From a Top Writing Blogs Award Nominee

I was pleased to get an email last week from eCollegeFinder informing me my blog is in the running for the Top Writing Blogs Award. They look for "nominees that will inspire and teach our student readers to find their writing style and improve their skills, whether the students are writing an essay or starting their first novel". They suggested I might like to do a post answering the question, What advice can you offer students aiming to improve their writing acumen? 

So here goes (geared to novel writing as this is what I do):

• Read a great deal, but only for pleasure. Reading books you don't like will only make you grumpy.
• Get it right: correct spelling, grammar and punctuation matter. Its and it's, your and you're used interchangeably are unforgivable. If uncertain, Google the rules and learn them.
• Cut into the scene when it becomes interesting, cut out when you have achieved what you set out to. 
• If you get bored when reading your own writing, this is a Bad Sign. And you will need to read it a lot as you tweak, polish and hone.
• Brood about your characters - I do this in the bath, driving or walking. Even minor characters like the hero's mother or the dog have their own agenda.
• Remember the villain thinks he's the hero.
• Readers are smart - trust the reader. Never repeat yourself, and let readers do some of the work. They like that.
• Pay attention to criticism in case you can learn from it, but don't feel obliged to take advice. It's your novel.
• And most importantly: Never, ever bore the reader.