Questions

I cannot imagine that they’d be self-taught… good writing style is learned, and not automatically developed.
- Lucine H

It goes without saying that you can learn a great deal about writing by reading the classics. Advice on writing novels is like carbon dioxide – it is free and everyone is exhaling it. Still, few will tell you that there is value in reading bad books. Well, there is and you should definitely do so.

Great books are often perfect examples of how to develop characters, plot lines and so on. I strongly believe, however, that to really grasp these concepts you have to experience it done poorly. If you don’t know bad writing, how will you know good writing? For every W. Somerset Maugham classic like Razor’s Edge, you should read something that gets poor ratings from readers on Amazon or whatever rating site you prefer.

Why would you want to suffer through a bad book? Well, the answer is found in figuring out why you don’t like it. This requires you to both take notes and suffer through the tome. The key is to uncover the details that make it painful to pursue and write them down. Is the plot to slow? Is there no apparent plot? Is it a novel with far too many storylines going on? Are the characters so undeveloped that you can find no attachment to any of them? The reasons can be numerous and often are!

Once you’ve deduced the nature of the problem or problems, the next step is not to mock that writing but to focus on yours. Do any of the problems in the book in question apply to your writing? Be honest! If not, what would you do to solve the problems in that novel? Would those steps in any way benefit your writing? You might find that they would.

Once completed, it is time to do a comparison between a quality classic novel and the bad book you’ve read. Write down your thoughts on the good and bad manner in which character development is handled in each book. Do the same for the plot and so on. By contrasting each of these elements, the difference between the good and bad aspects of writing should become clearer to you.

There is one final lesson to take from the bad book. That lesson is to recognize that it was actually published. The idea of publishing a novel is one that is often touted as being this side of discovering the cure for cancer. Well, it can’t be that hard or the bad book in your hand would never have been published!


- Thomas Ajava

Whether your child is one who loves writing stories or they simply seem to have a knack for capturing interesting images in words, you will find that working with them on their writing can be something that is very rewarding for your child in general. The truth of the matter is that being a good writer can take them very far no matter what their chosen career is, and if you are ready to help them learn and grow, you will find that helping them move forward in this way is something that you need to look into. How can you help your child learn and grow? What do you need to be able to help them with?

When you want to make sure that your child is getting the best background that they can get when it comes to creative writing, make sure that they understand the basics. Things like grammar, punctuation, and spelling sound like they are going to be dull, but they are the foundation of any good writing career. Your child needs to know how to put their sentences together before they are going to get the ability to tell a good story. Remind them that grammar and punctuation will make their stories a great deal clearer and much more accessible in the long run.

Also, make sure that you introduce them to the different types of writing out there. Depending on whom you listen to, there are roughly three types of writing and making sure that they can identify them is something that can be very helpful. Expository writing is writing that is meant to explain a concept or to answer a question. Persuasive writing is meant to convince the reader of a certain point of view or of something that they should do. Finally, narrative writing is something that tells a story. These three types of writing will cover most of the writing that your child is inclined to do, and you will find that you are looking at something that will help them.

Take some time and encourage your child to write. If they are interested in creative writing, it should be something that brings them joy, and it should definitely be something that you enjoy with them. Are you someone who loves to read? You need to take a moment and look into whether they are willing to share their writing with you. The more time that you spend working with your child, the more they will learn and grow.

Finally, if you want to help them with their creative writing, remember to let them know that they need fuel for it. Take them to the library and help them figure out what kind of reading they need to do. What kind of reading do they need to enjoy and what media are they attracted to? Helping them get acquainted with the different kinds of reading material out there is essential when you want to make sure that they can write well.

If your child loves the idea creative writing, now is the time to encourage them, so see what you can do!


- Kenny Doucette

I’ve enjoyed reading historical fiction. James Clavell is too modern at times for my taste, but Diana Gabaldon, Edward Rutherfurd, and James Michener are all excellent writers about various historical cultures. I haven’t been able to find any historical fiction about the countries of India, Haiti, China, and Jamaica. Any recommendations would be most welcome.
I forgot to mention about China that I’ve read some novels by Pearl S. Buck, very good writing.
- zanetha

Writing is a skill that can be learned; it is a craft, and words can be used to craft pieces that express a lot. It is also a gift that involves a writer’s ability to spin magic out of simple words. If you feel that you can make effective use of words in your writing and create something that will be more interesting and thoughtful than talking, then you can seriously think of a career in this field. A career in writing does not necessarily mean just playing with words; it means making an effort to mold them in order to express something that you cannot achieve when you speak. This is where the magic of writing lies.

