Whether you’re a reader or a writer, it’s always interesting to hear what writers have to say about their craft. What does it mean to them? How do they do it? What do they advise?

 When it comes to recommendations, it seems like there is a constant stream. The thing is, anyone can give advice about writing, and it’s impossible to prove them wrong. I know that I love to find suggestions that confirm what I’m already doing, but I also highly value the warning that tells me to completely change my ways.

 We’ve all heard things like write every day, have a schedule, make a plan, (or be spontaneous), and revise, revise, revise. These links lead to insights that go beyond that, and sometimes even contradict it. If you’re a reader, you’ll get a glimpse into the writing process. If you’re a writer, it can be reassuring to see that the great authors had some of the same difficulties (see the Hemingway quote below).

 Have fun! The thing about being a writer is that, for better or worse, you decide what advice you want to take.

 I’ve tried to place the links in categories, but there is overlap. Browse as you will, go write, and come back another day when you need more inspiration, or even comfort.

Advice from Individual Authors

• 10 Bits of Writing Advice from Stephen King

This quote from King’s On Writing made me decide to finally read it: “In the end, it’s about enriching the lives of those who will read your work, and enriching your own life, as well. It’s about getting up, getting well, and getting over. Getting happy, okay? Getting happy.” There’s also a great section on seeing stories as unfound relics.

• Neil Gaiman: Eight Good Writing Practices

“Remember: when people tell you something’s wrong or doesn’t work for them, they are almost always right. When they tell you exactly what they think is wrong and how to fix it, they are almost always wrong.”

• Anton Chekhov’s Six Rules for a Great Story

I had to include this one, as George Saunders’s book on writing, A Swim in a Pond in the Rain, deeply analyzes three Chekhov stories.

• Kurt Vonnegut: Eight Basics of Creative Writing

Vonnegut goes against all the advice that you’ve ever read about creating suspense.

•  E.B.White on Why Brevity is Not the Gold Standard for Style

White asks us to consider: “Tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow.”

•  Ray Bradbury’s Greatest Writing Advice

This liberating thought: “When I started writing seriously, I made the major discovery of my life—that I am right and everybody else is wrong if they disagree with me.” (Although, see Gaiman’s advice above.)

• Easy on the Adverb, Exclamation Points and Especially Hooptedoodle

Elmore Leonard gives such sage advice as, “Try to leave out the part that readers tend to skip.”

•  Writing Tips from Seven Acclaimed Authors
• Timeless Advice on Writing: the Collected Wisdom of Great WritersMichael Lewis: “When you’re trying to create a career as a writer, a little delusional thinking goes a long way.”
• 25 Writing Tips from Famous Writers

A new quote every day. On August 1, Larry Gelbart empathized with those of us who procrastinate. “I take the time to sharpen my pencils to the point where they’re able to perform brain surgery.”

• I Talked to 150 Writers and Here’s the Best Advice They Had

Distilled down into 7 points!

• 10 of the Best Writing Tips from Famous Authors

“You can’t edit a blank page.” Jodi Picoult

• Writers on Writing: Tips for Aspiring Authors

Books on writing and even a few videos of authors

Practical Advice & Word Lists

• 16 Writing Tips for Fiction Writers
• 801+ Power Words That Pack a Punch & Convert like Crazy
• 583 Sensory Words to Take Your Writing from Bland to Brilliant
• 298 Filler Words & Phrases That Rob Your Writing of Its Power

And on a Lighter Note

• The Ultimate Guide to Writing Better than You Normally Do 

“Procrastination is an alluring siren taunting you to google the country where Balki from Perfect Strangers was from, and to arrange sticky notes on your dog in the shape of hilarious dog shorts.”