Practically Speaking: Practical Writing Advice from Writers, for Writers

We’ve talked – and written – about a lot of stuff related to writing, and some of them are quotes and writing advice from authors both big and not-so-big. And while a lot of pieces of advice, and a lot of quotes, are helpful and inspirational, sometimes those big pushes won’t always be enough. You’ve listened to stuff like “write what you love,” “write what you know,” and the not-always-reliable “show don’t tell.” You’ve seen people give you advice, and you’ve seen people tell you they can’t give you advice, because writing’s an individual experience and everyone else’s advice can only get you so far. You’ve tried to process material and learn from what others have done, and tried to do or to deviate from what’s been done before. And all of this is well and good when you tell yourself that you just need to get some more motivation – even just a tiny morsel of it – for writing.

But writers don’t need only advice to keep them motivated. Writing is, after all, more than just the act of writing. Throughout the writing process and beyond, there are practical tips that any writer can find useful – whoever you are, whatever genre you’re writing in, and regardless of what how motivated or un-motivated you are.

Here are some amazing and very much useful practical tips that you don’t always get when you ask people for writing advice!

What Practical Writing Actually Means

When people search for practical writing, they usually are not looking for fancy theory, literary gatekeeping, or another lecture about “finding your voice” under the correct moon phase. They want writing advice they can use today. Practical writing is writing that solves a problem on the page. It is clear. It is structured. It respects the reader’s time. It knows what it is trying to do.

That does not mean it has to be boring. It means the writing is doing its job. Whether you are drafting fiction, emails, essays, blog posts, marketing copy, or a book chapter, practical writing is built on a few durable habits: say what you mean early, cut the mush, keep the structure visible, and make each paragraph earn its place.

A lot of writing advice collapses because it jumps too fast to abstract inspiration. Useful advice is more mechanical than mystical. That is one reason I still like pieces such as this Writer’s Digest guide on stronger writing and Derek Murphy’s own The Craft of Writing introduction: both come back to the same thing. Better writing usually begins with better decisions.

Useful Practical Writing Advice From Working Writers

“Read craft guides.” This one’s from author Marissa Meyer, who writes in her blog:

I have read dozens and dozens over the years, and I learn something new with every guide I read. Some are full of general advice, while others focus on one specific craft element like setting or characterization. There are also books on living a writer’s life while maintaining your sanity, or setting goals for yourself, or how to market your work once it’s published.

“Find three trusted readers, not just one.” A valuable tip from Brian A. Klems, published on Writer’s Digest. It’s a tip that makes a whole lot of sense, as – Klems notes – “reading is subjective,” and different readers will react differently to your draft. One may find strong points, for instance, in the parts which another reader thinks is weak. Three readers will provide three perspectives, and gives you the chance to decide which parts could and should be revised. Klems writes thus:

So when you’re ready, find three trusted readers who will review your draft at the same time. Don’t read their critiques until you have all three. That way, you won’t be crushed if one person doesn’t respond the way you’d hoped, and you’ll be able to pick and choose the suggestions that most resonate with you. It’s your novel, after all. Input is absolutely critical, but in the end, you have to sift through it and be faithful to your own voice.

The post “Practical Tips on Writing A Book from 23 Brilliant Authors“ has some good writing advice,

We’re not gonna cut corners here. This entire post has a lot of great practical writing advice and should be read in its entirety. Here are some of my favorites.

Advice from Bill Wasik–

The first tip is that readers expect books to be exhaustive on their subjects. That doesn’t mean they want the books to be long – it means that they expect that you will cover all the basic ground that needs to be covered to understand the subject, even if they know some of it already.

This is a basic piece of advice, but it can’t be overstated when you’re trying to go from magazine-length to book-length writing: hone your outline and then cling to it as a lifeline. You can adjust it in mid-stream, but don’t try to just write your way into a better structure: think about the right structure and then write to it. Your outline will get you through those periods when you can’t possibly imagining ever finishing the damn thing – at those times, your outline will let you see it as a sequence of manageable 1,000 word sections.

From August Kleinzahler–

I find it helpful sometimes – and still to my surprise – trying to explain to someone what it is I’m trying to write about, usually someone bright but in a different intellectual zone, and not a writer. Or, likewise, in a letter or email to such a person.

And from Jonah Lehrer–

My one piece of advice is to insist that your editor be brutal – there should be red pen on every page. At least in my experience, the book only gets decent during this phase, as all the darlings and digressions get killed. It’s such an important process, and yet too many editors are too meek (or overworked) and too many writers resist their edits. A good editor is a great thing.

There’s some more great writing advice here.

Practical Writing vs. Creative Writing

The split is not as dramatic as people pretend. Creative writing still needs structure, clarity, and momentum. Practical writing still needs rhythm, personality, and emotional force. The best work usually steals from both camps.

Practical writing prioritizes clarity, usefulness, and reader action.
Creative writing prioritizes effect, texture, surprise, and emotional resonance.
Strong writing does both whenever possible.

If your fiction feels vague or indulgent, practical writing habits can save it. If your nonfiction feels dry and lifeless, creative writing habits can wake it up.

If you’re ready to improve, check out these online writing courses.

Three Practical Writing Habits That Improve Almost Everything

1. Start With The Point, Not The Runway

Most weak drafts take too long to arrive. State the main point earlier than feels comfortable. Readers are not confused because they are stupid. They are confused because the writer is stalling.

2. Make Every Paragraph Do One Thing

Paragraphs fail when they try to mix scene, argument, explanation, confession, and side-quest all at once. Give each paragraph a job. If it cannot explain its reason for existing, cut or split it.

3. Revise For Friction

Anywhere your reader slows down, something is wrong. The sentence may be bloated. The transition may be weak. The image may be muddy. The thought may not be finished. Friction is a gift because it tells you exactly where the page stopped working.

If You Want More Useful Writing Practice

If this topic matters to you, there are a few genuinely helpful next steps. On this site, you might also like Fear Factor: Understanding the Fear of Writing and Tap Into Your Subconscious for Better Ideas. Both get at the psychology behind why writing feels harder than it should.

If you want more structured help, Derek Murphy’s writing prompts generator is fun when your brain is dead, and The Plot Dot is useful if your problem is not sentence-level writing but broken story architecture.

And if you want an outside sanity check, Writer’s Digest keeps a long running list of common grammar and usage mistakes writers still make. Not because rules are sexy, but because clarity still wins.

Practical Writing FAQ

Is Practical Writing Only For Nonfiction?

No. Fiction writers need practical writing skills all the time. Scene clarity, pacing, paragraph control, dialogue that does not wobble, and clear stakes are all practical concerns.

Does Practical Writing Mean Simple Writing?

Not necessarily. It means intentional writing. Some ideas need complexity. The trick is making complexity readable instead of muddy.

How Do You Practice Practical Writing?

Rewrite something messy into something cleaner. Cut 20 percent without losing meaning. Summarize a long passage in one sentence. Reverse-outline your own article and check whether each paragraph is actually doing what you thought it was doing.

As you can see, these pieces of advice run the gamut from being useful during the writing and pre-writing process, and being useful after writing. And there’s certainly a whole lot more out there, and will often involve stuff when you get down to business: should I self-publish or shouldn’t I? Where do I take my work now? How should my work be marketed? You probably won’t rest easy until you actual get the finished work in your hands — and even then there will still be a lot of hoof-work to be done.

But always remember that there’s a place to start, and often it starts at the beginning of your writing process. Be rigorous in every aspect of your work, and eventually, you might be the one dishing out some great practical writing tips!

Do you know any other great, practical writing advice? Let us know in the comments, or tweet us at @creativwriters!