Writing Skills You Prolly Don’t Know You Need

How to touch type. It’s impossible to reach deadlines if you can’t bloody type as fast as you bloody think. Trust me. Learn it now.

Since we’re on the topic, if you spray a little WD-40 into your keyboard, it will never stick again. It’s a pleasure. (Not your laptop keyboard though)

Humility is everything. You should be humble on the page, but you should also be humble enough to accept criticism. Criticism is the single most valuable asset you have for helping you evolve as a writer. Look for it everywhere. You’ll be surprised how many people are willing to offer it.

How to carry a goddamned pen and a goddamned writing pad everywhere you go. Those little sentences you come up with in the middle of parties can lead to some amazing work, so write it down. Write it down when you wake up in the middle of the night as well. Inspired lines are treasures you get for free.

You need to learn how to tell the difference between good readers and bad readers. You can trust the feedback of good readers. Bad readers are best ignored, but if you have too much ego and not enough critical thinking skills, telling the difference is well-nigh impossible. You can’t grow if you can’t tell the difference, so it’s completely valid to add therapy to your writing education. Your character and values matter in your writing, so become better. 

If you don’t hear feedback from a large number of readers, your writing will become constipated and self-obsessed. Readers hate that shit. Appreciate your critics. They open up the whole world.

You need to know how to find inspiration. This requires plenty of self-knowledge and experimentation. For me, inspiration comes from long walks or a good, long Tabata session. I also do well going for walks with a camera or spending a morning with friends. It puts me in the right frame of mind to really absorb the world around me. You might be different, so work out where to find your muse. Work it out *now* because if you ever write professionally, this will change your life.