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Some of us are caught up with thoughts of whether or not we are any good. But have you ever think that this self-doubt was actually self-destructive? The definition of “good writing” vary and what one reader loves, another one hates. It’s not surprising since we all have different preferences, so that’s okay.
Good writing is supposed to evoke sensation in the reader - not the fact that it is raining, but the feeling of being rained upon.
- E. L. Doctorow
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Writers need to have thick skin because not only will your friends and family fail to see what you see. Prepare yourself to get backlash for the things you publish and from people who genuinely think your work is bad. What you should do is trust yourself and don’t put your identity in someone else’s hands.
Stop thinking that people should read your writing because you wrote it, nobody owes you their attention. Every piece of writing, whether an individual blog or a book should have something that connects you to the audience. Your writing is only successful if it invokes a multitude of emotions within the reader and you certainly can’t accomplish it by focusing on yourself. Given below are the ways on how to be an effective writer.
1. FIND A TOPIC that thrills you.
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Choose a topic that grabs your attention and read as widely as possible. As you read, pay attention to the little ways that the author introduces ideas and observe how the writer constructs their sentences. Additionally, noticed how they craft the opening and closing of each chapter. Your excitement and interest will make it easier for you to find your own style.
2. Use a CLEAR AND CONCISE language.
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Make your point in the simplest language possible and don’t bog down sentences with winding sections. Cut to the chase and break long sentences into 2-3 smaller ones. If you read something over and you think it sounds awkward, that’s because it is, and you must change it. Construct your writing in a way that it’s easily understood by your target audience.
3. WRITER'S BLOCK is perfectly fine.
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Don’t be scared to write something awful that you end up staring at a blank document. A few minutes of this will often put you in writing mode until the juices start flowing. It can be intimidating if you’ve got a blank paper or a blank screen staring at you, but the key is to just get going. Once you get going, you get in the flow of things and stuff just pours out of you.
4. CHALLENGE YOURSELF to new words and styles.
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If you encounter unfamiliar words, write it down to look it up later. Aside from a dictionary and thesaurus, you can search the word online and read it in context to get a better understanding. Deliberately tackling difficult challenges is vital for improvement in any field, so make an effort to vary your writing style, topic, or format once in a while. There’s nothing wrong to have a favorite type of writing but don’t limit yourself to explore more.
5. GET FAMILIARIZED with different rules of grammar.
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Learning good grammar gives you the knowledge you need to express yourself the way you intend. Find time to study how a sentence is put together and how punctuation is used to structure it. Make yourself dedicated to the proper usage of syntax if you want to progress on the path of professionalism. When you have in-depth knowledge on how to use words in a smart and intentional way, you can finally understand how to be a good writer.
6. Accept your FLAWS AND WEAKNESSES.
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After reading an incredible post, we tend to conclude that great writers can make a masterpiece without exerting a lot of effort. Take comfort in the knowledge that first drafts are almost always crap. No piece of writing will ever be perfect but we can practice to minimized errors as possible. Never lose track of the deadlines you have to meet and learn to know when it’s time to let it go. Be confident in what you write.
7. FULL CONCENTRATION and eliminate distractions.
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Writing doesn’t work well with multitasking, you must do it one at a time. You might be tempted to go check your phone or watch some movies, but learn to have self-control. Maintain total privacy between you and your work, and stay away from all possible distractions. Learn to write without interruption. Writing is meant to be an intimate activity.
8. ACCEPT FEEDBACK without getting upset.
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Get ready for more failure and criticism than you think you can deal with. Get someone to read over your stuff that can give you honest and intelligent feedback. Try to understand the criticism and use it to improve your work. As you welcome honest criticism, keep your writing away from people who act dismissive or negative. Learn to know the difference between useful critique and disheartening negativity.
9. Proofread and REWRITE YOUR WORK.
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It doesn’t matter if you cut the whole sections of the project, or rewrite it from a different character’s perspective. If there are any passages you dislike, don’t be afraid to make drastic changes. Try to be more meticulous and careful about your editing process. By doing this, you are able to spot the errors in your grammar and spelling, as well as style, content, and coherence. Critiquing your own work is an important skill if you want to offer the world a good piece of writing.
Final Remarks
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There’s no exact method on how to be a great writer since each of us have different styles. The only sure thing is that there’s no substitute for patience, hard work, and perseverance. Are you a diligent writer, or are you someone who only loves to start things but never have the guts to finish the work until the end?
We often think that a good writer is someone who writes perfectly, but please, let’s stop this kind of obsession. Nobody is perfect and perfection doesn’t exist. Just stay who you are and be true to yourself. Start to effectively communicate a clear message to your readers instead of trying to be perfect.
How much time would you devote to build your writing career and are you willing to wait? If you’ve been writing for more than a year, relax and don’t rush things. If you put in the work required, success will happen eventually. Instead of complaining too early, just keep on writing and do your best. Everything has its own pace and time.
Learn the art of quality over quantity, train yourself to come up with great ideas to captivate your readers. Find motivation that could help you to build a chapter with a clear vision. Great writers don’t let their pride get in the way of their art, you should know when to delete or rework something. Encourage your own creative process and expand your horizons to more challenging material. Write not to please people, but for reason that it brings you happiness and fulfillment.
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