Every writer has different reasons behind writing. Some do it just for fun and some take up writing as an income source to earn their living. No matter what the reason, the most important thing is that you should have the ability to create magic on paper by penning down words. Writing can give any individual a chance to profit. If you have the flair for writing and you want to take it up as your career then you have several opportunities in this field.

Career Options

Each career opportunity in writing may come with certain drawbacks and since it is not a get-rich-quick scheme, it will take some time for you to start earning real money. The career opportunities that lie in this field range from positions such as print journalist, editor, freelance writer, content writer, technical writer, copy editor and more.

You can make a career in print journalism by taking up the profession of a newspaper and magazine reporter. This profession will give you a chance to write on various topics from politics to fashion to human interest. The best part is that you will get the opportunity gather the information yourself, in order to create a story or an article out of it. People with good writing skills can also opt for content or technical writing. If you don’t want to work under someone you can also opt for freelance writing, although there is uncertainty of your articles getting published, but you can surely give it a shot. People with good writing skills can write novels and short stories and get them published. Although publishing a book is again not very certain, once completed it can ensure a good profit. It requires a lot commitment as far as time is concerned. You can also try your hand at corporate writing, which again is lucrative and tightly controlled.

Blogging

Creating a blog account is another option for people who are interested in writing. You can create an account on the free blogging sites on the Internet and promote it through article marketing and link development. You can also try online writing where you can place articles on the Internet.

Writing may not seem to be a very promising career to many, but it certainly provides a great deal of satisfaction to those who find it interesting and have a penchant for it. It is advisable to practice writing everyday and be open to reading articles written by others, as you will get to learn more and improve your writing skills. There is no quick fix magic formula that will turn you into a good writer. It is a life’s work.


- Tony Jacowski

New online writers must realize that web content writing is not just simply tapping away on the keyboard. You do not simply put anything and everything together and expect it to get the traffic as it is supposed to. It takes some amount of thinking and effort to write good web articles.

Why is it important to improve your web copy? Good writing for the web has two objectives: to elevate search engine rankings and to attract attention (and web traffic). Here are some tips to help you improve your writing skills to produce the best articles which will achieve these:

1. In web writing, saying less is saying more. Keep your writing as concise as possible. Say what you mean and never beat around the bush. Make sure that you do not simply go on and on with the things you want to say. Remember that your main concern would be to hold the interest of your readers while making sure that the information you are writing about gets through.

2. Do not add flowery words. If you think that flowery or highfaluting words sound interesting and make you appear more intelligent, then you are wrong. In web writing, flowery words tend to confuse readers and you run the risk of losing them along the way. Remember that you are writing to empower, and not to impress.

3. The use of headlines and subheads do miraculous things to your web copy. Headlines attract the most attention and encourage the readers to read the subsequent text. Subheads, on the other hand, break the long blocks of text into a smaller, more readable and less intimidating paragraphs. They also give a content summary of the paragraph, which makes it easier for readers to scan through the text contents.

4. New web writers must learn to follow a consistent web writing style that produces articles that are professional looking. This style should strictly use short sentences and stick to a page formatting where there is only a maximum of 65 characters per line. The best and most readable article formats include tips lists, how to’s, or question and answers. Always make appropriate introduction and summary to complete each article.

5. Of course, the last tip in improving the quality and content of your articles is to proofread, proofread and proofread. Do not simply rely on spell and grammar checks. Edit your content and remove unnecessary or wimpy words, as well as wordy phrases. If possible, have someone else read your work and make comments. Do not just concentrate on the possible grammar errors, but also check the consistency, general flow and the contents of your article.

Making the best articles for the web takes some time and practice. It is with experience that you will learn more about the style of writing that will work best for you and your readers. For now, try to follow these tips and do your best to come up with the best web content that you can.


- Bei Maniago

Many speakers, consultants, small business owners alike feel confident with communicating their message orally. They can spout their elevator speech with the accuracy of a scientist. But when it comes to putting it on paper, some grown men & women end up crying like a baby. It’s not hard once you know exactly what to do. I promise; its not. Here’s what successful writers do.

Successful writers set up a system of writing. Destroy these myths and setup your system of writing in 5 easy steps.

MYTH 1 It’s too hard. First things first, as we did in an earlier chapter overcome fear of failure or procrastination. Most times the bottom line of procrastination is fear of failure.

TRUTH: You can act now. Select step one of a good writing program and begin today. Or simply sign-up for an easy course. Action will destroy fear. Each successful step of your system will deal a death blow to fear.

