July 20, 2010
Becoming A Better Writer Is Possible
As a writer, you may always be on the look out for new techniques to make you better at what you do. If you want to become a better writer, this becomes a mixture of both dedication, persistence and practice. Writing is not unlike any other profession or skill you acquire. If you want to get better at mastering the top forex indicator you have to practice, the same goes for writing. Find below a few other, not-so-obvious techniques that will help your craft.
Even if you are not a writer, you have probably discovered the need of being able to communicate through written expression effectively. Many people have transformed the ability to write clearly into a an income online opportunity. One such money maker people have discovered is blogging. This is a great opportunity to improve your skills, because whether you want to or not, you have to write on a daily basis.
When you get criticism, learn from it. Try not to take it personally, but try to improve from it. If you feel like you are not ready to share your work publicly, ask a trusted friend to look at your writing and give you feedback.
Creating an outline when you have a topic you want to tackle can make the actual writing process a lot easier. Outline the ideas you have in the order you want to write about them. Make sure to keep a nice flow. An outline can help you tackle even the most challenging of subjects like a plug and play profit system.
When you have a draft written, take a break before you start proofreading. You may be tempted to keep working, but taking a break in between writing and editing will help you proofread with a sharper eye. If you proofread right after you’ve written something, whether an article, essay or report, you are likely to overlook mistakes.
Try to expand the genres in which you write. If you normally write in essay format, try to include poems in your genre or any other style that takes you out of your comfort zone. When you write in a style that is not normally yours, it will help you build new technique. Almost every writer can use help with their technique!
Avoid multi-tasking when you are about to start writing. Choose a time of day with the least amount of distractions to you. This could be in the morning, or evening. Whatever works best for you. Keep in mind that a lot of writers find that mornings are most productive for them.
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November 27, 2009
Writing Tips: Does It Summarize?
I go through an interesting writing exercise regularly: I take magazine articles and write abstracts of them for newsletter clients.
The challenge involves taking an article, one that normally ranges from 1,000 to 3,000 words, and condensing it into a few hundred words. That means I need to get the essence of the article squarely in my sights and write about that essence in my own words.
When I go through that exercise, I'm amazed at the number of articles, many from highly respected business magazines, that don't have internal integrity.
An article has internal integrity when the writer started out with a central idea, developed it well, and reached a conclusion involving that idea. For example, the writer might start with an anecdote, using the anecdote to illustrate a problem.
She then goes on to explain why this problem deserves our attention. After that, the writer lists some options, as well as the advantages and disadvantages of each, and perhaps even a recommendation. Wrapping up, she briefly summarize the problem, the options for addressing it, and perhaps makes a recommendation of her own. This is just one approach, but it's time-tested and used by many writers.
As I say, many articles don’t have that kind of integrity. Some miss one or more parts of the model, others get them in the wrong order, and some don’t have a model at all, just the non-fiction equivalent of stream-of-consciousness (a fiction model).
You can ensure your writing has internal integrity — whether for memos, articles, instructions or anything else — by taking measures before or after your write. Perhaps the most familiar strategy is the preliminary outline. Before you start writing, you set out the elements you'll address.
Another possibility is to go back to your message afterward and write a short abstract, and ask yourself whether or not it makes sense. Does the story flow logically and clearly? Do you see any part of your model that might be missing?
A third possibility is just to set aside your writing for a few days, and then look at it later with fresh eyes.
Whichever you choose, and that's mostly a matter of matching your personal style, your writing will get better results if it has internal integrity.
Robert F. Abbott is an online writer and publisher specializing in consumer information sites, including a QuickList on Cuisinart Mixers , and business communication, including articles that help you increase your communication skills and knowledge.
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November 22, 2009
Writing Tips: Does It Summarize?
Here's how I've developed some insight into the internal integrity of articles. I regularly rewrite magazine articles, creating abstracts, for a newsletter client.
The challenge involves taking an article, one that normally ranges from 1,000 to 3,000 words, and condensing it into a few hundred words. The central point of the article should be now be apparent, and I write about in my own words.
When I go through that exercise, I’m amazed at the number of articles, many from highly respected business magazines, that don’t have internal integrity.
An article has internal integrity when the writer started out with a central idea, developed it well, and reached a conclusion involving that idea. The opening might be a brief story that draws attention to a problem.
After that, she explains why this issue needs to be addressed. That’s followed by one or several potential solutions, and the pros and cons of each one, along with a recommendation or two. She concludes the article by summarizing the problem, the alternative solutions, and her recommendation references back to the opening anecdote. That's just one story development model, but one that works.
Often articles don't have that glue that holds all the pieces together in one coherent whole. Surprisingly, many articles fail to include all components of the model, get them in the wrong order or just don't have a model at all.
