great writers (+10 terrible ones)

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Want an easy cheat to developing ideas and build a novel plot around them? Of course you do, click our link below to get our Idea Generator worksheet. We’ll also give you all the slides for this video and all the others on our channel:
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Every writer has their own take on exactly what is needed to write a damn good book. Well, we’re here to either prove or debunk (in our opinion) some wiring tips to help you become the best author you can be.
In this video, we’ll be looking at great writing tips. Everything from sitting down to just write, through to getting into your first draft and is show don’t tell really a thing? Amazing tips from amazing authors, the likes of Margaret Atwood, Hilary Mantel, and more besides.
Plus, we’ll be highlighting some writing tips that we just don’t think are that worthwhile listening to. Yes, just because someone is a great, well respected author, doesn’t mean to have to listen to them! Stephen King, Agatha Christie, Ray Bradbury and even Maya Angelou (sorry!) we’re coming for you.
All in all, it’s your choice whose advice you decide to listen to, but watch this video to get Harry’s opinion on what exactly you should and shouldn’t be listening to.
And a reminder - you can get all the slides from all our RU-vid videos by going here:
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Опубликовано:

6 авг 2024

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Комментарии : 81

@kevinobrien2630 4 года назад

I think what Agatha Christie was getting at was that inspiration often comes out of mundane activities. With your mind occupied by trivial tasks, it often is more creative because nothing clutters up the creative process. I've seen this with my own writing.

@no.xivxion4352 3 года назад

I get some of my craziest ideas doing mundane things at work. I agree with what Christie was getting at.

@danielosetromera2090 3 года назад

@Samara Hamilton Yes. This man can't think figuratively, it seems.

@ChimpoTalksGaming 2 года назад

I agree with the sentiment here, but I believe Harry was partially being facetious.

@nicolasallen8072 Год назад

Shower thoughts.

@lenandov 3 года назад

I use my voice recorder on the phone. Anytime I have something, I'll just speak it. And you KNOW speaking thoughts is MUCH faster than writing. Later, I can listen and write or speak some more. I try to have something worth writing before I sit to write. But then again, I'm not trying to sell books. I'm just working on a story. Cheers all. And don't get discouraged. Or if you do, allow it, get over it then continue.

@mich_writes_fiction 2 года назад

That Anton Chekhov tip is one of the best ones on showing not telling.

@suesea5516 4 года назад

When Ernest Hemingway said to ’sit at the typewriter and bleed, ’ (David Mamet also mentioned the quote) I took it as implying for his soul to bleed, and not meaning that the writing process itself is painful.

@donnaclackley7808 4 года назад

That's what I got from it too.

@lauramason5667 4 месяца назад

My favorite quote here.

@Journey_to_who_knows 2 года назад

Brilliant tip, if you need new ideas, smash your head against the keys and what words can be autocorrected, use them

@augustllewellyn3082 4 года назад

#11 understand the contexts behind the bad points, and realise, they are paradoxically perfect.

@leedarkin-miller3591 3 года назад

Walking shares a history with writing. Mindless activities catch gold. Agatha C's comment is spot on.

@lanadelrey1617 4 года назад

The Agatha tip is probably the best and most useful one i've ever read, but i think it depends entirely on what kind of person you are.

@joshdouglas6809 4 года назад

thank you! This was the most inspiring thing I've seen on the internet. I've watched dozens of insipid videos of authors stating the obvious. This is the first time I heard writing advice that made me use my brain. Well done!

@donnaharper4621 3 года назад

I love the way you organize these tips, giving both good and bad together. Most people run down one list, then the other. Your format is so much more effective. Thank you.

@josephcallahan1664 2 года назад

Great list. I always thought some of those tips by great writers were bunk, especially, "kill your darlings." Ha! Thanks.

@rachelleyutzy1430 3 года назад

I really enjoyed this video. Thank you for sharing. I am definitely going through your playlist!

@johnparnham5945 3 года назад

An interesting comment about adverbs. Almost everybody who teaches writing seems to want you to avoid them like the plague. Steven King is univsaly qouted as an example but Bernard Cornwell uses them in his novels and the writing doesn't suffer one bit. They say that using adverbs is 'telling not showing' but it seems to me that adverbs are often necassary to keep the book moving.

