UCanMakeItIfYouTry – Worthwhile Writing Advice
Many people dream of writing the next great novel. Few accomplish it. There is no magic bullet to land your book on the New York Times Bestseller list. It takes some grit, discipline, and these nine tips to take you from an ‘ok’ writer to a great one:
1 – Develop a Daily Reading Habit
Great writers are also voracious readers. Reading good books from other authors helps build your writing muscles. Read various works in multiple genres. You never know where inspiration will strike.
2 – Publish Your Work Online Even If You Aren’t ‘Ready’
Spending too much time heads-down writing without feedback can hurt you in the long run. Feedback helps sharpen your skills and makes you a better writer. Go ahead and publish your writing online and learn from it.
3 – Write for the Reader, Not for Yourself
Writing is about making ideas make sense for readers. Unless you write in your personal journal, remember to look at your work from the reader’s perspective, even if you share a story or event from your life.
4 – Schedule Time to Write
If you don’t prioritize writing, you will not develop the skills you need to hone your craft. Try not to let your inner critique get in the way, either. Just write, even if it is terrible. You can always edit later.
5 – Network with Other Writers
You may be an introvert who prefers to hide away, pounding the keys and later emerging with your magnum opus. Don’t do that. Join writer’s groups – online is okay, but in-person is better. Meet new people and develop your network. You never know what friends and connections you can make.
6 – Don’t (Always) Believe Your Loved Ones
Have your work critiqued by people who are not family or friends. They love you, so anything you create may seem extraordinary. You build your writing muscles through critiques of what you are doing ‘wrong’ and right. Thank your fam for their love, and then find someone else to give honest feedback on your work.
7 – Edit Aggressively
Each word and each sentence needs to be reviewed and made better. You want to be happy with what you write. Always write and then edit it aggressively. If you want to excel as a writer, don’t be afraid to take the proverbial red pen to the sentences on the page and mark it up.
8 – Never Stop Learning
Approach writing with childlike eagerness – always asking questions and seeking out answers. Part of writing is translating ideas and discoveries for others to learn from. To do that well, you must always be eager to learn.
9 – Remember That Your Writing will Evolve with You
Enjoy the process of learning and writing. Having the discipline of daily writing and reading builds your writer’s muscles. It also helps you grow as a person, which means your writing will evolve as you do.
FAST-ACTION STEPS
1 – Make a daily appointment to write, and stick to it. Your dreams and aspirations are worth putting on your calendar—even if you only have 15 minutes a day.
2 – Find or start a writer’s group. They can show what’s working and what isn’t. You will hone your writing when you have others critique it.
3 – Read at least one book every month. The more you read, the more you learn other styles and ideas. Reading increases your writing muscles, so aim for a regular reading habit.
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James Donaldson
Former Owner and Director of The Donaldson Clinic (an outpatient physical therapy clinic)
James completed a 20 year professional basketball career in the spring of 2000. James established The Donaldson Clinic in (January 1990 – 2018) (shortly after a career threatening knee injury) with an idea that he would eventually become a physical therapist. He is a strong advocate for Women & Minority owned businesses and is very involved with various Chambers of Commerce. He understands what it takes to sustain a strong business environment that is conducive to the success of businesses overall.
James is a Washington State University graduate (’79). After an outstanding basketball career with WSU, he went on to play professional basketball in the N.B.A. with the Seattle Supersonics, San Diego/L.A. Clippers, Dallas Mavericks, New York Knicks and Utah Jazz. He also played for several in Spain, Italy and Greece of the European Leagues plus toured with The Harlem Globetrotters to wrap up his career. James was an N.B.A. All-Star in 1988 while playing center for the Dallas Mavericks. In 2006, James was inducted into the Pac – 10 Sports Hall of Fame and also the Washington State University Athletic Hall of Fame.
He now devotes the majority of his time to various community activities, and toward the Gift of Life Foundation, speaking on mental health awareness and suicide prevention. James frequently conducts speaking engagements (motivational, inspirational, educational) for organizations, schools, youth groups and is the author of the published “Standing Above the Crowd” of which you can learn more about at www.standingabovethecrowd.com and is available for sale now.
In 2021, James published Celebrating Your Gift of Life: From the Verge of Suicide to a Life of Purpose and Joy. www.celebratingyourgiftoflife.com
James is a 40+ year resident of Seattle. He believes in being a role model of success and professionalism for the scores of young people that he devotes so much of his time to. He currently serves on several Boards and/or committees and is a member of many organizations. (Please see complete listing on back)
James believes in developing relationships that create a “Win – Win” environment for everyone involved, and being the best he can be!
