What makes a great writer different from an average writer?
(And how to become one)
Do you want to become a great writer? Then, perhaps you’d like this article.
A few days ago, I was watching Carrie (1976). It’s based on a novel written by the legendary Stephen King. Not just ‘any novel’, his ‘first novel’.
While I was watching it, I was noticing how well-crafted the story was, how in-depth the plot was, etc.
Credit goes to the director too but to convey deep messages through a horror movie, which leaves you disturbed and thinking, isn’t an easy feat. From the beginning to the end, the movie maintained an unspeakable dread.
And this made me wonder, “What makes a great writer stand out?”
Being a great writer must feel special, too. After all, you have a lot of riches, fame, and fans by your side. Joining the ranks of JK Rowling, James Patterson, Stephen King, and other legends isn’t easy.
But we can break the stuff down, can’t we? So, let’s get started:
If you’re a fiction writer:
Imagination > Craft
You can read all about the technical aspects of creative writing but if you focus too much on them, then you might miss the mark.
Writing is an art so you should treat it accordingly.
The reason these legendary writers reached such high levels of success is they focused on the creative aspect of writing. The market is filled with cliche stories in every genre. You have the same love stories, horror stories, sci-fi stories and all other stories plaguing the minds of the readers.
People are bored with reading things again and again. Spice things up. Give a unique take to something.
Playing on Strengths
JK Rowling is amazing at twists. Her Harry Potter stories were filled with unexpected sequences that boggled the readers’ minds.
Just like her, I’m certain you have a unique strength too. Maybe you’re great at building suspense. Or, maybe you’re great at showing emotions.
Whatever strength you have, you should focus on it. It makes your writing powerful. And it has an added benefit too. You see, every writer has flaws. No one can be perfect. But when you’re playing by your strengths, your weaknesses get buried within them. The reader can’t concentrate on criticizing your writing because he/she is already distracted by your powerful writing.
So whatever strength you have, be sure to show it off. (Just like bodybuilders.)
Unsatisfied Readers
Ever finished watching a movie and thought, “Hey, I didn’t understand the ending, maybe I should watch it again?”
You watch the movie again, not because it’s complicated but because you wanted it to make complete sense in your mind. By the end of the movie, you realized that the storyteller was giving you hints, which you missed before and now you want to catch every one of them.
Your writing should be like that.
Don’t tell them everything. Just drop in a few hints here and there. Let them guess the ending, make connections, and think of all sorts of things. Let them do the work because a story is incomplete without a reader. And this brings me to my next point…
Let them Imagine
Here’s the thing about fiction writing:
You’re not teaching anything.
You’re just telling a story.
When you’re only telling a story, you don’t have to divulge every detail. The reader doesn’t need to know how intricate the fiber of the curtain is, or how red the Sun is when it’s rising.
If it doesn’t have anything related to the story, leave it. It’s of no use. It’ll only distract the reader from the main highlight. Such details are boring and if they aren’t related to the main story, you shouldn’t include them in your story. Period.
Focus on Experiences rather than Story
Storytelling is an art. And in fiction writing, you really want to master this art.
A funny thing about storytelling is, when you master it, you no longer tell a story, you actually sell an experience.
Yes, an experience.
Use imagery, metaphors, similes and, if needed, visuals, to make your story an experience. The spacing between your words, your word selection, your paragraph size, they all play vital roles in this regard. Dive into the details and let the reader visualize stuff. They should feel like they’re watching everything in real time.
For example, here’s a little event:
“The hero is holding a pen and he’s about to sign the paper”
And here’s another explanation of the event:
“With trembling hands, as if he was in the blistering cold, he grabbed a hold of the pen. Sweat drops tread through his forehead as he reads the paper. His hand moves ahead, but all the while he wants to stop. His pupils expand and his throat feels dry. Still, he moves ahead.”
(Be the judge, and let me know if it was a good example.)
As you can see, the second one was more vivid. You can visualize the protagonist, can’t you?
I’m no great writer but I hope you get an idea.
What if you’re a non-fiction writer?
If you’re a non-fiction writer, then it doesn’t mean you can’t use these tips. In fact, with the help of this knowledge, you can get ahead of your other sweat-drenched-non-fiction writing friends.
Although some tips are obvious, here a few ones you can learn from legendary fiction writers:
Embrace Creativity
Non-fiction is practical and more down-to-earth but it requires imagination too.
Imagination (and creativity) are powerful tools that can help you create compelling copy and help you engage with your readers. You can connect with them on a deeper level. You can explain difficult subjects in simple manners. You can make your writing more interesting. Or, you can keep things as they are.
The best example of creativity in non-fiction is of storytelling. Suppose you’re explaining your past or discussing a case study. What will make the explanation enjoyable? Can readers imagine the scenario through your words?
Usage of metaphors is another fine example of creativity-infused non-fiction. Think of your writing as a garden. Your imagination can fill it with any kind of flowers, from roses to lilies, the possibilities are endless. And the best part is, you can add or remove the flowers at your own will.
Focus on the Journey
Great writers focus on the experience rather than the story. By explaining vivid scenes, they are able to turn the story into an experience.
As a non-fiction writer, you should aim at the experience too rather than the story. Can the reader feel the emotions you’re conveying? Is your writing clear? If you want to make your audience read your whole article, you’d need to create an experience. You can do so by adding a few anecdotes here and there. What inspired you to write the article? How did you write the copy? Is there an analogy you can use for your article?
Let the reader experience everything and then utilize the next point.
Leave them wanting more
This advice works on everything actually. You should always leave your readers wanting more. Give them a reason to come back and read your article again. Use cliffhangers in between your paragraphs just like fiction writers do in-between their chapters.
How can you do that?
Well, for starters, keep your introduction enticing. It should make them realize what to expect. In the body, make sure you keep everything consistent, according to your voice and interesting enough. Finally, while concluding the article, make sure to add a little CTA or a little mention about some other relevant things you’ve written. Or, you can just keep the conclusion friendly and let your quality make them wanting more.
Final Thoughts
While you should keep these things in mind, remember that your enjoyment is also necessary. Enjoy this stuff, otherwise you’d only bore the reader.
A reader can feel it if you wrote the piece with interest or not. It shows.
