5 CREATIVE WRITING TIPS WITH DAISY BUCHANAN
Summer wouldn't be complete without a great book or two. Which is why we recently escaped the hustle and bustle of the city to embark on our first Reading Retreat. Surrounded by miles of stretching British landscape, this was a time to slow down and switch off, settling into 24 hours of creativity, literature and conversation.
Joined by best-selling author, journalist and broadcaster Daisy Buchanan, the afternoon began with discussing her most recent book – All Grown Up. A charming read underpinned by the classic novel Little Women, this was the perfect book to inspire our guests to tap into their own creativity.
If you're looking to get into creative writing yourself, look to Daisy's 5 tips on how to start, where to find inspiration and ways to overcome self-doubt.
TIP 1: LET YOURSELF GET EXCITED.
It might sound silly, but if you're thinking about getting into writing, then allowing yourself to dream big and fantasise about where your creativity might take you will help to excite you for the journey ahead. Picture your work in the window of your local bookshop. Imagine Olivia Coleman thanking you in her Oscar's speech.
Every single author must start somewhere, and your favourite writer will have been on the same journey you are about to embark on. If it feels too daunting, letting yourself dream about where your words might take you can help you to stay motivated.
You could write a book that will become something else's favourite, and that's why you need to get the words down on the page instead of keeping them in your head. If you're struggling to get started, set a timer for five minutes and write down whatever you like. You can always rewrite a bad paragraph to make it better, but you can't edit nothing.
TIP 2: TRUST YOUR TASTE.
Begin with writing about the ideas that move you and excite you. The ideas that make you laugh. Write because you're utterly captivated by the story you're creating, and because you're desperate to find out what happens next.
If you're writing a story you want to read yourself, you'll stay motivated and your passion will fuel you to the final page. However, if you're writing about something your heart isn't fully in, you may notice more of a struggle to stay motivated. Your readers may feel it too.
Don't focus too much on literary trends, instead focus on the story you want to tell. If you love dragons, or vampires, or detectives, then write about them. If you write about a particular topic only because it seems popular at the time, you'll feel disconnected from your future readers when it comes to writing about the topics you really enjoy.
You'll find that the best method is the one that makes you feel happy, comfortable and confident, and that might change from book to book. Some writers plan and some writers really do make it up as they go along – the beauty of it is that there's no right or wrong way. Plan if it's helpful, not if it makes you panic (Disclaimer: I'm not a very good planner).
TIP 3: READ AS MUCH AS YOU CAN.
Reading as many books, over as many genres as you can, really is the best way to learn about writing. You don't need a lot of technical knowledge to write a novel – but immersing yourself in different novels is the best and most enjoyable way to learn the basics.
Re-reading your favourite books is a great way to learn good writing techniques. When you already know exactly what happens, you can start to understand how it happens by reading between the lines. What techniques is the author using to build momentum? What are the finer details that are adding depth and telling the story further? You can explore why you respond strongly to certain characters or moments in those books and bring those qualities into your own writing.
It's also worth reading books that fall outside your comfort zone. If you wouldn't normally read a psychological thriller, pick one up – you can learn plenty about pacing. On the other hand, if you love a page turner, a little literary fiction might be an inspiring, exciting way to discover a new style of writing.
TIP 4: FIND WHAT FEELS GOOD.
If you're wanting to start a new project, why not take yourself on a writing retreat?
You might discover that you create your best work by writing for 15 minutes a day, first thing in the morning or last thing at night. Experiment and you'll find a routine that works for you. If you find yourself feeling energised and full of ideas at any point in the day, that's your writing window.
You could challenge yourself to swap scrolling for writing. If you find yourself staring at your phone on your commute, during your lunch break or on your sofa, open your notes app and write down some ideas.
This doesn't have to be perfect prose. Even if your words are a bit scrappy, you're still writing. You don't need hours every day, just a few minutes. If you try to make a little pocket of time for it, no matter what mood you're in, you'll find the words soon start stacking up.
TIP 5: PUSH THROUGH THE SELF-DOUBT.
Every writer I know struggles with this. Writing can feel lonely as it forces you to spend time by yourself, in your head. You'll sit down to write, only to jump back up again, convinced that what you're doing is self-indulgent, or that you should be ticking off your to-do list. I find it comforting to remember that every single writer in the world experiences this.
When I feel as though the self-doubt is winning, I promise myself that I can stop after the next 100 words. I take a deep breath, go for a walk, talk to a kind friend and I promise myself that I'll try again tomorrow. Writing in different surroundings can help. Try a different café. If you've been using the kitchen table, see how it feels in the bedroom or the garden.
There are plenty of online writing communities where you can meet other writers (I personally love The London Writers' Salon). Sometimes the best cure for self-doubt is to talk about it and find people who will understand what you're going through because they've experienced it themselves.
Daisy's latest novel, All Grown Up, is available now.
Be sure to keep up with her journey over on Instagram @thedaisybee or Substack @creativeconfidenceclinic.
@HISTORY_ALICE, @THEDAISYBEE