Don’t count your words, make your words count.

Whether you’re writing your first novel or your tenth, the skills we pick up in unexpected places can have a profound impact on our storytelling. For me, working as a freelance copywriter, ghostwriter, and proofreader since 2017 has been an excellent teacher. It’s given me tools I never knew I needed to bring The Winds of the Wild Coast to life.

Today, I’m sharing three lessons from my professional writing career that have completely reshaped how I approach my novel—and they might just help you in your own creative projects, too!

1. The Power of Clarity: Say What You Mean

In copywriting, descriptive language is king. The first sentence will determine if your reader moves on to another site or keeps engaged with your content. Every word must count. Whether it’s an ad, a blog, or a product description, you learn to add key details without distracting from the overall message. Focus on what really matters.

How I Use It in My Novel

When I first started The Winds of the Wild Coast, I was on the other end of the spectrum. I found that my descriptions lacked substance. They were just superficial or, plainly said, meh. Here is an extract from an early version of Chapter 1.

It is a little cringe to be honest. ‘A frown makes itself manifest’. You can see I tried to be descriptive, but that sentence just doesn’t work. Use descriptive language to convey emotions, scents, touches, sights, sounds, and reactions. Use it with purpose. Describe as much as is necessary, but don’t get sidetracked.

Let’s look at how I changed that cringe sentence.

I took out the frown part. It just didn’t fit. I asked myself, ‘What do I want to convey? Sadness. He is sad and hurting on the inside.’ Hence, I drew attention to his eyes, described their color emotively to give your mind’s eye something to focus on, zoomed in to the emotion, and made a connection with his past.

When writing a scene, ask yourself:
• What’s the goal of this scene?
• What do I want the reader to feel or know?

Every sentence I write serves the story. Scenes move with purpose, characters reveal themselves naturally, and the pacing keeps readers engaged. While novels allow for more creativity than marketing copy, descriptive, emotive language is still the foundation of effective storytelling.

2. The Art of Storytelling with Purpose

As a ghostwriter, I’ve worked with clients to craft compelling narratives that align with their goals. Whether it’s a memoir or a blog post, every story needs a clear purpose to resonate with its audience.

How I Use It in My Novel

This principle has been a game-changer in how I structure my novel. Every subplot, character arc, and plot twist must connect to the larger themes of the story. For example, The Winds of the Wild Coast explores resilience, belonging, and the pull of the unknown, be it from the future or memories of the past. Knowing my themes helps me make intentional decisions—what stays, what goes, and what gets more attention.

If you’re working on a novel, I’d recommend taking a moment to reflect:
• What are the big ideas driving your story?
• What is the big picture I am painting?
• How do your characters and events tie into those themes?


Writing with purpose has brought a new depth to my story, and I’m confident it will resonate more with readers because of it.

To help me with this, I have a document that has a super short summary of each scene of my book, in the order they appear in the novel. I specify where the scene is, the time if mentioned, who is there, which new characters are introduced, any important relationships between characters, what emotions are felt, and key actions made by characters (like throwing a glass or shedding a secret tear).

3. Editing Is a Superpower

Ask any writer: the first draft is just the beginning. As a proofreader, I’ve spent countless hours refining text, fixing errors, and finding ways to elevate someone else’s writing. Sometimes the edits are minor, but others necessitate a lot of rewriting. That process taught me a simple but vital truth: editing is where the true work happens.

How I Use It in My Novel

About 2 years went by before I picked up the English version of my novel. And I honestly was humbled. I saw many mistakes and just poor writing. Some things are quite laughable. But seeing it from this new perspective, has helped me to honestly evaluate the potential of my story.

And the good news is that I am more excited than ever to keep developing it. Editing has taught me to let go of things I once thought were brilliant but didn’t serve the story. Here’s how I approach it:

• Focus on what readers need: Are the descriptions too lengthy? Are the descriptions too short? Does it feel choppy? Is the pacing too slow?
• Kill your darlings: If a scene or line doesn’t fit, it goes—even if I love it. I have had to do this more times than I care to admit.
• Polish for impact: Is the dialogue sharp? Are the emotions clear? Is the interaction realistic?

Each pass through my manuscript brings it closer to the story I’ve always envisioned. Editing takes patience, but it’s incredibly rewarding to see the story shine. And if you need to push a scene forward or backward in the story, do it! Keep track of your changes in a separate document. Don’t rush the editing process. Take your time. It is time well spent.

Why This Matters for You

If you’re a fellow writer—whether you’re crafting novels, short stories, or even blog posts—these lessons might resonate with you:

• Embrace descriptive language to keep your readers hooked. Don’t overdo it, but don’t be afraid to experiment.
• Write with purpose to give your story meaning.
• Edit fearlessly to uncover the best version of your work.

Whether you’re just starting your journey or deep into your own manuscript, I hope these insights can inspire and guide you.

Thank you for being part of this journey. Writing a novel feels like setting sail on uncharted waters, but it’s the people who come along for the ride that make it truly special.

If you enjoyed this post, I’d love to hear from you! What lessons have you learned in your creative pursuits? Do you have a favorite part of the writing process? Share your thoughts in the comments—I’d love to connect.

Until next time, keep creating and, as always, write stuff down.

Warmly,
Mozzie