@danielwright7710 4 года назад

I discovered the best ideas come from my first rewrites. For instance, I was working on a rewrite of a short story--a Lovecraftian tale for the modern era--when halfway thru the process I received an idea that broke the story wide open and now I'm 60,000 words into making it into a novel, with potential to carry the story further in follow up novels. I can't wait to see what happens when I complete the rough draft and work on the rewrite of the novel.

@ExploreEmbraceExpress 2 года назад

I LOVE your insight! One of the most frustrating things about watching videos on writing is how many contradictory tips there are. Sometimes it’s to the point there are so many rules it feels restrictive. I love writing for the freedom of expression, and I appreciate you showing us no matter how great a writer may be, their advice may not be as great. This video is a good reminder critical thinking is a real thing that we should implement any time we are listening to advice. Thank you for your content.

@alfredsams9059 Год назад

You writing tips are a writing course in a nutshell.also you blow up myths about writing.its a miniature masterclass

@debeshi70 2 года назад

I actually get great ideas when I'm doing the dishes :)

@sarabegay6339 4 года назад

So glad it's all right to start with the weather. That's were mine starts. While I'm saving the money to join and downloading all the freebies I going to start on my series one more time. I have a background in writing, but not novels so I have no idea how I "should" be doing this so I am going to start at the beginning write it straight thru to the end and then figure out how to format it. Hope it works even if it sounds a roundabout way of getting it done. I learn so much from your videos. They are clear, concise and practical. Thank you. Happy holidays for you and yours.

@AnimeEmpress1 3 года назад

Really great advice, esp the tip on suspense!

@MostorAstrakan 3 года назад

"It was a dark and stormy night."

@LadyOfTheEdits 4 года назад

I have now subscribed. You're amazing!

@emeryltekutsu4357 3 года назад

3:10 I like this one. 8:06 I was wondering if people would like my characters the other day and then I watched a "top ten" favorite list, and some of them fit into several categories of the person's top ten. It reminded me that just because certain character types have been done before it doesn't mean anything. If you're passionate about it, write it, and someone else will be passionate about it, too. It seems to go along with 9:06, too. You just have to do what you love. Honestly, this is making me want to strap down even harder and go for it, no matter how controversial some stuff I'm writing would be.

@user-bv7oq2ey7o 11 месяцев назад

Excellent information!!!

@spsingh4180 3 года назад

Great advice. Thank you so much.

@Krztph1331 2 года назад

I really liked this video. I thought it was great how you actual bad tips from real authors to show that sometimes bad advice could come from good sources

@jeffwatkins352 4 года назад

I really like your practical approach, Harry. It has its eye on the pro writing ball. My only caveat is I think you do Ray Bradbury an injustice. He was a poet, and his quote glitters with his brand of star-struck hyperbole. But what it boils down to is "love to write." And that IMO is the best possible advice for a writer.

@donnaclackley7808 4 года назад

I'm glad to know I wasn't the only one who thought he got off track.

@carlydaniels4184 2 года назад

Great tips. I've been working on a manuscript for 13 years. I had the entire concept within a few days. But showing the story and where to begin was my biggest challenge. I believe I was attached to certain great moments and wanted to start at that point. However, I decided to start where the story begins. Now, I have a smooth flow--with no backstories.

@hannahloser9800 5 лет назад

Thank you, this is really going to help me! -Brian Griffin

@jerichowriters8127 5 лет назад

You're welcome, Hannah!

@PeterDowseQLD 4 года назад

Great tips....cheers 😁

@stevejones3662 7 месяцев назад

Super stuff!

@user-sw2lv3zp6o 3 года назад

The Franz Kafka tip is the best one there.

@Robeeh2 4 года назад

I like your thinking 😊

@jelliebombshell2159 4 года назад

Thank you

@janusatthegate6201 3 года назад

Ideas do come when you're doing inane busy work.

@t0dd000 4 года назад

Just remember folks that a number of those terrible tips are indeed terrible, but those authors often said them as hyperbole, to be melodramatic, humorous, or as rhetorical flourish. Twain's is a perfect example. :)

@flowergirl6035 2 года назад

Thanks

@woodlandlady7011 5 лет назад

Hi, Harry I was wondering what your top tip would be!

