What makes a great writer? This blog explores the mindset, qualities, and habits that shape successful authors.
“Writing is hard work. A clear sentence is no accident. Very few sentences come out right the first time, or even the third time. Remember this in moments of despair. If you find that writing is hard, it’s because it is hard.”
William Zinsser - On Writing Well: The Classic Guide to Writing Nonfiction
What makes a great writer? Is it talent, technique, or something less tangible? An inner fire, perhaps, or a quiet persistence? In truth, it’s never just one thing.
Great writing doesn't spring fully formed onto the page. Instead, it grows. Line by line, draft by draft, shaped by curiosity, resilience, and a willingness to evolve.
At an MA Creative Writing virtual event we recently hosted, Programme Director Dr Chris Westoby and alumnus-turned-tutor Peter McAllister discussed this exact topic. And based on their expert insights, one thing becomes clear: writing isn’t just about skill. It’s about mindset.
This blog post explores the key qualities that will help you become a great writer and discover your true potential. It also highlights the Programme Leader Award, a unique opportunity for four early applicants to get up to 50% off their MA Creative Writing course fees.
“Let’s get one thing clear right now, shall we? There is no Idea Dump, no Story Central, no Island of the Buried Bestsellers; good story ideas seem to come quite literally from nowhere, sailing at you right out of the empty sky: two previously unrelated ideas come together and make something new under the sun. Your job isn’t to find these ideas but to recognize them when they show up.”
Stephen King – On Writing
At the heart of every great writer is curiosity. Writers are people who ask, "What if?". They want to explore the world - both the one around them and the one inside their heads. This hunger to understand, to question, and to create is what drives powerful storytelling.
As Chris Westoby puts it, “I think we're all very curious… We like to make things, and we like to shape them ourselves”. Writing, then, becomes a way of shaping meaning from chaos. It becomes a way of finding stories in the everyday and transforming them into something new.
“Reading, conversation, environment, culture, heroes, mentors, nature – all are lottery tickets for creativity. Scratch away at them and you’ll find out how big a prize you’ve won.”
Twyla Tharp – The Creative Habit
Another hallmark of a great writer is that they’re not afraid to experiment. Their writing style is a living, breathing thing that evolves over time and is open to influence.
Whether it’s trying out different genres, playing with structure, or adopting and adapting elements of another author’s technique, experimentation helps writers grow. It allows them to discover their unique voice, push their boundaries, and surprise themselves.
This is particularly important in a learning environment, where exploration is encouraged. As Chris notes, you don’t need to be a polished writer from day one. What matters more is, in his words, a “willingness to engage in new things… to read and study new authors, to engage in some experimentation… and enjoy that process”.
“Perfectionism is the voice of the oppressor, the enemy of the people. It will keep you cramped and insane your whole life, and it is the main obstacle between you and a shitty first draft.”
Anne Lamott – Bird by Bird
A great writer understands that the first draft is only the beginning. Charles Dickens, Virginia Woolf and Victor Hugo didn’t write any of their works in one perfect sitting. And neither will you. Writing is rewriting. It’s taking risks, making mistakes, and returning to the page again and again.
That belief in the journey - the long view - is essential. A great writer persists. They trust that something worthwhile lies ahead, even when the way forward isn’t clear.
“I read for growth, firmly believing that what you are today and what you will be in five years depends on two things: the people you meet and the books you read.”
Twyla Tharp – The Creative Habit
It’s no coincidence that the world’s most prolific writers often fall into groups, movements and collectives with their contemporaries. Writing often begins in solitude, but it doesn’t flourish there.
The most successful writers balance solitary discipline with connection. They take time to reflect, but they also thrive in a likeminded community - through workshops, feedback groups, or collaborative projects.
At our event, Chris highlighted the importance of “working autonomously but also engaging and investing in the community of writing”.
But you don't just need to take our word for it. Carrying the Light, and Distant Voices, two published digital anthologies of short stories written by our MA Creative Writing graduates, demonstrate the sheer power of joining a creative community.
Writing is both a private and public act. Great writers know how to hold space for both.
Finally, what binds it all together is love. A deep affection for language, for rhythm, for the feeling of shaping sentences until they sing. It’s this love that keeps writers returning to the page, even on the tough days. As Chris puts it, “You have to love words enough to want to keep doing it.”
So, with all this in mind, what makes a great piece of writing? Here are some of the key things we look for when we assess the writing samples and portfolios of our MA Creative Writing applicants. It is not an exhaustive list, and your sample may include some or all of these items to a greater or lesser extent, depending on what you have written.
A unique narrative voice: You might write in the first, second or third person, delivering your story with engaging language that is unmistakably ‘you’.
A strong sense of place: Whether a real place or a surreal fantasy landscape, your descriptive work grounds the reader in a setting that feels vivid and believable.
Character and development: Characters who evolve, struggle, and come alive on the page.
Dialogue: Natural, purposeful exchanges that reveal voice and move the story forward.
Professionalism: Careful attention to formatting, punctuation, and grammar, which signals respect for the craft and the reader.
We recommend sharing your writing with a friend or mentor before you submit. They can then tell you if they’re able to see all the qualities above reflected in your work.
We are not looking for perfection. We are interested in writing that shows potential, passion, and authors with the drive to develop and thrive on our programme.
Thinking about joining our MA Creative Writing course? There’s no better time to join us than now. We’re delighted to announce that for our May 2025 start date, we’re offering a unique opportunity to receive a substantial discount on your tuition fees.
The Programme Leader Award is designed to recognise outstanding creative talent in the application process. When you apply for our MA course, you’ll always be asked to submit a sample of your creative writing. But this time, these samples aren’t just used to assess your readiness for the course. They could also win you a significant discount on your course fees.
Here’s how it works:
Our Programme Leader, Dr Chris Westoby, will pick one winner and three runners-up from our early applicants. He’ll select them based on the strength, creativity and potential of the writing samples they submit as part of their application.
The winner will receive a 50% tuition fee discount on the full MA programme (note: this offer does not apply to the PG award).
The three runners-up will each receive a 25% tuition fee discount on the full MA programme.
To be eligible, you must apply before the early application deadline on 28th April 2025.
This is a fantastic opportunity to gain recognition for your writing. If you’re proud of your creative work and eager to take the next step in your writing journey, this is your chance to shine. And if the affordability of an MA education is keeping you on the fence, this award can help you take the leap.
For further information about the Programme Leader award, head to our webpage detailing the full conditions.
If you have further questions about it, you can also get in touch with your dedicated Course Adviser.