Are you continuously seeking out new information, updated techniques, and evolving writing styles so you can stay relevant in the industry?
If not—you’re falling behind.
It doesn’t matter if you’ve been writing for three minutes or 30 years. There is always more to learn. Writing is a lifelong craft. If you're not growing, you're shrinking. If you're not learning, you're becoming outdated. If you're unwilling to change, you’re the literary equivalent of Blockbuster in a Netflix world.
🚨 This is your wake-up call. 🚨
I’ve been writing for over 30 years, and you know what? I still learn something new every single day. Case in point: I just recently figured out the difference between “sat” and “set” when writing in third-person past tense.
Sat – Past tense of sit (e.g., He sat on the bench.)
Set – To put or place something (e.g., She set the book on the table.)
I had been using them interchangeably for years. When did I realize the difference? After my ninth book. That’s not a typo. Nine. Books. In.
That’s a certified forehead-slap moment, right there.
Things I’ve Learned the (Sometimes Embarrassing) Hard Way
Here’s a list of craft lessons, industry insights, and straight-up grammar rules I didn’t always know—but wish I had.
✏️ Dialogue Punctuation Matters
Incorrect: “I’m going to the store.” Bob said.
Correct: “I’m going to the store,” Bob said.
Why? Because in standard dialogue formatting, the tag is part of the sentence. Capitalizing it is like slapping an exclamation point in the middle of a haiku. Stop doing it. Please.
✏️ Fancy Dialogue Tags = Trying Too Hard
Using anything other than said or asked as dialogue tags is generally discouraged.
You don’t need to “exclaim,” “murmur,” “smile,” or “ejaculate” your dialogue (yes, that’s an actual old-school tag). Let the dialogue—and context—carry the tone. Readers skip over tags like "said," which is exactly what you want.
The Industry Changes. So Should You.
🧠 The Oxford Comma? Fading.
It’s still technically correct, but no longer required in many style guides. The Chicago Manual of Style still recommends it, but AP Style doesn't. If you’re self-publishing, choose a lane and stick to it.
🧠 Two Spaces After a Period? Dead.
That rule died with typewriters. In today’s world of proportional fonts, two spaces make your manuscript look like it crawled out of 1992. Stop. Just… stop.
🧠 Don’t Open Your Novel with Dialogue or Alarm Clocks
Starting with a character waking up or having a random convo is overdone. Editors and readers alike roll their eyes. Give us something more immersive, situational, or high-stakes right off the bat.
🧠 Self-Publishing Isn’t a Dirty Word Anymore
The indie author revolution is real. Done well, self-publishing gives you creative control, higher royalties, and direct access to your readers. The stigma is dying—don’t let outdated thinking hold you back.
More Commonly Confused Concepts for Fiction Writers
Here’s a bonus dose of humility. If you’re still mixing up these, you’re not alone:
❌ That vs. Which
- “That” is restrictive (essential info), “which” is non-restrictive (extra info).
Example: The book that has a red cover is mine.
Example: The book, which has a red cover, is mine.
❌ Lay vs. Lie
- “Lay” requires an object. “Lie” does not.
Present: I lay the book down. I lie on the couch.
Past: I laid the book down. I lay on the couch.
(Cue headache.)
❌ Further vs. Farther
- “Farther” = distance. “Further” = metaphorical or figurative advancement.
Farther down the road.
Further in the discussion.
❌ Imply vs. Infer
- The speaker implies. The listener infers.
❌ Your vs. You’re
Yes. This still happens. Stop scrolling Instagram and go edit your draft.
But You Can’t Tell Me Anything I Don’t Already Know!
Oh, I feel you. I’m stubborn too. I’m hard-headed. And if you try to give me advice, I’ll probably nod and dismiss it silently like, “Sure, buddy. I totally needed to hear that.”
And then two months later? I’ll run into that exact same advice in a book or podcast and have an aha! moment… like I discovered it myself.
We’re all like that sometimes.
