Ten More Writing Tips from J.R.R. Tolkien

This is a wishful image of myself and the master, but his letters bear out his thoughts clearly enough.

In April of 2012 I spent a good two weeks digging through Tolkien’s letters to find writing advice that he gave to friends and colleagues to whom he corresponded. That post was called “Tolkien’s 10 Tips for Writers” and has apparently helped a lot of writers.

The previous post and what follows is directed at indie publishers or writers who have a day-job because even though Tolkien published traditionally he often lamented about wishing he could write full time. In fact, in a letter to Hugh Brogan dated 31 October 1948 Tolkien wrote:

“This university business of earning one’s living by teaching, delivering philological lectures, and daily attendance at ‘boards’ and other talk-meetings, interferes sadly with serious work.

— (Tolkien 131)

I assumed that on a second reading I would find even more, and of course I did. Over the next few weeks I’ll post (when I can) another round of advice from the master of Middle Earth gleaned from his letters to friends and colleagues

So here is this round of 10 tips with references. It is, like LOTR, rather lengthy. In the spirit of Tolkien’s correspondence, I will not apologize for length.

1. Leave the Illustrations to Artists — Tolkien was a gifted writer, but he was not very gifted when it came to art. Check…