Welcome to the writing world! If you are here, you’ve probably already experienced the horror of the blank document. The cursor blinks at you like a tiny, digital judge. You want to write something brilliant, but your brain suddenly feels like wet cardboard.

Here is the ultimate insider secret: professional writers aren't actually smarter than you. They just know the cheat codes. If you are new to the game, stop trying to do things the hard way. Here are seven writing shortcuts that feel like absolute robbery, but will instantly make you look like a seasoned pro.

1. Fire the Thesaurus

When you’re new, it’s tempting to use giant words to prove you’re a "real writer." Please stop. Nobody wants to read that you "utilized a writing implement to formulate a response." Just say you "used a pen to write." Using simple, punchy words isn't lazy; it is high-efficiency communication. If your reader needs a dictionary to survive your paragraph, you didn't win—you just gave them homework.

2. Put Your Sentences to Work for YOU

There is a sneaky grammatical trap called "passive voice." It’s the difference between "The sandwich was eaten by Zombie Bob" and "Zombie Bob ate the sandwich." See how the second one is faster, punchier, and actually exciting? Make your subject do the action. Don't let things just happen to them. It instantly makes your writing feel alive.

3. Write Like You’re Venting to a Friend

If you wouldn't say a sentence out loud at a barbecue, don't put it in your draft. The easiest way to sound like a natural human is to abuse contractions. Use don't, can't, should've, and it's. Forcing yourself to write out do not and cannot makes you sound like a Victorian ghost or a robot trying to pass a captcha test.

4. Build the Frame Before the House

Staring at a blank page trying to write a masterpiece from scratch is a great way to waste three hours looking at memes. Cheat instead. Write a bulleted list of your main points first. Then, fill in those bullets with messy paragraphs. Suddenly, you have a complete piece of writing without ever having to face the terrifying "void."

5. Write the Intro Last (Seriously)

Your introduction is always the hardest part to write because your brain doesn't actually know what you're introducing yet. Skip it! Write the middle, figure out your ending, and see where the piece takes you. Crafting a killer hook at the very top is shockingly easy when you already know exactly where the roller coaster is heading.

6. Give Yourself Permission to Write Total Garbage

Trying to write and edit at the same time is like trying to vacuum your living room while someone else is actively throwing confetti in the air. Turn off your inner critic. Let your first draft be an absolute disaster. Write nonsense. You cannot fix a blank page, but you can always polish a beautiful piece of trash into gold later.

7. Perform a Dramatic Reading to Your Cat

When you finish a draft, read it out loud to an empty room (and record yourself to listen to it back later). If you trip over a sentence, stumble on a word, or literally run out of oxygen mid-paragraph, that sentence is broken. Your eyes will lie to you to save time, but your tongue will always catch the clunky phrasing.

7 Writing Secrets That Feel Like Cheating (An Absolute Beginner’s Guide)

So here's your chance to dig in and begin! Thanks so much for stopping by, if you’ve found this helpful please comment and share this blog. Weekly we bring you tips on Mondays that we endeavor to share ideas and concepts that will help you in your writing. By all means if you have some ideas that may be of help to the other writers that frequent this blog put them as well in the comments.

If you are interested in finding a new story to read, especially one based on a true story then check out Dan’s book by clicking on the picture below.

This story will shock and enthrall you and the grittiness of it will move you deeply I promise.