By: Raymond Williams
Women writers play a significant role in shaping our view of the world. Not only do they help tell stories from diverse perspectives, but they also evoke emotions that resonate with readers.
Because of this, it’s important to recognize women’s growing presence in the writing space and their impact on the industry. According to Zippia, 50.5% of all authors are women, and we hope to see that percentage grow in the near future.
As a woman-owned writing business, we’d like to share four effective tips from women writers to help you with your creative journey!
Check them out below:
“When in doubt, I return to my first thought that inspired me to begin with.”
– Mara Brock Akil
Photo Credit: IMDb
Known for staple television shows such as “Girlfriends,” “The Game,” and “Being Mary Jane,” screenwriter and producer Mara Brock Akil has been making her mark in the entertainment industry for decades.
One of the top rules for writing is to write what you know, and Akil believes in telling stories that reflect our society, especially narratives of often overlooked communities. When you share your experiences and remember what inspired you, you can develop new ideas and create new stories that will inspire others.
“Write ugly, write often and don’t read the critics too much.”
– Karin Tanabe
Photo Credit: Karin Tanabe
Karin Tanabe is an author best known for her historical fiction novels such as “A Woman of Intelligence,” “The Gilded Years,“ and “The Price of Inheritance.”
As a writer, it is common for perfectionism to get the best of you, especially when starting a new project. Tanabe says “writing badly“ is the best advice she gives to writers. Whether you think your writing is good, bad, or in between, putting words on paper or a screen is the most significant part of the writing process. From there, you can make as many edits as you like to create the story you envision.
“The first rule should be there are no rules, if something is well-written.”
– Kali Fajardo-Anstine
Photo Credit: Kali Fajardo-Anstine
Kali Fajardo-Anstine is a short story writer and novelist. Her short story collection, “Sabrina & Corina,” received a finalist nomination for the National Book Award in 2019 and won the American Book Award in 2020.
In addition to being a writer, Fajardo-Anstine also teaches. Fajardo-Anstine stands firm in not following arbitrary writing rules. The most critical component of your work is to ensure it is well-written and that you clearly communicate your message to the reader.
“Write toward questions, not answers.”
– Brit Bennett
Photo credit: Brit Bennett
Brit Bennett is a writer and author known for her New York Times best-selling novels, “The Mothers” and “The Vanishing Half.”
The award-winning author believes writers should view their writing journey as a continuous process of growth and learning. While creating your story, you should always be open-minded about the potential directions certain characters and story arcs will take you. Even if you have a clear vision, your “what ifs” can lead your story to evolve into a stronger narrative.
The above quotes from these women offer valuable insight into the writing process. We hope you can apply these tips to your career so you can share your story with the world.