How to Praise a Writer on Their Abilities

A simple guide to offering sincere and authentic admiration

Co-authored by Kim Chronister, PsyD and Luke Smith, MFA

Last Updated: December 30, 2022 References

Writers often move and inspire us, but when it comes time to compliment their work, it can be a struggle to find the words. How do you tell a novelist that their book was exciting, or tell a journalist how important you think their writing is? We’ve put together a list of specific advice and helpful examples on how to let a writer know how much you appreciate their work, plus example compliments that will work on any writer—from your fiction-writing friend to your especially eloquent coworker.

Things You Should Know

Be specific about what you like about a writer’s work, pinpointing particular details or parts you enjoyed.
Use “because” statements like “I enjoyed this because…” to provide a deeper and more thoughtful compliment.
Express your desire to read more of the writer’s work or to support their work in any way you can.
Ask the writer about their process, thoughts, and inspiration to give them an opportunity to talk about their own work.

1

“My favorite part is when…”

Identify the specific parts you enjoyed. Simply identifying your favorite passage of a book, article, or any other piece of writing is a surefire way to compliment a writer. It’s not only a welcome bit of praise, but it’s helpful to know which parts of a piece a writer’s audience enjoyed the most.^{[1]
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- “You absolutely nailed the ending. It was so satisfying.”
- “I love this question you asked in the interview. That was so thoughtful.”
- “The beginning really hooked me. You know how to grab a reader’s attention.”

2

“I loved this part because…”

Say why you liked the writing, rather than just stating that it was good. When you compliment someone on their writing, use a “because” statement to go deeper into the reasons you liked it. This takes your compliment further than a surface-level comment, and lets a writer know that you’ve thought carefully about their work.^{[2]
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- “I love your writing voice because it’s engaging and approachable.”
- “I think this plot really works because of how well you’ve paced the story.”
- “Your writing is so beautiful because you always know the right word for the right moment.”

3

“Your work really inspires me.”

Let the writer know how much the work means to you. Telling someone that their art inspires or motivates you is an incredibly profound compliment that in turn can inspire the artist to make even more work. It’s great to know that your art is reaching an audience who cherishes it.^{[3]
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- “I’ve studied your work a lot, and I’m trying to get better at writing myself!”
- “Your writing always makes me want to become a writer, too.”
- “This story means a lot to me.”

4

“I can tell you put a lot of work into this.”

Acknowledge the effort the writer put into the piece. Even if they made it look easy, a comment on how much you appreciate the hard work that went into a piece of writing can go a long way. After all, writing takes a lot of persistence and energy, which are things that aren’t recognized often enough. This is an especially effective compliment for colleagues or people you work with.^{[4]
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- “This is so well-researched and thorough. I’m impressed.”
- “You make it seem so effortless, but I know you must have worked hard on this.”
- “Your hard work really paid off here.”

5

“I noticed that you chose to…”

Acknowledge a particular detail or choice the writer made. A writer’s favorite kind of reader is an attentive one. Be specific about an aspect of the work you think is interesting or especially inspired, like a plot point, an especially engaging passage, or any other bit that stand out to you, then explain why it drew your attention.^{[5]
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- “Why did you include the part about the mom? I thought that was so smart.”
- “This sentence really grabbed me. I love the way you structured it.”
- “It was an interesting choice to describe the setting the way you did.”

6

“Do you have any advice for aspiring writers?”

Asking for advice is a humble way to express your admiration. It tell the writer that you admire their work, and would trust them to give you pointers or recommendations on how to improve your own work.^{[6]
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- “How did you learn to write when you were just starting out?”
- “Is there anything I should be doing if I want to write like you?”
- “I’d really love to learn from you!”

7

“Your writing made me think differently about…”

Tell the writer how their work changed or affected you. Writers are usually thrilled to hear that their writing went further than the page, and actually touched someone’s life for the better. If a piece of writing moved you or resonated with you in a certain way, express exactly how and why.^{[7]
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- “Your writing made me recall my own childhood in such vivid detail.”
- “I went and told all my friends about your article after I read it.”
- “Your writing changed the way I looked at this.”

8

“I haven’t seen something like this before!”

Point out something you think the writer is doing uniquely. Writers of all sorts love being told that their work stands out from the crowd, and love to be told exactly how. Is the voice of the piece unique? Did it convey information in a new way? Was the story surprising or fresh? Pinpoint an aspect that makes their writing different from everyone else’s.^{[8]
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- “You have such a unique perspective.”
- “Your work always surprises me in the best way.”
- “I’ve never read about a character like this.”

9

“You chose such an interesting subject to write about.”

Express your appreciation for the writer’s subject matter. Not every compliment has to be detail-oriented. Instead, you can focus on the big picture and comment on a novel’s themes or the focus of an article. It’s a great way to start a compliment, and then find smaller things to comment on from there.^{[9]
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- “I love how you write about climate change. How did you start writing on this topic?”
- “The way you write about family is so gorgeous.”
- “I didn’t know very much about this, but you made it so interesting!”

10

“What are your own thoughts on this part?”

Ask a writer questions about their own work. Sometimes the best compliment is a question. It shows that you really paid attention and thought about the piece of writing. On top of that, it gives a writer an opportunity to talk about their own process, which is often appreciated.^{[10]
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- “What do you think motivates this character?”
- “You didn’t mention it in the article itself, but I wanted to know your opinion on the new law.”
- “Why did you start the piece with that scene?”

11

“I’m still thinking about your work.”

Tell them their work is thought-provoking. Even if you can’t think of specific or profound praise right away, the fact that you’re still thinking about their work is a compliment in and of itself. Writers like being told that their writing has stayed with you and that you can’t but think about it—it means their work has more to it than just surface-level positives.^{[11]
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- “Something about this scene really struck me, but I’m still trying to find the words for it.”
- “I just can’t get this part out of my head. Why do you think that is?”
- “I know it’s been a while since I read it, but I just can’t stop thinking about it!”

12

“Can I read more?”

Express interest in the writer’s other work. One of the best compliments you can give a writer is telling them you want more. Ask them if they’ve written anything else, and where you can find it. It lets them know that you think their work is worthwhile and valuable enough to seek out again.^{[12]
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- “Do you have other articles on this?”
- “When will your next piece come out?”
- “I hope you’ll keep writing. I just *need* more of this.”

13

“I’d love to support your work.”

Ask if there’s any way to support the writer. Writing takes a lot of work, and many writers would love some help in the form of sales, donations, or even positive reviews. It’s a great way to tell a writer that you think their work is important that you want it to continue.^{[13]
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- “Where can I buy your books?”
- “Is there any way I can donate?”
- “Would you like a testimonial or letter of recommendation?”

Warnings

Respect a writer’s boundaries if they say they’re not comfortable talking about their writing or certain aspects of it.

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Avoid offering unsolicited critiques or suggestions about a writer’s work.

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Avoid being too verbose or long-winded when offering compliments. Keep commendations short and concise.

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Avoid being overly familiar when talking to a writer about their work. You can never tell how much of their writing reflects themselves, and how much is invented.

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