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.