Don't Just Write

Like the musician who practices to improve his craft, so must writers. But for a writer bettering the craft means more than just putting words on a page.

Musicians have a saying:
I miss one day of practice, I know it.
Miss two days of practice and everybody knows it.

Becoming a better writer means writing on a daily basis – even it if is nothing more than the weekly shopping list. (My big brother even edits his own shopping list.)

Becoming a better writer also means reading. There again it doesn’t matter what is being read, just read – the newspaper, books, magazines, etc. By reading the writer learns grammar, how to make words flow, how to describe an event or surroundings without being boring and overly wordy, and a variety of other ideas.

Reading the work of other authors does not mean to copy them, for each writer must develop their own style of writing, but to learn better how to put those words on the page.

The more we write the better the writing becomes. After a time go back and look at early works and notice the difference and how the writing has improved and the style of writing that has developed.

As Simon Cowell and his fellow judges are constantly telling singing wannabes on “American Idol” and other such shows – Make it your own!

Writer's Block

There are days when it seems no matter what you do the words just will not come. Don't force it, that will only make things worse. Here are a few ideas to break down that wall.

Star jotting down the first thing that comes to mind even if it has nothing to do with the subject you are writing about, write anything to get the brain moving and keep going; eventually the correct subject matter will surface and the right words will flow.

Pick a different topic and start babbling on paper. Again it doesn't matter whether or not it makes any sense as long as you are putting something down.

There are times when I have a story in mind but not quite sure how to get it started so I go out on my porch swing and just relax for a few minutes and before I know it, I have my story in order. Just relax and let you mind wonder, forgetting about the paper and article for a few minutes. When your mind is clear, the words will come.

Titles are important but they can be added later, worry about the article itself first. For me getting the lead line is the most important. Once I have my lead line the rest of the article comes tumbling out - most of the time anyway. Find where you best starting point is and work from there. Don't force it and even though they teach a certain order in English class, that doesn't mean it's the only way to create an article or any other piece of written work.

Find what works for you and have fun!

Putting it All Together

The title of your article is as important as the article itself. It is the title that will draw your readers in and make them want to see what you have to say.

The title should be as short as possible but long enough to tease the reader into wanting to read the article while not giving away too much information. In this age of social networking like Twitter, a good rule of thumb is for a title to fit into a Twitter post along with the link for the article. There should be room to spare so that the article can be re-tweeted.

For example, Pop Star XXXXX Gives Birth to Baby Girl Named Sarah. Way too much information, why read the article since the title says it all?

Pop Star XXXXX Give Birth is much better, it tells the reader a birth occurred and entices them to read more. The title is also short enough for Twitter.

Once the title has been decided, a good lead line in essential to getting the reader to continue with the article. For me, I have to have my lead line before I can write the article; but the order is not as important as the end result.

Once all the essential information has been included in the article a short paragraph or sentence is needed to sum up the article - wrap it up.

For the novice writer who wants to try their hand at publishing articles online, there are a number of "citizen journalism" sites on the Internet that will allow anyone to contribute articles; some of them will even pay a small sum when certain page view thresholds are met.

ALWAYS spell check your work. Have someone read your articles for continuity or read them aloud if no one else is around to make sure it sounds right. How the article looks is as important as how it sounds. If an article is full of mistakes, potential readers will bypass the article. You want to draw in more readers, not chase them away.

Types of Articles

In the non-fiction category there are a variety of articles to write.
There are...
How to articles
the personal essay
argument articles
editorials
feature articles
hard news articles
biography
documentary
explanation articles
reviews and
profiles

Of course, the list is not limited to just these few. Writing covers any topic and style you can imagine. The important thing to remember is that if you are writing a non-fiction article is to ensure that there are only facts in the article. If you wish to express your opinion, make sure your readers know that it is your opinion.

Hard news articles, like those on the front page of your local newspaper, are fact based articles only that tell the reader - who, what, when, where, why, and how -; there is no room for any fiction or opinion in news articles.

