Here are 51 writing tips to inspire your own work

CBC Books has collected 51 writing tips that can help you produce that first draft of a book or novel, a submission for the CBC Literary Prizes or just help you write for yourself.

So get reading, get inspired and get writing!

Finding inspiration

• Pause for inspiration
• Stop looking and listen
• Get away from the noise
• Don't wait for inspiration, just write
• Be inspired by the ordinary
• Carry a notebook
• Get off your phone and into your own head
• Make friends with silence
• Be a good observer

Getting started

• Make time to write
• Write every day
• Set a daily word count and stick to it
• Find a routine and stick to it
• Don't just write what you know
• Just get something down
• Don't overthink it
• Write for yourself
• Ignore your inner critic
• Stay focused
• Even one line of hooey is okay
• Write freely, worry about editing later
• Find an anchor
• Embrace bad writing
• Read beyond your comfort zone
• Learn the craft
• Learn from others
• Write with attitude
• Don't throw anything out

Staying the course

• Hold yourself accountable
• Make the every day new again
• Focus on your main character
• Create believable characters
• Give your character motivation
• Give your character a sidekick
• Explore why your characters matter
• Feel like your writing has cabin fever? Get outside!
• Want to take your writing to the next level? Go deep
• Ask yourself, 'So what?'
• Feeling anxious about your writing? Procrastinate
• Only write what's necessary
• Get away from the internet
• Write with abandon
• Write from the heart
• Break the rules
• Embrace the desperation

Finishing strong

• Good writers know what they are good at — and what they need to work on
• Be a ruthless editor
• Be brave with your editing
• Read your work out loud
• Ignore the naysayers
• Share your story with the world