Do you love writing? Do you dream of writing an epic story and imagine having your manuscript published? If your answer is yes, do you struggle with writer’s block? If you have insufficient knowledge on how to become a compelling writer, there is no need to give up; Stephen King, a bestselling author, shares his secret to fulfill this dream.

 Write For Yourself, Not The Audience

When writing, most editors and publishers suggest that you identify your audience; determine your target readers and write for them. While this is really important so you can determine your narrative voice, you cannot please everyone. Constantly worrying about your audience will get you nowhere. Instead, you should focus on writing the story you want to read. The right audience who will be interested in reading your book will come later.

“If you intend to write as truthfully as you can, your days as a member of polite society are numbered, anyway.” – Stephen King

 Avoid Any Distraction

When writing, the last thing you need is to be distracted. In fact, any kind of distraction, be it watching TV or surfing the Internet is detrimental to your quest except maybe for research purposes). With an undivided attention, you won’t be wasting time instead of carrying on. If you want to be productive and inch closer to your goal, avoid all distractors.

 Write One Word at a Time

If your goal is to write a 10k-word novel, know that it is possible. Although the figure above can be pretty intimidating, break this goal into smaller, manageable goals. Write around 1,000 words every day. You just have to focus on writing one scene at a time, one word at a time, until you complete writing your book. Also, remember always to celebrate your success and milestones no matter how small they are because you’ve worked hard for them and you deserve a reward. 

 Avoid Adverbs and Passive Voice

If you want your story to have a strong impact on your audience, then write in active voice. An active voice will tell your readers that the protagonist in your story is the doer. This will create a connection between your character and your reader, and they will relate more to your character. Also, avoid adverbs as your manuscript may sound weak and excessive to readers.

“If there’s a book that you want to read, but it hasn’t been written yet, then you must write it.” 
― Toni Morrison

 Don’t Mimic Others’ Writing Styles

Even if you have a favorite author whose books you have read for years, do not adopt his or her style of writing. If you do so, your book will only come out as nothing but a shadow of his or her work. You won’t survive in the publishing industry if you keep on copying other people’s styles. If you truly want to succeed, coin your unique style and voice so that your readers can recognize you easily.