Do you want advice help from the great Steven King? I said it before and I’ll say it again.

Want to write well? Learn from the pros.

One of my all time favorites is Steven King. I mean who doesn’t love getting the bejesus scared out of you just before bedtime? Mr. King knows how to do just that. Anyone read “It?”

Back to what we can learn from the great “King.”

22 lessons from Stephen King on how to be a great writer

Here’s what I gleaned from an article at Business Insider. FYI- #9 and #12 are my favorites.

1. Turn off the TV and read more.  Okay, no sacrifice there.
2. Brace yourself.  Sorry, nothing prepares me for disappointment and rejection.
3. Stop wasting time being a people pleaser.  A good writer is bound to step on some toes.
4. Write for yourself. (yep.)
5. Start with the tough stuff first. Hmm, gonna think on this some. There are times it’s all hard going.
6. Turn off the damn social media. Shut out the world and write.
7. Don’t write like you’ve got a stick up your ass. Using words readers must look up every third sentence is not a good idea.
8. Avoid adverbs. Seems I’ve heard that before. And don’t get too long-winded with the paragraphs.
9. Don’t pick grammar correctness over the story. Love this one!
10. Description is an art. I do love it when a passage paints a picture.
11. Keep the background in the back of the story.
12. Tell it like it is. Write what is real about real people.
13. Take risks, jump and write like no one is reading.
14. You don’t need a crutch like booze and pills to be creative. Stay sober and write.
15. Don’t be a mimic. Be true to yourself.
16. Write what’s in your head, like telepathy.
17. If you don’t take your writing seriously, no one else will either.
18. Write each day. Not sure I agree with this one because sometimes life gets in my way. Just saying. Sorry, Mr. King.
19. Three drafts in three months! Not in my world. But I could dream.
20. Finished? Let it rest before going further.
21. Cut, cut and gut. We’ve all heard how important it is to trim the fat.
22. Balance! Keep a good balance in your life.

So tell me? What did you get out of Mr. King’s 22 tips?

Which are your favorites?

Do you find reading about other authors helpful?

Talk to me – I love reading your comments.

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