MYTH 2 I have to get away from everything to write a successful book. No you don’t. I know several novelist and non-fiction book writers who had to write during a long commute to get their best book written and out to the world. They accomplished it because they systematically worked on their book until it was done.

TRUTH: You can always avoid marathon writing. In the midst of your busy life, designate your time to write (work on your book) with a goal to completion. (reasonable time to completion)

MYTH 3 I can’t keep up with where I am after interruptions of life. It is a common challenge to find your place after being interrupted with family, work and daily life. After all that’s why many think you must get away to get it done effectively. Yet, there’s hope for those who can’t get away or choose not to. Successful writers all over the world use the tracking approach. They succeed because they commit to doing a little each day.

TRUTH: Set yourself up for success use the tracking approach. There are 2 methods you could use for your tracking. Time is the method where you commit to a writing a certain amount of time each day. With the cumulative factor involved your commitment doesn’t have to be that much.

For example, to accomplish my book writing goals I commit to writing one hour a day in my most productive time. For me it is right after my meditation and reading time. With this method don’t be overly concerned about how much you write, just keep the time commitment.

The other method is focused on output. Commit to writing a certain number of words or pages a day, perhaps 750-1,000 words or approximately three and a half pages double-spaced text. The key factor is to stick to it until completion.

Winner’s Note: You may ask how do I get started after interruptions or even in my daily allotted slot so that I don’t spend a lot of time re-locating where I stopped? Start your daily writing session by re-reading the last words you wrote the day before. This will get you back in the flow.

The continued cycle of review will create a momentum that will keep you going to completion. Another piece of advice, is to create a support system that will help isolate you from telephone calls and interruptions during your daily Tracking Session.

MYTH 4 I have to complete each chapter in order. (Buzzer Sound!) Wrong answer. It’s called linear writing. You don’t have to write each chapter one after the other. For if you get stuck on chapter two, you could be stuck a very long time. I think this type of thinking comes from grade school where we are ritually taught to do everything in order.

If you have been thinking that way stop right now, no need to raise your hand. You have my permission to work on whatever chapter moves you or you feel passion bubbling for at the moment. Feeling stuck on a chapter, try another. There you have it now go with the flow.

TRUTH: Don’t become chained to writing in order. Jump around and fill in the blanks. Review your chapters and whatever subject or topic you most drawn to, begin there.

MYTH 5 I am stuck. I have to stop writing until I feel it again. From what I said earlier you may have gotten the impression that you just write when you feel like it and quit when you don’t. If so, no that’s not what I meant. Unseasoned writers may play the martyr and push through just to put something on paper or give up and try again another day.

We would never get it done like that. When you get stuck simply close that chapter and pull out your chapter outline and choose another chapter. If you have been following this program, you have listed main points for each chapter. Select a topic from that chapter and begin there.

TRUTH: To maintain your momentum keep your writing commitments. Go around writer’s block by working on another chapter. For example, while writing this book in one of my writing sessions, I wanted to finish my fourth chapter on titles but I ran into a writer’s block. Instead of breaking my momentum, I came down to chapter eight about easy writing and began there. I was able to complete my time commitment of one hour and keep my momentum.

Writing a book is a journey. Most journeys go so much smoother with a map or travel plan. Taking the simple steps above will get you started and keep you going to completion. Start today then complete and release your significant message to the world.


- Earma Brown

Think of writing like karate…it’s about DISCIPLINE.

Writing, like other forms of art, work or talent, requires discipline. It won’t ever be enough that you say to yourself that you are a writer. Only when you write and write with discipline can you call yourself one. Before you can earn a black belt in karate, you have to dedicate yourself, practice and instill discipline in yourself to learn the moves and techniques.

The same goes for writing. Don’t just read books. Devour them. Ray Bradbury, author of Zen in the Art of Writing, suggests books of essays, poetry, short stories, novels and even comic strips. Not only does he suggest that you read authors who write the way you hope to write, but “also read those who do not think as you think or write as you want to write, and so be stimulated in directions you might not take for many years.” He continues, “don’t let the snobbery of others prevent you from reading Kipling, say, while no one else is reading him.”

Learn to differentiate between good writing and bad writing. Make time to write. Write even though you’re in a bad mood. Put yourself in a routine. Integrate writing into your life. The goal is not to make writing dominate your life, but to make it fit in your life. Julia Cameron, in her book The Right to Write, sums it best: “Rather than being a private affair cordoned off from life as the rest of the world lives it, writing might profitably be seen as an activity best embedded in life, not divorced from it.”

