Writing tips

At Killianink.com, I pride myself on my humorously unreliable adaptability and commitment to excellence in every aspect of my writing service. Explore these writing tips to contribute to your own success.

Biggest mistakes writers make

1. Trying to Sound Like a Walking Thesaurus
Mistake: Some writers believe that inserting extravagant, grandiloquent, and superfluous lexicon makes them sound smarter. In reality, they just sound like someone who swallowed a dictionary.

Fix: Keep it simple. If your reader has to Google every third word, they’ll ditch your writing faster than that creep at the bar.

2. Editing While Writing (A.K.A. The Eternal First Paragraph Syndrome)
Mistake: You write one sentence. Then you rewrite it. Then you tweak it. Then you stare at it. Then you cry. Congratulations, you’ve spent two hours on 12 words.

Fix: Just write. Your first draft is supposed to be messy—think of it as a toddler learning to walk. You can clean up the chaos later.

3. Relying Too Much on Clichés
Mistake: "At the end of the day, it is what it is." Ugh. If your writing is stuffed with clichés, your readers will roll their eyes so hard they might sprain something.

Fix: Instead of using phrases people have seen a million times, twist them into something fresh. (e.g., “At the end of the day, I still haven’t folded my laundry.”)

4. Forgetting That Commas Save Lives
Mistake:
"Let’s eat Grandma!" (Horrifying.)
"Let’s eat, Grandma!" (Much better.)
Fix: Use punctuation wisely unless you want to accidentally write a horror novel.

5. Writing Like a Robot
Mistake: Some writers suck the personality out of their writing until it reads like a terms-and-conditions page.

Fix: Inject some personality! Unless you’re drafting legal documents, loosen up. If your writing sounds like it was written by an AI stuck in 1997, rewrite it with more humor, warmth, or flair.

6. Not Knowing When to End
Mistake: Some writers just keep going and going, repeating the same idea in slightly different ways because they think more words make them sound smarter, when in reality, they’re just making their readers lose patience and—

Fix: Get to the point. If you can say it in fewer words, do it. Your readers will thank you.

Final Advice? Just Write.
Don’t stress too much about being perfect. Even the best writers make mistakes (yes, even that one you admire). The key is to learn, laugh at yourself, and, most importantly, keep writing!

Now, get back to your masterpiece before you start overanalyzing this sentence. 😜

One piece of writing advice

Seriously. Stop waiting for the “perfect moment,” the “right inspiration,” or the stars to align in a literary constellation that spells out your first sentence. The magic happens when you start putting words on the page—even if those words are absolute garbage at first.

Here’s the truth:

Your first draft will suck. Accept it. Even the best writers start with messy, chaotic nonsense. The difference? They revise. A lot.
Perfectionism is a creativity killer. If you edit every sentence as you go, you’ll never finish a paragraph. Let the words flow, and clean up the mess later.
Read like your life depends on it. Other writers are your best teachers. Devour books, articles, and even the back of cereal boxes. You never know where inspiration will strike.
Write even when you don’t feel like it. If you only write when you're “in the mood,” your novel will be finished by the year 2097. Treat it like a job—because it is.
Stop being afraid of criticism. Someone will always have an opinion, and sometimes, it’ll be harsh. Learn from it, grow, and don’t let it stop you.

At the end of the day, writing isn’t about waiting for the perfect words to arrive. It’s about showing up, doing the work, and trusting that eventually, the brilliance will shine through.

Now go write something before you procrastinate by reading more writing advice. 😜

Fun writing prompt

One morning, you wake up to find a mysterious post-it note stuck to your forehead. It’s written in your own handwriting, but you have no memory of writing it. It simply says:

"Don’t trust them. Leave now."

The problem? You have no idea who "they" are… and you're not sure where to go.

What happens next? 🤔✍️

For more fun writing prompts to get you through that pesky block, visit my blog of writing prompts. 

What makes writing 'good'?

Good writing is like a great first date: engaging, clear, and doesn’t ramble on about irrelevant details (looking at you, unnecessary backstory). It hooks you from the start, keeps you entertained, and leaves you wanting more.

It’s not a thesaurus-wielding monster that shoves big words into every sentence just to sound smart. (“Ah yes, this coffee is exquisitely effervescent with a nuanced olfactory bouquet.” No. Just say it smells nice.)

Good writing flows smoothly—like a well-buttered pancake down a slide. It has a purpose, a voice, and enough personality to keep readers from wandering off mid-sentence to check their phones.

Most importantly, good writing respects the reader’s time. It gets to the point, avoids fluff, and knows when to stop. (Unlike that one relative who tells stories that never, ever end.)

So, if your writing makes people feel something, keeps them engaged, and doesn’t put them to sleep—congratulations! You’ve got good writing. Now go forth and create more of it. 🚀

Speaking of good writing—don’t miss the release of my new book, You Can’t Count on Me, coming soon to all book retailers, including Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Books-A-Million. Unlike your ex, this will fill you with romance, heartache, laughter, and adventure!🚀📖