7 Easy to Follow Tips to be a More Effective Writer
The writing process is a truly strange and multifaceted thing. You can have a million dollar vocabulary or have all the time in the world, but if you don’t know how to be an effective writer your efforts are all for nothing. To convey something through the written word you need more than just words. You will need a combination of skills and qualities that will truly designate you as an effective writer. Here are 7 tips on how to be a more effective writer.
- Read, read and read some more!
Famed novelist Stephen King once said
“If you want to be a writer, you must do two things above all others: read a lot and write a lot.”
What people do not understand sometimes is that great writers, are not born they are made. These great writers have always had a love for reading and through their own lifetimes have read countless books that have helped shape not only their writing style but their own perceptions on life. Reading in many ways is how the writer trains himself before he starts on the writing process. Like a boxer who continually looks at himself in the mirror to perfect his jab, the writer constantly reads so that there will be a constant influx of ideas that he could draw inspiration from.
- Brush up on your grammar.
Grammar is the most technical part of the writing process. When you are writing you have to have a firm mastery of the English language and still accept the fact that you have to be a little flexible when it comes to making some of the sentences.
- Make rough drafts
When an artist creates a work of art, he does not just go about creating it. No, the artist usually creates a rough draft of the artwork to root out any imperfections in his design. The same could be said for writers, before you can even get started on your book you should make a rough draft or an outline of your work. That way should there be any corrections, you can implement them efficiently.
- Write, write and write some more!
The same way that effective writers read to get inspiration for their work, writers must also write as much as they can. Practice truly does make perfect, and it could not prove truer when it comes to writing. You can practice writing by keeping a diary or better yet create a blog where you can share your perceptions on the world with other people.
- Re-write old drafts
A common mistake by some writers is that they do not know how to be their own critic. What I mean is that some are too lazy to look back and admit that they could make their work even better. You should always assume that there is always something you can do to improve your work, whether it’s just a minor tweak here or a complete overhaul of your story. Never compromise when it comes to your art.
- Never give up
The writing process can be a hard and arduous journey. All sorts of obstacles can spring up and block your train of thought. But should that ever happen never give up. Just know that it is part of the writing process and can be overcome with perseverance.
- Believe in what you are writing
Great writers of the past have had their own shortcomings and failures before they succeeded in their own careers. This is very important in writing. You should always believe in yourself, your skills and your work. Belief is a truly powerful thing and a total belief in your skills as a writer are the corner stones to a good writing career.
