Writing is not like any other task; it is the kind of activities whose engine is pure passion. One could still write without having to be passionate about writing per se, but the quality of the composed work will definitely differ from the one that has been crafted with love and dedication. Be it as it may, not all writers are gifted, and not all gifted writers are perfect. That is to say, writing skills could be acquired and honed, accordingly. There are various writing rules and tips that once followed, would certainly affect your writing style positively. Producing a high-quality paper is the ultimate goal of a professional writer. Thus, one should acquire the hacks and secrets that experienced writers use. Have a look at the following rules:
Join a Workshop
If one digs deeper, they would definitely find many opportunities that would help them sharpen their writing abilities. Workshops are great contexts where beginners could develop their writing skills little by little. Joining a writing workshop could be free, but in all cases a membership will not cost you a lot. Anyway, it is worth investing in, because it will bring your writing skills to a higher level. It is, indeed, the context where one could learn, question, and improve their own knowledge in a variety of ways.
One should appreciate the fact that in a workshop there are other participants and collaborators, which enriches the wealth of information. The information-sharing operation becomes smoother in workshops, as each one makes a contribution or an intervention that is unique. For instance, one could undertake a PowerPoint presentation on narrative essays, presenting a sample of writing to their audience, which will be informative, yet open to criticism. And, there is where the didactic goal lies.
Write Now, Edit Later
One of the useful tips to becoming a better writer remains the write-now-edit-later rule. As you might have anticipated, it has to do with the division of writing stages in terms of time. There are many steps in writing that could go hand in hand. But, not all of the phases could go simultaneously, if you are keen on crafting a well-organized essay, for instance. Although writing and editing could be done at the same time in some cases, it is better to write first and proofread later.
The purpose behind this philosophy is multi-dimensional. It helps the writer save time and dedicate themselves solely to writing. It is also useful when it comes to the coherence of the content. Editing while writing may make the writer lose the thread of ideas and stray away from the main question, mainly when it comes to essay writing. The logic behind this strategy is to focus more on the writing process and maintain the internal organization of ideas.
Avoid Filler Words and Phrases
Some writers struggle with the number of words, lines, and paragraphs that they should write, on the account of their inability to express their ideas thoroughly; thus, they resort to the needless use of filler words and phrases. These are meaningless words whose presence in the text adds no sense of relevance to the content. It is advisable that writers avoid such types of linguistic elements, simply because they weaken the quality of their written work.
Such expressions might distract the reader, as they convey no concrete meaning. Mainly in formal papers at the college level, they should not be used because they convey a sense of informality that is suitable only for casual and conversational style. Words such as I mean, Y’know, and stuttering such as um, um should be avoided. One should keep a watchful eye on each word used in their compositions.
Find Inspiration by Studying Writers You Admire
The other is always a source of enrichment, especially when it comes to writing. The writers you admire could be a great source of inspiration; hence, you can make use of them. One could read the books published by their favorite writers. Today, thanks to the flourishing of the internet, writers have become able to follow other writers who publish regular content on blogs, Facebook pages, and forums.
When reading the works created by the writers you admire, you might want to look at their style with a scrutinizing eye so that you learn some useful tricks such as the distribution of ideas, their order, and how they are presented. You may also want to focus on the effect of persuasion and how the calls to action are manipulated by authors. The manner of writing of such authors might be so effective in a myriad of ways that you might be tempted to use their work. Thus, be mindful not to plagiarize; you may paraphrase what they have said and cite them properly.
Read As Much As You Can
Accordingly, reading and writing are not mutually exclusive. Indeed, reading feeds writing in multiple fashions. The more one reads, the more familiar with new structures and writing styles they get. One should read as much as they can for the sake of enhancing their writing competences. While reading, it is recommended that you look at the internal configuration of ideas that could manifest themselves in the shape of argumentation, description, narration, persuasion, reflection, and so on and so forth.
The act of reading for the sake of writing is crucial; in that, it fortifies the writer’s own style and optimizes it to a great extent. Hence, one has better focus on writers who tackle the same target niche, which would allow them to compare what they are reading to their own work for the sake of learning new skills.
Just Write
Overthinking about a particular writing task might be conducive to procrastination, which might be writers’ worst enemy. In order to save time and progress, sometimes, all one has to do is just write. Once the ideas you are writing are flowy, you might get the feeling that you would like to write non-stop. It is an effective strategy that teaches students and beginners how to become a perfect essay writer who could deal with various topics.
When you get immersed in writing, the distribution of ideas will get more harmonious thanks to your dedication and focus. The writer’s thoughts should revolve solely around writing per se; thoughts about whether or not you have made mistakes and if what you are writing makes great sense should be postponed to the revision phase.
In short, the rules presented are certainly effective tips to improve writing skills, which would, in turn, make you a better writer whose main interest is high quality. Joining workshops, reading, following inspirational writers, and delving into flowy writing are among the rules that help a writer improve their own writing style and garnish it with uniqueness.