Then, she connects the dots between the problem and our interests. Perhaps the most familiar strategy is the preliminary outline. Before you start writing, you set out the elements you’ll address.
Another possibility is to go back to your message afterward and write a short abstract, and ask yourself whether or not it makes sense. Does the story flow logically and clearly? Take a look -- are you missing anything critical to the story?
Third, put the writing out of sight for a few days, then revisit it a few days later.
Whichever you choose, and that’s mostly a matter of matching your personal style, your writing will get better results if it has internal integrity.
Robert F. Abbott is an online writer and publisher specializing in consumer information sites, including a QuickList on Cuisinart Mixers , and business communication, including articles that help you increase your communication skills and knowledge.
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Filed under Learn to write good copy by learnwell
October 26, 2009
Complete your Novel - Creative Writing Tips
If you’re a writer, you’ve stared at a blank computer screen, or paper for what seemed to be hours, contemplating the first sentence. It seems like the most difficult task to do, especially when it comes to the creativity of your own imagination. What’s needed, more than anything, when typing up the first draft of your manuscript? Inspiration. Constant inspiration will keep the creative flow churning throughout the creative writing process.
There are many ways to pump up your creative writing momentum, and plunk out, at least, the first chapter with confidence that the rest will be easy as riding a bike; it may be hard to do at first, by once you learn, you never forget.
Have Fun
Yes, the first thing you should do is begin to have fun. Make sure that you enjoy yourself throughout the writing process. The beautiful thing about a writer is they can be inspired by anything. The children playing on a sunny Sunday morning at the park or the bus-load of people on the bus cruising down a street can inspire a writer to create dazzling characters, and realistic, yet effective storylines. Here are a few ideas to have fun:
Spend Time with Friends-
Have a great time with the people you care most about. Often times, writers are inspired by the people who are around them. The people that they love. Many famous characters from books and movies were inspired by combinations of different people from the writer’s life. It’s no wonder the saying, “Art imitates life,” rings so true. Make a commitment to have dinner with friends, or maybe simply watch a movie with your closest pals. Study the atmosphere, the sound, the mood, and record it in your mind. This, fellow writer, is the act of researching.
Spend Time Reading-
What else, but reading sparked your appetite to craft wondrous prose with a pen? Naturally, it would be a great idea to pick up a book and begin to read it. Devour it, and enjoy it at face value. Then, read the book again, this time paying attention to as many details in the plot, character development, story structure, and pacing. This will give you a zest for the art, and help you to study what the professionals are currently doing.
Spend Time Watching Movies-
Movies would not exist without the seed of a brilliant writer drafting an excellent script. Every department within the film’s production reads the script in order to get an idea of what the story is, what the atmosphere seems like, and who the characters are. Notice the pacing of the movie as well. Though the original script is altered by editing, the pacing is still enhanced. Try to imagine how your book would be as a movie on screen. You must become the director and writer of your creative writing fiction manuscript and set a tone and vision for the story you wish to tell.
What Story will you tell?
Now it’s time for you to decide what story you want to tell. Writers get their inspiration from many different sources, such as other books, movies, and even personal events in the lives. Whatever story it is, it must have a beginning, middle, and an end. No story in history was ever completed, or can even be considered a story, without those three key elements. Once you know the story that you wish to tell, you can go on to creating the heroes and villains that will inhabit the story and your made-up world.
The Heroes and Villains
Every good story has a good guy and a bad guy. In some stories, the villain, or bad guy, is represented not by human beings, but by animals, personal objects, and even spirits. Your heroes have to have an obstacles on the way that blocks them from reaching their desired goals. Your potential readers want to follow someone that they like and can relate to, as they travel on a journey. The journey could be anywhere, and it could involve anything. For example, read J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings book, and pay attention to the many wonderful adventures he takes his characters on. We could even examine a book such as The Devil Wears Prada, by Lauren Weisberger, the main character is sent on a wild rush of a ride by the boss from hell. Flush out your good guys and your bad guys to help you create a great story.
Write from the Heart
Now that you’ve been reading, watching movies, talking with friends, and birthing heroes and villains, you can approach the blank page with zest and confidence. You’ve gotten past the hardest part, coming up with an idea and placing it on paper. You can do it. Simply begin to type and forget about the rules. Throw out the questions of whether you’re writing perfect or not, and write the damn thing. Let your characters speak, express themselves, and interact with their environment. The story will begin to unfold, if you have a nice grasp on who your characters are, and what they want. Of course, your hero, or protagonist always wants something, and conversely, your antagonist, the villain, wants something as well. The plot and story begin to take place, all from this humble beginning in inspiring your creative writing.
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