How to Be a Writer: Simple Lessons from Rebecca Solnit

Writing is both thrilling and hard. Rebecca Solnit reminds us that becoming a writer is about showing up every day, making mistakes, and loving the work. Here are ten ideas she shares, brought into everyday language: 1. Just write • Start small. Write a sentence, a paragraph. Don’t wait for perfect ideas or big goals. • Give yourself permission to write badly. Even awkward, messy words lead you forward. 2. Writing isn’t typing • A lot happens before your fingers hit the keys — thinking, planning, sketching. • Editing is part of writing. You’ll rewrite, cut, add, pause, return. That’s normal. 3. Read. And don’t read only what’s new • Dive deep. Read classics, old stories, voices from different times. • Don’t just follow current trends. Let books far from your own time or place teach you. 4. Listen — but trust yourself too • Feedback matters — from friends, editors, readers. • But there are moments when you must follow your own voice. Don’t let advice drown out what you feel inside. 5. Make it your calling • Talent is good, but dedication matters more. • Write about what moves you, what you’re curious about. Passion helps you persevere. 6. Find the time • Life is busy, but carve out moments for writing. • Avoid habits or costs that steal time. Keep things simple to make space for your work. 7. Get facts right • Mistakes in fiction can break trust; in nonfiction, they can kill it. • Be careful, check sources, be honest with detail. Your readers deserve that accuracy. 8. Keep your joy alive • Writing is hard. Sometimes it feels pointless or painful. • But pause and remember why you write: for the pleasure of words, ideas, feelings. • Let little joys — a color, a phrase, a memory — inspire you. 9. Don’t confuse success with worth • Awards and praise are nice, but they don’t define you. • Love your work, not the applause. Let success be a side effect, not your goal. 10. You decide your path • In the end, no guide works for everyone. • You already know something about what you must do. Trust that, under all the noise and advice. Being a writer isn’t glamorous every day. There are days of doubt, days when nothing works, but also moments of discovery, delight, surprise. Solnit’s tips are not magic spells — they’re reminders to keep going, to hold your own voice, and to believe in the small steps.