When instructors say to write what you know, they are referring to the subject matter itself. Write about something you know well or are good at, like a hobby or work skill.

Next up putting it all together.

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Narrowing it Down

With all those choices of topics and writing styles, how do you know which one is right for you?

While most writers stick to one particular style of writing, there is no hard and fast rule that says you can't write in more than one style.

Now, for narrowing down what to write...

First, do you have a vivid imagination? If so, then writing fiction may be the way to go. Start out with short stories before venturing out to write that great best selling novel. Use the shorter formats to hone your skills of plot, characterization, and development.

Poetry is a genre and style all its own. Some styles have strict rules for verse and style; while others, like free style, have no rules.

Like reporting news items and so forth? Then non-fiction writing is the way to go. Non-fiction covers a vast amount of writing styles from the front page news articles in the newspaper to documentaries and biographies.

Still undecided?
That's okay, just keep writing whatever comes to mind and in time your style and writing preferences will develop. If you are knowledgeable about any particular subject, try writing a how-to telling others how to do whatever it is or some other article on that subject. Not only is it good practice to get started, but a good way to help narrow down your writing preference and style.

Next up...types of articles.

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Getting Started

To get started writing, a little thought and a few decisions come first.

What type of writing do you want to do - fiction, non-fiction, etc.?
What target audience do you want to reach - adults, children, technical, etc.?
Are you writing just for fun as a hobby or looking to make a little extra cash?

Not sure? Don't worry. There's plenty of time for that and there is no rule that says you can't change your mind later.

Writing is more than just putting pen to paper (fingers on keyboard); reading is also important. Reading about writing. Reading books by your favourite authors. reading most anything? Not only does reading help you get a sense of how the words should flow, but can teach you abut writing itself.

A great way to start writing - the more you write, the better you'll get - is to pick a topic and just start writing whatever comes to mind. A newspaper headline, a book title, a line overheard in a conversation, anything will do. There are a few books that are filled with topics to get someone started.

Don't know anything about the subject or don't know where to start? That's okay. Just start writing whatever comes to mind, even if it doesn't make any sense in the beginning. As you write your thoughts will begin to come together.


Here are a few topics to get you started if you are stuck...
A windy day... (or sunny day)
A thunderstorm makes me...
Fireworks are...
Summertime means... (or any other season)
Music makes me feel...
My favourite sport_______....
TV commercials are...
I like (favourite TV show) because...
My favourite travel spot... (have been or want to go)

Well...you get the idea. The subject matter isn't important, writing is.

Keep all of your writing in the notebook (or file) so that you can look back and see how you are improving.

Writing is an ongoing process; even seasoned professionals are always looking for ways to improve their craft.

Next up narrowing it down

STAY TUNED

Finding Time to Write

For some people finding time to sit down and write can be a difficult task.

When finding a time to write, consider the following factors...
where do you feel most comfortable, a place that will allow your creative juices flow
is there a time of day that you are able to be more creative than others
is there a place that you can work undisturbed
is there anything in particular that helps to generate the thought process - a particular style of music or that special drink

For some this may be a particular room or spot at home or perhaps a coffee shop or other type of place.

If you have a family at home, what time of day can you work without having to worry about taking care of the family

Some people like to work early in the morning before the house is awake
while for others the end of the day is best after the house has settled down for the night.

It may take a couple of weeks to find just the right spot. Don't rush it, take your time. If you don't feel comfortable, nothing will work right.

In this computer age, sitting at the keyboard is second nature; but don't discount the good old fashioned pen and paper. For some (myself included) thoughts and ideas seem to flow better when they are at the end of a pen. When working on a longer piece of work, I still prefer pen and paper.

Once you have been writing for a while, the muse will begin to strike most any place and finding that special spot will be of lesser importance, but at least in the beginning finding a time and place that helps you create is just as important as the writing itself.

Next up...getting started

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