How to Be a Better Writer Reddit (What Reddit Actually Teaches)

If you’ve ever searched “how to be a better writer reddit”, chances are you were tired of polished advice that sounds good but doesn’t help. Reddit threads feel different. They’re honest. Sometimes blunt. Often repetitive. But buried inside all that noise is advice that actually works.

After reading dozens of Reddit discussions on becoming a better writer, one thing is clear: there’s no secret trick. What Reddit offers instead is perspective, the kind that keeps you writing when motivation disappears.

Here’s what Reddit really teaches about becoming a better writer, explained simply.

How To Be A Better Writer Reddit

Here you go:

1. Improvement Comes From Doing, Not Planning

One of the most repeated ideas on Reddit is simple:

Anything we devote our time to, we get better at.

Writers don’t improve by watching videos about writing or endlessly outlining the “perfect” story. They improve by writing regularly, even when the work feels mediocre. This even makes you more productive and focused.

Reddit writers often stress doing both:

• Read daily (to absorb rhythm, structure, and voice)

• Write daily (to build muscle and confidence)

Reading without writing makes you a critic. Writing without reading limits growth. The balance matters.

The takeaway: Don’t wait to feel ready. Start where you are and keep going.

2. Bad First Drafts Are Normal (Even for Professionals)

A big confidence killer for new writers is comparison. Especially comparing drafts to published books.

Reddit is brutally honest about this:

Literally nobody’s first draft looks like their favorite published book.

Published work has been edited, revised, rewritten, and polished multiple times. Drafts are not meant to be impressive. They’re meant to exist.

Many writers say this is a good sign:

If you look at something you wrote a year ago and cringe a little, you’ve improved.

That discomfort means growth.

The takeaway: Don’t judge your progress by how perfect your drafts look. Judge it by how often you show up.

3. Don’t Compare Your Work to Other Writers

Another strong Reddit theme: comparison ruins momentum.

You’re comparing:

• Your unfinished draft

• To someone else’s finished, edited, published work

That’s not a fair fight.

More importantly, Reddit reminds writers that you are not your writing. Comparing your work to someone else’s work is not the same as comparing your entire self to theirs.

There will always be someone better. There will also be someone who connects deeply with your voice.

No matter your skill level, somewhere there’s a reader who’ll love what you write.

The takeaway: Focus on progress, not ranking.

4. Start Small Before Writing Big

A very practical Reddit suggestion: don’t start with a novel.

Many writers recommend this progression:

• Very short stories (even blog-length pieces)

• One-page stories

• Then longer short stories

• Then novellas

• Only then, a novel

This helps you learn:

• How to finish things

• How pacing works

• How to revise without overwhelm

Writing something small and finishing it builds confidence faster than struggling with a massive project for years.

The takeaway: Finishing short work teaches more than abandoning big ideas.

5. Expect Doubt — It Never Fully Goes Away

Reddit doesn’t pretend that confidence magically appears.

Many writers describe the same pattern:

• Early confidence

• Reality hits

• Doubt shows up

• You question everything

And here’s the important part: even successful writers still feel this.

Doubt should travel with you, just not drive.

Impostor syndrome doesn’t mean you’re failing. It means you care.

The takeaway: Doubt is normal. Stopping because of it is optional.

6. Discipline Matters More Than Inspiration

One thing Reddit agrees on almost universally: waiting for inspiration doesn’t work.

Many writers:

• Write at the same time daily

• Set small deadlines

• Show up even when they don’t feel like it

Some even mention writing better late at night, early morning, or during quiet hours. That’s not because those times are magical, but because it becomes routine.

Consistency trains your brain to cooperate.

The takeaway: Show up first. Motivation often follows.

7. Write for Yourself First, Audience Later

A repeated Reddit warning: don’t write purely for trends or commercial appeal.

Writers who stick with projects long-term usually say:

• They wrote what they wanted to read

• Passion kept them going when feedback was slow

• Market thinking came later

Writing only to please others often leads to burnout.

The takeaway: Write something you’d enjoy reading. That energy shows.

8. Simple Practical Tips Reddit Swears By

Here are quick, actionable tips Reddit writers repeat often:

• Don’t edit while writing your first draft

• Read your work out loud during revisions

• Eliminate distractions while writing

• Write shorter pieces often

• Listen to audiobooks if you don’t have time to read

• Take care of your mental and physical health

• Stop one project if it’s draining you and write something lighter

None of these are flashy — but they work.

9. The Core Reddit Message (This Is the Real One)

After all the advice, quotes, and debates, Reddit keeps circling back to one truth:

If you want to be a writer, write.

Not perfectly. Not confidently. Just consistently.

And if you stop?Start again.

That’s it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Reddit actually give good writing advice?

Yes — but it works best when you look for patterns, not individual opinions. The most repeated advice usually points to what matters.

How long does it take to become a good writer?

There’s no fixed timeline. Many Reddit writers say improvement comes after volume — dozens of short stories or multiple long projects — not after waiting to feel “ready.”

Should beginners write novels?

Most Reddit writers suggest starting small. Finishing short work builds skills and confidence faster than struggling through a long novel early on.

Final Thought

Reddit doesn’t make you a better writer. Writing does. Reddit just reminds you that:

• You’re not alone

• You’re not broken

• And you’re not behind

Keep writing. That’s how tomorrow’s improvement happens. Got writing advice you swear by? Share in the comments!