But here’s the thing: that attitude—if left unchecked—will wreck your progress. It will slow your momentum. And it will cost you opportunities. Because while you’re rolling your eyes, other writers are leveling up.
They’re buying those writing craft books. They’re listening to editors. They’re watching masterclasses, taking courses, testing AI tools, trying out new plotting methods, rewriting scenes based on actual feedback instead of vibes.
They’re moving. You’re standing still.
If You’re Not Growing, You’re Shrinking
Remember Blockbuster? They didn’t adapt. Netflix did.
Remember Borders? They didn’t go digital. Amazon did.
Remember MySpace? No? Exactly.
Staying the same is a slow death in disguise.
As an author, you’re also a small business. A creative entrepreneur. An “authorpreneur.” And that means:
- Staying current with industry changes.
- Understanding new platforms (hello, TikTok BookTok).
- Adopting new tools (Scrivener, Atticus, Plottr, AI, Canva).
- Rebranding when necessary.
- Reading craft books—even when you think you’ve read them all.
- Editing with humility.
- And always—always—being open to learning.
Final Words from a Lifelong Learner
You can write in a cave if you want. But don’t expect anyone to come looking for your work if you never evolve.
There’s no shame in not knowing something. The shame is pretending you know everything and refusing to grow. Be the kind of writer who knows they don’t know it all—and keeps going anyway.
You won’t just be a better writer.
You’ll be a better thinker, a better businessperson, and a more successful author in the long run.
So let’s raise a coffee cup to never having it all figured out.
You don't have to be perfect. You just have to be evolving.
✅ "Am I Growing or Just Being Stubborn?" – The Writer’s Adaptability Checklist
✍️ Grammar, Style & Language
☐ I know the difference between “sat” and “set”… and actually use them correctly.
☐ I’ve finally dropped the two spaces after a period.
☐ I understand the difference between “lay” and “lie” (without Googling it every time).
☐ I don’t rely on “smiled,” “laughed,” or “sighed” as dialogue tags.
☐ I correctly punctuate dialogue and know that commas go inside the quotation marks.
☐ I’ve accepted that “that” vs. “which” is not just a suggestion—it matters.
☐ I know the Oxford comma isn’t required, and I’m okay with that. Mostly.
📚 Writing Craft & Industry Know-How
☐ I no longer open my novel with a character waking up or an alarm clock.
☐ I avoid starting with straight dialogue unless there’s a strong contextual reason.
☐ I’ve stopped saying “there are no rules in fiction” to justify lazy storytelling.
☐ I’ve read at least one craft book in the last 12 months.
☐ I follow current publishing trends—even if I don’t love them.
☐ I’ve updated my understanding of what agents and editors actually want.
💼 Mindset & Authorpreneurship
☐ I accept that I don’t know everything—and that’s a good thing.
☐ I’ve changed how I write or edit based on constructive feedback.
☐ I’m open to trying new writing software or productivity tools (Plottr, Scrivener, AI, etc.).
☐ I treat my writing like a business, not just a hobby or passion project.
☐ I’m aware that self-publishing is a valid, professional path—not a last resort.
☐ I’ve learned something new about writing in the last 30 days—and applied it.
🔁 Adaptability in Action
☐ I revisit my old writing and cringe productively.
☐ I’ve revised a scene or story idea because I learned a better way to approach it.
☐ I’m willing to experiment with new genres, formats, or story structures.
☐ I’ve let go of at least one outdated belief about writing.
☐ I recognize when I’m being a stubborn gremlin—and push myself to stay open.
📊 Scoring Yourself
- 0–7 boxes checked: You’re stuck in the 1990s. Come on out—there’s Wi-Fi here.
- 8–15 boxes checked: You’re evolving! You’ve got one foot in the growth zone.
- 16–20 boxes checked: You’re a literary shapeshifter. Keep learning, keep slaying.
- 21+ boxes checked: Are you secretly a writing coach? You’re doing the thing. 👏