Writer’s Toolbox

Tips From the Masters

You will find pearls of writing wisdom in these pithy lists by masters of their craft.

Andrew Motion: 10 Techniques to Spark the Writing - Expert writing tips

Andrew Motion: 10 Techniques to Spark the Writing - Expert writing tips

Andrew Motion has garnered the highest acclaim as a poet, including a knighthood and the post of Poet Laureate of the UK. In addition to his many books of poetry, Motion has published seminal biographies of poets and been a leading champion of poetry in the contemporary world. Though he has reached the pinnacle, he seeks to write poetry meaningful to all.

10 Techniques to Spark the Writing

  1. Decide when in the day (or night) it best suits you to write, and organise your life accordingly.
  2. Think with your senses as well as your brain.
  3. Honour the miraculousness of the ordinary.
  4. Lock different characters/elements in a room and tell them to get on.
  5. Remember there is no such thing as nonsense.
  6. Bear in mind Wilde's dictum that “only mediocrities develop"— and challenge it.
  7. Let your work stand before deciding whether or not to serve.
  8. Think big and stay particular.
  9. Write for tomorrow, not for today.
  10. Work hard.

From an article in The Guardian.