6 Writing Tips for Aspiring Writers:
a guest post by Melisa Marzett
How to start writing is the main question for those people who tend to write.
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Many would want their writing to be pleasant and easy to read. There are many interesting things within the interviews of successful writers. They speak on how it goes daily, which habits are useful to have and which ruin style and careers. These tips are rolling up, turning into practitioner guides for aspiring authors. If you have decided on practicing in literature, the following six writing tips may help you.
1. The
best way to overcome the hurdle of a blank page...
“I
WRITE BECAUSE WORDS JUST COME OUT OF ME. BESIDES, I GET PAID FOR THAT. SOMETIMES
I DESCRIBE WHAT I DO AS SLEEPING WITH A BEAUTIFUL WOMAN WHO PAYS ME WHEN IT IS
DONE. I LIKE IT.”
-Charles
Bukowski
Unlike
Charles Bukowski, writing is some serious work for most authors. It takes a
great deal of mental energy, makes one`s memory work, sometimes even causes a
feeling of sensibilities, when one tries to be honest in what s/he does.
It
is hard to make oneself write, but if fear comes along, that your work is going
to be judged by the world or public, a writer might throw in the
towel with their career, and one never gets started.
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In
order to overcome the feeling, let yourself write badly and simply start.
Anne
Lamott, the author of the book titled Bird by Bird, wrote a sketch on why
authors should start with bad drafts. Anne said that she knows many wonderful
writers whose books are in good demand. All of them do not feel a constant
enthusiasm and are never ready to write. Moreover, their drafts are not that
easy to read.
Knowing
this makes it easier to start. Just begin writing and it does not matter how
badly it goes. First thoughts might come out in a hit-or-miss way, clumsily and
cacophonic but maybe it is even for good? Many authors start their path to
success quite so anyway.
2. Do
not use clichés!
A cliché
is an accepted form of grammar, well-worn phrases which are oftentimes used in literature. By putting a cliché into your writing, you will not capture your
reader, will not make him/her think, as long as the reader could hear or read
these phrases thousands of times by now.
Of
course, we all often hear set expressions, such as 'overwhelming majority', 'it stands to mention', 'for the moment' and others, which is why they are just
put on hold in the head and spill over onto paper almost without your
participation.
It
influences the way to read a lot; the more familiar thoughts and notions we
come across reading a book, the more we skip and as a result, it becomes uninteresting to read.
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The
best way to get rid of a cliché is to explain familiar phrases in a different
way. The main thing is to find a happy medium between a complicated language
and too simple and commonplace expressions of ideas.
3. Write
as you speak.
“WRITING
ONLY, BUT NOT DREAMING OF IT, FORMS A STYLE OF ONE`S OWN.”
-James
Joyce
American
writer and screenwriter Elmore Leonard was talking about a prior importance of
a reader but not guides and classes on writing the 'right' content. Never place
paradigmatic writing above a reader`s interest and ability to capture his/her
attention.
“IF
IT SOUNDS LIKE WRITING, I RE-WRITE IT.”
-Elmore
Leonard
Imagine
as if a person you are talking to sits right in front of you, and write as if you
are talking to this person for real.
4.
Use short words, sentences and paragraphs.
You
may use long sentences while talking, but when writing, try not to use them that often. When the content is ready, you can make it shorter. ‘A father of
advertisement’ and successful copywriter David Ogilvy advises to USE SHORT
WORDS, SENTENCES AND PARAGRAPHS. NEVER WRITE MORE THAN TWO PAGES ABOUT ONE
SUBJECT.
To a greater extent, it concerns not editing but the simplicity of the writing.
Provide with information as short and simple as possible using short words.
Remember
that two great masters, William Shakespeare and James Joyce were writing
insightful and childishly simple sentences.
5.
Try to write less, not more.
When
you feel comfortable, you've started to write and created your first draft, it is time
to edit. Soon enough you understand that it takes more time than even writing
itself. It is good if you have someone who can read your work or you can read
it aloud by yourself. This is how all the mistakes can be seen better.
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While
editing, you abstain from writing and estimate what you have written
objectively like a strict editor. Pay attention to how well you express your
thoughts, whether you have long words, confusing sentences and unnecessary
explications.
Kurt
Vonnegut (American writer-satirist) used a good rule for editing:
“NO
MATTER HOW BEAUTIFUL A SENTENCE SEEMS TO BE, IF THERE IS NOTHING NEW OR USEFUL,
DELETE IT.”
6. Keep
on writing no matter what.
The
more you write, the better your writing is. Your style becomes sharper; you see
the process of writing more. Even when you feel a deficit of ideas, just keep
on writing, and it may become the beginning of a work of genius.
DO NOT WRITE A LOT; WRITE MORE OFTEN.
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If you want to be better at something,
practice. You are going to need discipline, in order to continue writing when
you do not feel like it and to put it on hold when you feel it is enough.
Melisa Marzett's writing tips empower aspiring writers, emphasizing authenticity and dedication. Her insights on creativity, research, and self-editing provide invaluable guidance. Online writing services complement this wisdom by offering professional editing, proofreading, and coaching. These platforms serve as mentors, refining writing skills, and enhancing the craft, enabling aspiring writers to achieve their literary goals.
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