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As writers, we want to write our best story. We hope to improve with every new book we release. Maybe you haven’t written in a while or you’ve been writing regularly, but you want to “upgrade” your craft or try something new. It’s always fun to challenge yourself in new ways creatively!

Here’s some ways to step up your writing game:

1. Read books that you can’t put down. What is it that grasps you so much about certain stories? Take note of the style, mood, types of characters, setting, etc. You can channel those aspects into your work, using your own flair, of course!
2. Write in a new genre. Writing something you’ve never tried before can be a great challenge and learning experience. That fresh, new energy of writing something new could translate into something amazing.
3. Listen to different types of music. It’s amazing what effect music has on our creativity! Some stories can even be inspired by one song if it hits the author at the right time. Expanding your music horizons can open doors to different ideas.
4. Get a beta reader to give an opinion on your work. While your story might seem amazing to you, there might be plot holes or other details you’re missing or could improve on. Having another pair of eyes look over your work can provide you with great feedback and allow you to see the story through another reader. You don’t have to take their advice, but it’s still good to hear what someone thinks about your writing.
5. Learn from 1 and 2 star reviews. I’m not referring to the obvious troll reviews that simply dislike the author personally (or have nothing better to do than rate everything low on Amazon). That said, there are some low reviews that might be a good critique on what to improve on for your next book – maybe you’re really heavy on details or you skip on certain details entirely. If someone took the time to write what could be improved about a story, it’s always a good idea to consider what they say (Even if you don’t agree).
6. Hire An Editor. This goes along the same line as a beta reader. The great thing about editors is that they’ll have no reservations giving you honest feedback about your book. They’re professionals and probably edit several books per week, so you can be assured that their feedback probably isn’t personal, but is meant to help you improve your work. Again, you don’t have to agree with everything they say, but getting feedback from someone who’s experienced in the genre you write in can be very beneficial and worth the money!

I hope these have been helpful for you writers out there. Please let me know what you think about these tips. Do you have anything to add?

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