Believe that EVERYONE HAS A STORY — including you.

Extraordinary things happen to ordinary people. As a writer, your job is to capture as many of these things and write them down, weave stories, and create characters that jump out of the pages of your notebook. Don’t let anything escape your writer’s eye, not even the way the old man tries to subtly pick his nose or the way an old lady fluffs her hair in a diner. What you can’t use today, you can use tomorrow. Store these in your memory or jot them down in your notebook.

Jump in the middle of the fray. Be in the circle, not outside it. Don’t be content being a mere spectator. Take a bite of everything life dishes out. Ray Bradbury wrote, “Tom Wolfe ate the world and vomited lava. Dickens dined at a different table every hour of his life. Moliere, tasting society, turned to pick up his scalpel, as did Pope and Shaw. Everywhere you look in the literary cosmos, the great ones are busy loving and hating. Have you given up this primary business as obsolete in your own writing? What fun you are missing, then. The fun of anger and disillusion, the fun of loving and being loved, of moving and being moved by this masked ball which dances us from cradle to churchyard. Life is short, misery sure, mortality certain. But on the way, in your work, why not carry those two inflated pig-bladders labeled Zest and Gusto.”

Attack writing with PASSION.

The kind of writing you produce will oftentimes reflect the current state of your emotions. Be indifferent and your writing will be indifferent. Be cheerful and watch the words dance across your page.

Whenever you sit down to write, put your heart and soul in it. Write with passion. Write as if you won’t live tomorrow. In her book, Writing the Wave, Elizabeth Ayres wrote: “There’s one thing your writing must have to be any good at all. It must have you. Your soul, your self, your heart, your guts, your voice — you must be on that page. In the end, you can’t make the magic happen for your reader. You can only allow the miracle of ‘being one with’ to take place. So dare to be you. Dare to reveal yourself. Be honest, be open, be true…If you are, everything else will fall into place.”


- pardeep batra

There are numerous ways to improve your writing skills. Whether your final goal is to write simply for enjoyment, or to become a big-time newspaper columnist, by practicing these tips, you’ll be sure to progress.

You can start your quest to good writing by good reading. Immerse yourself in novels, plays, poems as well as articles. Pick out the differences between what you think is a great piece of writing, and identify what could use editing, or more time spent on perfecting it. Reading is a critical step in this process because not only does it give you an idea on how to write a plethora of pieces, but it also gives you a more extended vocabulary, and can give you ideas for your own writing.

Buy a notebook. Without a notebook, there’s no organized place to keep your ideas. Bring this prized possession everywhere with you, because you never know when you’ll feel inspired. It’s also a very effective way to get used to writing daily. By always having a notebook by your side, it’s not only easily accessible, but it’s always there to grab if you find an amazing story. Just make sure you don’t forget a pen!

Join a writing group, either in your community, or on the internet. By communicating with aspiring writers such as yourself, you can network with one another. Ask for advice if you’re stuck, or for tips that they use to get the ball rolling. Talking with other writers can only help you, so why not give it a try?

No matter what it’s about, or even if it doesn’t make sense, just write. If you have writers block, clear your mind, and let the words flow. Take a break from the writing, and go back to it a few hours, or even a few days later. Your writing will becomes clearer, and you’ll be able to add onto the writing after having thought about it for a while.

Make sure your thoughts are organized, and not all over the place. Keep your ideas relatable, and don’t mix them all together. The reader will get confused if you jump from topic to topic without any explanation in between. Make sure your ideas are well developed, and don’t jump around too much. If you do stray from the main topic, just be sure you can bring it back to the topic at the end. Find some reason they were put together in the first place.

Make time to write. If you’re too busy to dedicate yourself to writing, even for ten minutes a day, then you won’t improve. As they say, practice makes perfect, and without practice, your writing will become monotonous. Settle yourself down in a quiet, comfortable setting and just let the words flow. The more you write, the easier it becomes to think of attention-grabbing openings and witty endings.

Check your spelling and grammatical errors. Even though it sounds tedious, it’s imperative to make a good impression. If you were to show anyone your work, and there were mistakes throughout the entire piece, no one would be able to concentrate on the content of your writing, only the blunders. For this reason, make sure your writing is as perfected as it can be.

These tips are just a few ideas that will get you on your way to becoming a good writer. Believe in your writing, and don’t be afraid to persevere and take it to the next level. Follow these examples, and you’ll be sure to not only advance, but become more confident in your work.


- Daniel Millions

I’m in the process of gathering prompts for future writer’s block and puting them on index cards. Any good writing prompts?
- humanbeforeamerican