by Jill Smith: GCWA Member, Creative Writer, Founding member of The Ten Penners, Book Reviewer, and blogger.

When asked what I find helpful with my writing, these 10 basic tips spring to mind:

1. Read lots – books, magazines, articles, anything. In the genre you prefer, or to expand your reading habits – try different genres.

2. Write often – even if it's a diary entry, a draft of a story idea, a note to a friend, or a letter – write it down. If you can write a page a day at least, you’re already on your way to creating your next manuscript.

3. Be prepared to learn – take writing courses, visit library author talks, and remember that critique groups are invaluable.

4. Join writing groups – Gold Coast Writers is an excellent start. There are also many online groups. Being with people who share your passion for writing and creating is a mind-expanding process.

5. Tell people about your writing – learn to brag – have a pitch for your latest book on the tip of your tongue. This exercise is good to practise. Many writers I know are too shy.

6. Get your social media set up – start a blog, have Facebook, email, Goodreads, Twitter, and whatever else you use. Link what you can to tell people you are a writer.

7. Enter writing competitions – follow the competition guidelines. If you don’t do the double- spacing or correct the grammar, the entry will be rejected.

8. Editing – is the most important part of writing. The more you practise, the better you get.

9. Dialogue – lifts a slow-moving story out of the mire. Read it aloud to yourself to check it’s working.

10. Characters – need to be whole and real to the reader. Use all the senses to create their environment and who they are.

I hope you find this a healthy reminder of things you may already know. However, we can never take learning new ways to improve our writing for granted.