@whatzause 2 года назад

I had great takeaways from your video, and I noted them down! Now, I want to give my book away FREE to a publisher, just to get it in print. I don't care about royalties or income. I just want to get established as an author -- for example, to bolster any recognition that might engender in order to support my volunteer tutoring and other volunteer work. Also, once I am accepted, that might support demand for more of my output. At that point I might become interested in the money a bit more. That is my philosophy. Can you comment?

@donnaclackley7808 4 года назад

I believe he is taking these tips too realistically. You could be doing the dishes and get some great ideas or showering whatever. I get my best ideas right before I drift off to sleep, I keep pen and paper by the bed. The point I take away from Ray Bradbury is, you must write and keep it a priority because, after all, that's what writers do, we write.

@davidbeveridgejr7089 8 месяцев назад

I thought the first quote meant to plant the seat of the reader in a chair and keep them there.

@nailsaggitarius4212 4 года назад

I think that King means that adverbs steal action. That is why they are terrible? Using them is kind of laziness.

@ChimpoTalksGaming 2 года назад

Great tip #11 "It's okay to open your book using a dream, waking up from sleep, or in the hospital." That one was just for you, Harry.

@simgingergirl 3 года назад

One of my professors knew Annie Proulx back in Wyoming and says no one likes her.

@nailsaggitarius4212 4 года назад

Maybe you just misunderstood Hemingay. He just point out that writing is just sit and write like you mentioned in previous tip.

@kevingraves7431 4 года назад

My interpretation of Hemingway is "Look into the deepest recesses of your soul and write what you find there."

@kavolis 4 года назад

Great advices. There's a tip for a youtuber: get yourself a microphone. You're welcome :)

@hooshyarkarimi9524 3 года назад

Lav mics are like $20 so you don't need to spend a lot

@Longshotsz 4 года назад

2:44 what the fuck, he wasn't serious you know (the writer)

@apyorick 4 года назад

You write good fiction?

@RizaHariati 4 года назад

You're funny

@nailsaggitarius4212 4 года назад

On an internet connection I disagree, it can be really distracting.

@kootheshoe257 4 года назад

I agree it's distracting, but then you're pretty much writing by hand. For me, I just get tired quicker and move onto something else because my hand hurts.

@nailsaggitarius4212 4 года назад

Your video is very helpful, just suggestion: do not rush your storytelling. You talk too fast. Some pauses would be helpful because they give your watchers to sink in your idea.

@Leevi17 2 года назад

While I agree with most of the tips, I just must express support for what Twain has said about Pride and Prejudice. After reading so many positive reviews about this book, I was very disappointed by it : uninteresting and petty characters, bland plot, unremarkable writing style, etc... But as they say, opinions are very much like a certain very specific type of hole :) P.S. : Pretty tasteless of this guy to heap praise at himself for terrible tip n° 2 (which, by the way, is terrible indeed).

@sidmarx7276 2 года назад

Why are boring, insipid mystery writers so successful today? "Rum Punch" by Elmore Leonard: Character interactions lack realistic motivation and exist only to fulfil the plot. "Plum Island" by Nelson DeMille: Same-same. Plus pages and pages of historic backstory well into the book. Did his publisher demand he fatten the MS so they could charge more in paperback? And let a newbie like me who writes kickass, tight fiction so much as stray from the guidelines in my first page, watch me get shitcanned without so much as an objective read. Yeh, Harry, I'm lookin' at you...

@thereccher8746 4 года назад

Sorry, but I have to strongly disagree with the first tip already. Writing is not just sitting at your desk and typing. Writing is research, outlining, planning, problem solving, editing, more planning, cutting. Writing is the complex process of crafting a story, and the several steps that go into it. And any step that gets you closer to finishing your story is writing. Several amateur writers think they can pump out a story by jumping into their seat the moment they have an idea, not realizing they're leaping head first into quick sand.

@TheLithp 3 года назад

2:45: What kind of Well Actually shit is this? You know it's a metaphor, stop padding your video. 5:50: I agree that "I personally don't like books that start with this thing, so don't ever do it" isn't a great tip, but you've done that multiple times yourself. 7:00: That's not even a tip. 9:20: This is the same as Tip 2, & also contradicts other advice you've given. This is really more like your opinion on 20 quotes attributed to writers, several of which probably either weren't intended as tips or at least weren't intended to be interpreted that way.