Walter Mosley’s 9 Tips for Writing a Novel

Walter Mosley is an acclaimed American novelist who has written over 60 novels. Walter has received numerous awards for storytelling throughout his storied career, including a Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Book Foundation, a Grammy for Best Album Notes in 2002, and the Edgar Grand Master Award in 2016, awarded to him by the Mystery Writers of America. Walter also won the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Literary Work — Fiction in 2008 for Blonde Faith, and 2010 for The Long Fall. His debut novel Devil in a Blue Dress (1990) marked the first installation in his Easy Rawlins mystery series and won the New York Times Notable Book of the Year award. In 1995, the acclaimed novel was adapted into a film starring Academy Award-winning actor Denzel Washington. Throughout his career, Walter has written many other nominated and notable works, such as Cinnamon Kiss (2006), The Man in My Basement (2004), Debbie Doesn’t Do It Anymore (2014), and Down the River Unto the Sea (2018), which received the Edgar Award in 2019 for best novel. His most recent publication, The Awkward Black Man (2020), is a collection of short stories that display the range of Walter’s varied talent.

Novelist Walter Mosley has written many critically-acclaimed works in various genres, from science fiction to political commentary. Below are Walter’s 10 helpful tips for aspiring first-time novelists:

1. 1. Be inventive. “A novel isn’t putting the left front tire on the Volkswagen on the production line. The novel is creating a whole new mode of transportation, a whole new mode of understanding the world,” Walter says. Look beyond your sources of inspiration and the writing structures you are familiar with—play around with words, worlds, and themes.
2. 2. Be honest. “Write your truth and believe in it—and if your mother doesn’t like it, too bad,” says Walter. Writing is intensely personal, and connecting with your subject matter can be the key to telling a story that resonates with your readers. Write about the things that matter to you, whether the subjects are controversial or not, and avoid worrying about what someone else thinks—be they critics or loved ones.
3. 3. Believe in yourself. “The beautiful thing about any day is that this is the day that ‘it’ can happen,” says Walter. “Today, all of a sudden, you realize, ‘Hey, my wheels aren’t spinning anymore. They are spinning, but I’m moving forward. I’m not sitting in place.’ ” Most writers deal with distractions and the occasional writer’s block, but persistence is key, especially when writing your first novel. Know that if you keep at it, you will eventually break through that wall and be able to push forward to complete your story.
4. 4. Be consistent. “You will find, if you write every day, that the next day, ideas have bubbled up from someplace that you had no idea were there,” Walter shares. Take note of when you are most productive, and establish a consistent writing schedule around that time. Write every day, even if it’s just a few lines, to build and develop that habit. Being consistent in your writing practice will help you get into a rhythm that makes it easier to generate ideas.
5. 5. Be diverse. “Any person who wants to do anything with writing—from the great novel to a love letter—needs to understand poetry,” Walter says. Poetry is a writing form that focuses on the precise use of words and structure, a skill that can come in handy when writing a novel or short story.
6. 6. Just write. “There are so many different genres, but in the end, writing is writing. It’s the same language, same words, and the same grammar,” Walter states. It may be intimidating to write a story in a new genre, but that shouldn’t prevent you from trying. Draft an outline for your story, then put pen to paper (or fingers to keys) and start writing. You can always finetune the form and structure later, but don’t wait to get your ideas down.
7. 7. Avoid judging yourself. According to Walter, “the blank page makes no judgment on you.” It can be easy to evaluate your work harshly or compare it to the novel on your bedside table, but our writing does not judge us in turn. Write what you feel, write what you want, and avoid judging your ideas before they even hit the page.
8. 8. Dig deeper. “When selecting which story you want to tell, it has to be a story that speaks to us, that helps us understand our world and ourselves. If it lasts, it’s great literature,” Walter explains. Use your imagination to create a literary work that makes an impact. Avoid tackling trendy subject matter or writing a book for a genre just because it’s performing well. Focus on writing the stories that ring true to you to create a timeless work for posterity.
9. 9. Celebrate your accomplishments. “If you follow your heart, if you do what you love, if you get to the place where you succeeded, and starting from the beginning of a novel and getting to the end of the novel, then you’re doing the best you can do. You’re living in the best moment of your life,” Walter says. Completing a novel is a massive task to undertake for professional and amateur writers. Take time to acknowledge your accomplishment before starting work on your next project. Writing is a transformational process. Even if you don’t love the finished product, always be proud of the work you’ve accomplished.

Become a better writer with the MasterClass Annual Membership. Gain access to exclusive video lessons taught by the world’s best, including Walter Mosley, Neil Gaiman, Margaret Atwood, Joyce Carol Oates, Dan Brown, and more.

