Learning from our mentors helps us to improve and evolve in our chosen field, and I still recall the advice given to me at the start of my writing journey.
To help the next generation of writers’ young and old, I started a Top 10 Writing Tips feature whereby established authors shared their words of wisdom and favourite writing tips.
Meet Abigail Yardimci
ABIGAIL YARDIMCI is an author of uplifting fiction with a little bit of romance and a whole lot of soul.
She is also a painter and mindfulness practitioner – a Geordie girl living by the sea in South Devon with her Turkish husband and two terrifying kids. She loves to blog and gets her kicks through mindful parenting styles, creative living and chocolate.
Abigail’s writing inspiration comes from scratching the surface of everyday life to find the underlying magic that connects us all. The fire beneath the frustration, the creativity beneath the boredom, the stillness beneath the chaos.
Abigail’s Top 10 Writing Tips
Perseverance
This could just as easily be ‘stubbornness’. Let the passion that first got you writing burn as bright as possible, and let it give you the energy to keep going when things get tough. I have never met an author who wasn’t as stubborn as a mule in one form or another (myself included!).
Level Up on Your Characters
All stories that are any good have realistic, engaging (and flawed) characters. Do your plotting however you like, but if your characters aren’t well constructed, everything will flop. As long as they undergo some kind of important transformation and have a set of actions that are realistic for them, the story will tell unfold just fine.
Read like it’s going out of fashion
Reading is so important if you’re a writer. Fill yourself up with stories of all different kinds. It’s important to remember what it is to be that person on the other side of the page, the one who’s turning the pages and investing their precious time and energy.
Comparing is despairing
It’s human nature to compare yourself to others but it’s not always helpful. I’ve found that when it comes to creativity, there really can’t be any comparison. Do your thing and do it to your heart’s content. It doesn’t matter what everybody else is doing.
Leave it alone
Sometimes, the best thing you can do for your writing is to have a break. Step away from your desk, go outside, breathe some fresh air, do something completely different. Fill your reserves back up and the answers will come when they’re ready.
Read it aloud
Traditionally, stories were told using spoken word, and I think this is where our hunger for stories really lives. There are functions for this on writing software, but I find that reading it out loud myself helps a lot. It’s fun and changes up the energy from just staring at a screen.
Spice up the dialogue
Sometimes we want to write beautiful description to support the themes of our work. However, don’t forget that the story can be moved swiftly along by the dialogue too. I’m all for ditching the writer’s voice sometimes and just letting the characters tell us what’s happening. Masters of this are Marian Keyes and Oyinkan Braithwaite to name a couple.
Fake it till you make it
Imposter syndrome is a definite thing. For every time you think, ‘My work isn’t good enough’, just remember that we’ve ALL felt it and the only way to the other (mythical) side is THROUGH. Hold your head up high, keep hold of the metaphorical quill and keep on writing. The world needs your stories.
Choose a trusted ally
When it comes to editing or even just exploring ideas, you need an ally. Find somebody you absolutely trust, who loves reading and who will honour you with their honesty. Let them loose on your WIPs and carve out time to talk it through. This person will value being a part of your creative process AND will become an ally in all that you do.
Let the heart lead the way
Although there is some EXCELLENT advice out there about the mechanics of writing, I can’t help but think that the heart knows best. Like with many things in life, do what makes your heart feel good. As soon as something creates deep unrest, let it go. We are creative beings and expressing ourselves is what we are meant to do. Let it come from the heart and there’s no way you can go wrong.
Connect with Abigail
Facebook – www.facebook.com/AbigailYardimci
Twitter – www.twitter.com/AbigailYardimci
Instagram – www.instagram.com/abigailyardimciauthor
TikTok – www.tiktok.com/@abigailyardimci_author
Get a FREE copy of Abigail’s first book, Life Is Yours, by signing up to her readers list:
Find all of Abigail’s books here:
The Life Is Yours trilogy is the ultimate in feel good fiction – telling the story of how one woman unwittingly transforms the grief and torment of heartbreak into the most magical time of her life. All three books are now available on Amazon: Life Is Yours (Book 1), Destiny Is Yours (Book 2) and Everything Is Yours (Book 3).
Life Is Yours Sales Links:
UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B097WF822P
US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B097WF822P
Aus: https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B097WF822P
Destiny Is Yours Sales Links:
UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0999MVCNY
US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0999MVCNY
Aus: https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B0999MVCNY
Everything Is Yours Sales Links:
UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B09G32VPZ1
US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09G32VPZ1
Aus: https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B09G32VPZ1
Shelley Wilson Author 