Letters for Creatives #8: 9 tactics Ryan Holiday uses that will help you to be a better writer

That you can use in your writing process

Hello, I am Celeste. Each week I write about creativity and writing. There will be case studies and interviews with writers and artists soon.

Ryan Holiday, the author of The Obstacle Is the Way, wrote this article that shares some of the best writing advice. I chose 9 uncommon tips that are useful for your writing process. 

Always jot down your ideas

The brain can only remember four things at once. Do you have an idea when you try to fall asleep? Do you have an idea when you go for a walk? Get your phone, notebook or something to jot them down. Keep them where you would always look at when you work on your projects.

Copy passages from your favourite books with pen and paper

There is no tactile memory when you highlight and save it on your computer. Keep a commonplace notebook where you copy these passages. It can be anything — passages from a book, incidents, dialogues and slang.

When I flipped through mine, I always find something that is inspiring or motivating. Do not procrastinate on updating your commonplace notebook. You would regret putting it off and end up having a huge amount of passages you need to copy by hand. Update it consistently. You would not regret it when you need inspiration or motivation.

Keep writing and research details later

Ryan Holiday suggested to keep writing and do not research details when you are writing. Put in brackets where research is needed. Research after you finish the essay. You would finish the essay much faster. 

Does your writing teach or entertain your readers?

Ryan Holiday’s editor said this:

It is not what a book is. It is what a book does.

Does it do the following?

• Does it entertain the reader or make them feel emotions?

• Does it make them smarter and learn something?

Kill your darlings

Ryan Holiday learned that Elizabeth Gilbert has this editing tip. Ask yourself if this sentence, paragraph, or chapter truly furthers the narrative. If not, chuck it. Keep it in a separate outtake document where you keep these paragraphs that you cut. You may need to put it back if your editor wants it. It could be useful for your work in the future.

Put a few important quotes on the wall

These quotes will keep you going when you need it the most. I have a few on my whiteboard. I change the quotes according to my goals every year.

• Smile when it rains hard.

• Expect nothing. Appreciate everything.

• Am I doing this for present me or future me?

Set a goal and stick to it

How often do you want to write? Do you want to write one article every day, once a week or every other week? Stick to it.

Stop writing when you hit the sweet spot

Hemingway advised Thomas Wolfe to stop writing when he hit the sweet spot of writing. It would be easier for you to keep the momentum going and write on the next day.

Never stop when you are stuck

Do not stop writing when you hit a writer’s block. Write something else. Write an essay if you have no ideas for poetry and vice versa. Do not stop writing altogether.

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