Walter Mosley is an acclaimed American novelist who has written over 60 novels. Walter has received numerous awards for storytelling throughout his storied career, including a Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Book Foundation, a Grammy for Best Album Notes in 2002, and the Edgar Grand Master Award in 2016, awarded to him by the Mystery Writers of America. Walter also won the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Literary Work — Fiction in 2008 for Blonde Faith, and 2010 for The Long Fall. His debut novel Devil in a Blue Dress (1990) marked the first installation in his Easy Rawlins mystery series and won the New York Times Notable Book of the Year award. In 1995, the acclaimed novel was adapted into a film starring Academy Award-winning actor Denzel Washington. Throughout his career, Walter has written many other nominated and notable works, such as Cinnamon Kiss (2006), The Man in My Basement (2004), Debbie Doesn’t Do It Anymore (2014), and Down the River Unto the Sea (2018), which received the Edgar Award in 2019 for best novel. His most recent publication, The Awkward Black Man (2020), is a collection of short stories that display the range of Walter’s varied talent.

Novelist Walter Mosley has written many critically-acclaimed works in various genres, from science fiction to political commentary. Below are Walter’s 10 helpful tips for aspiring first-time novelists:

1. 1. Be inventive. “A novel isn’t putting the left front tire on the Volkswagen on the production line. The novel is creating a whole new mode of transportation, a whole new mode of understanding the world,” Walter says. Look beyond your sources of inspiration and the writing structures you are familiar with—play around with words, worlds, and themes.
2. 2. Be honest. “Write your truth and believe in it—and if your mother doesn’t like it, too bad,” says Walter. Writing is intensely personal, and connecting with your subject matter can be the key to telling a story that resonates with your readers. Write about the things that matter to you, whether the subjects are controversial or not, and avoid worrying about what someone else thinks—be they critics or loved ones.
3. 3. Believe in yourself. “The beautiful thing about any day is that this is the day that ‘it’ can happen,” says Walter. “Today, all of a sudden, you realize, ‘Hey, my wheels aren’t spinning anymore. They are spinning, but I’m moving forward. I’m not sitting in place.’ ” Most writers deal with distractions and the occasional writer’s block, but persistence is key, especially when writing your first novel. Know that if you keep at it, you will eventually break through that wall and be able to push forward to complete your story.
4. 4. Be consistent. “You will find, if you write every day, that the next day, ideas have bubbled up from someplace that you had no idea were there,” Walter shares. Take note of when you are most productive, and establish a consistent writing schedule around that time. Write every day, even if it’s just a few lines, to build and develop that habit. Being consistent in your writing practice will help you get into a rhythm that makes it easier to generate ideas.
5. 5. Be diverse. “Any person who wants to do anything with writing—from the great novel to a love letter—needs to understand poetry,” Walter says. Poetry is a writing form that focuses on the precise use of words and structure, a skill that can come in handy when writing a novel or short story.
6. 6. Just write. “There are so many different genres, but in the end, writing is writing. It’s the same language, same words, and the same grammar,” Walter states. It may be intimidating to write a story in a new genre, but that shouldn’t prevent you from trying. Draft an outline for your story, then put pen to paper (or fingers to keys) and start writing. You can always finetune the form and structure later, but don’t wait to get your ideas down.
7. 7. Avoid judging yourself. According to Walter, “the blank page makes no judgment on you.” It can be easy to evaluate your work harshly or compare it to the novel on your bedside table, but our writing does not judge us in turn. Write what you feel, write what you want, and avoid judging your ideas before they even hit the page.
8. 8. Dig deeper. “When selecting which story you want to tell, it has to be a story that speaks to us, that helps us understand our world and ourselves. If it lasts, it’s great literature,” Walter explains. Use your imagination to create a literary work that makes an impact. Avoid tackling trendy subject matter or writing a book for a genre just because it’s performing well. Focus on writing the stories that ring true to you to create a timeless work for posterity.
9. 9. Celebrate your accomplishments. “If you follow your heart, if you do what you love, if you get to the place where you succeeded, and starting from the beginning of a novel and getting to the end of the novel, then you’re doing the best you can do. You’re living in the best moment of your life,” Walter says. Completing a novel is a massive task to undertake for professional and amateur writers. Take time to acknowledge your accomplishment before starting work on your next project. Writing is a transformational process. Even if you don’t love the finished product, always be proud of the work you’ve accomplished.

Become a better writer with the MasterClass Annual Membership. Gain access to exclusive video lessons taught by the world’s best, including Walter Mosley, Neil Gaiman, Margaret Atwood, Joyce Carol Oates, Dan Brown, and more.