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Tips for Writers:

Improve Your Writing, Create Better Stories, and Stay Motivated

As well as writing psychological thrillers, I also teach creative writing. Below are practical, actionable writing tips designed to help you strengthen your craft, stay motivated, and develop your writing voice.

 

Many of these are expanded inside my free book, The 7 S.E.C.R.E.T.S. to Achieving Your Writing Dreams.

Free writing guide by psychological thriller author Maria Frankland – The 7 S.E.C.R.E.T.S. to Achieving Your Writing Dreams book cover

1. Build a Consistent Writing Habit

To stay motivated and improve steadily, aim to write every day – even if it’s only a page or a paragraph. Research shows that habits become established after twenty-one days of consistent practice. Daily writing strengthens creativity, discipline and confidence.

2. Use Writing Prompts to Improve Your Storytelling

Writing Inspirations book cover – creative writing prompts by Maria Frankland

Short writing prompts help you:

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·       Develop your style

·       Strengthen creativity

·       Practise specific storytelling skills​

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Choose prompts that reflect your chosen genre – fiction, poetry, autobiographical writing, or psychological suspense.

 

A good place to begin is 'Writing Inspiration' on Amazon.

3. Create Authentic, Immersive Settings

To write settings that feel vivid and real:

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  • Engage all five senses

  • Include emotional connections between character and place

  • Where possible, write from within the location itself or using real sensory memory

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Sensory detail + emotional resonance = a setting readers can step into.

4. Develop Well-Rounded, Relatable Characters

Before writing a character, get to know them deeply:

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  • Their emotions

  • Their patterns and motivations

  • Their flaws, secrets and internal conflicts

  • What makes them unique

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Blend traits from yourself, people you know, or interesting real-world personalities to bring them to life.

5. Find Your Unique Writing Voice

Your voice emerges naturally through regular writing. Try not to edit while drafting, just write. As you read back over your work, you’ll begin to hear your tone:

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  • Descriptive or minimalist

  • Dialogue-led or action-led

  • Fast-paced or reflective

  • Humorous, dark, lyrical or blunt

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Your writing voice becomes clearer the more you write.

6. Balance Dialogue, Description and Action

Avoid long blocks of one element. Instead, interweave:

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  • A line of action

  • A line of dialogue

  • A hint of emotion or description

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This keeps the narrative flowing and prevents readers from skimming.

7. Build Tension and Suspense

To increase tension—especially in thrillers—use:

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  • Shorter sentences

  • Monosyllabic, punchy words

  • Strong verbs

  • Less introspection and more action

  • Reduced description in high-tension moments

 

This speeds up the pacing and keeps readers hooked.

Picture of notebook with think, plan, execute logo along with pen and lit candle.

8. Balance Showing vs. Telling

Instead of telling the reader what’s happening, show it through behaviour and small details.

Rather than writing 'The woman was crying:' write, 'A stranger pressed a tissue into her hand and squeezed her shoulder.'

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Showing invites the reader into the emotional world of the character.

9. Write Emotions and Internal Thoughts Effectively

Spend time with your characters:

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  • Use music, candles or walks to get into their mindset

  • Think about their emotional wounds, desires and fears

  • Draw from your own lived experiences

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Authentic emotion is what makes readers care.

10. Approach Editing with Fresh Eyes

Avoid editing during your first draft—it disrupts creativity. Instead:

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  1. Finish the draft

  2. Step away for a few days

  3. Return with fresh eyes

  4. Edit in layers

  5. Ask another writer or editor to review it if possible

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Good writing comes from rewriting.

11. Find a Writing Community or Critique Group

Writing can be lonely. Support makes a huge difference. Look for:

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  • Groups writing in similar genres

  • Writers at similar skill levels

  • Supportive, constructive communities

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Remember: all feedback is subjective – use what helps, ignore what doesn’t.

12. Handle Writer’s Self-Doubt

Every writer struggles with doubt at every stage of their career. Keep learning, keep practising and keep believing in what you’re creating.


Progress comes from persistence and tenacity.

13. Navigate the Publishing Industry

Research widely:

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  • Traditional publishers

  • Agents

  • Submission windows

  • Writing competitions

  • Independent or self-publishing options

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We no longer need a traditional publisher to be successful!

14. Identify Your Personal Writing Goals

Define what 'success' means for you:

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  • Completing a novel

  • Publishing a poetry collection

  • Writing your memoir

  • Winning a competition

  • Earning money from your writing

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Break your goal into small steps—and begin.

Free Resource for Writers

These tips are explored in more detail in my free book: The 7 S.E.C.R.E.T.S. to Achieving Your Writing Dreams
Download it here.

Work With Me

I offer:​

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For details, fill in the contact form.

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