Three powerful tips to write well

Ever sit down on your table, facing your lappy, Microsoft Word is on, and then you stare at your work…

Guess what?

from http://www.singleblackmale.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/blank-sheet-of-paper.gif

It’s an empty page.

Yep, we all get through that moment. That feeling of you want to write  but you seem to be lacking something, somehow you cant transfer your thoughts to your pen, you can’t get that rush you get when your excited to write about something.

Believe it or not, I was once like you. Glad I took journalism class for three years, it didn’t go to waste. I learned a lot about writing.

Read, read, read, read and read some more

My journalism teacher, Mrs. Adora Delgado, keeps on reminding us to read all the time. Yes, reading is an important factor in writing. Through reading different materials like magazines and newspapers, we read not just content, but, STYLE. We learn how to write our thoughts in a way that is both entertaining, and easy to understand. And what better way to learn style, than to read somebody else’s. We read and see for ourselves, how this writer, who is sure to be a professional, deliver his ideas, and how he/she merges with his story, making us part of it, being part of the story.

And in the words of my mentor in journalism, Kuya Kim Valdez:

“Read to read, not  just to read”

from http://msbsclassblog.files.wordpress.com

 The ultimate reward of reading?  Is developing your own writing style.

And one more thing, have you ever experienced writing a composition but somehow you stop dead, you seemed to hit a writer’s block, why?

You can’t find the right words.
It’s like you want to say something, you move your mouth, but the words won’t come out. You suddenly become mute.

Another thing we can gain from reading different materials?
A wide vocabulary.
A wide vocabulary does not necessarily mean using deep, intelligent, and unheard of words that only people with dictionaries can understand. A wide vocabulary means you have the right words, for the right situation, for the right time, and for the right ideas.

Imagine your vocabulary as sort of a bank, let’s call it the Word Bank. A bank offers deposit and saving transactions, right?
So for a writer that keeps on reading, he deposits words into the bank, and then withdraws them later when he writes, the more he reads, the more he can write.

And then there is another writer, much like the first, but he doesn’t read that often, he doesn’t deposit words into his word account.

The end result? The latter writer, can’t write anything. Since he doesn’t have the words to do so.  It’s impossible to withdraw from an ATM if  your savings is empty!

Mastery of a language is a prerequisite for any writer. You have to be able to write in a variety of styles of languages has, whether it’s slang or formal.

Practice, practice, practice, and even more practice

Yes, practice makes perfect. "Perfect" meaning, you are the best you can be.
A while ago I mentioned that developing your own writing style is the ultimate reward of reading.

from http://oregonchristianwriters.org

Well, you can’t develop your writing style without practicing it.
There are millions of writing styles, but there will always be one, and only ONE, for you, and to find that, we have to keep on honing our skills.
By practicing we get comfortable with our styles.

"Write all the time, when you have the time. "

Writing when you have spare time can do wonders for a writer, especially if that happens often. You'll be surprised how good you'll get, without you even noticing. 

Sure it would take some time before you even see progress, but take my word, it would be worth it. 

Be inspired, if not? Get a reason to be

The last secret ingredient to write well is to be inspired. All of the efforts you put into writing will be in vain without inspiration. Remember that every work you make is a part of you, and doing something without heart, without soul, will result to substandard pieces of work. 

from http://courtneysking.files.wordpress.com/2013/03/inspiration.jpg

Getting inspired means you have a PURPOSE.Every writer should write with a purpose, a mission, an aim.

 Being inspired also means that you enjoy what you do. Inspiration also gives us determination to finish what we started. 

But admit it, sometimes we say to ourselves:

"I'm not in the mood."

Then what you lack is inspiration. If you are not inspired? Get a reason to be inspired. Having trouble writing about something? LOOK AROUND, as a writer, as an artist, you are free to write about everything.

Maybe you can write about the bee getting pollen as a sign of spring. Or maybe a reminiscence of your childhood, The sky is the limit.

To be a great writer, one does not have to write about extraordinary things, but rather a great writer is one who writes about simple things, extraordinarily well. 

Final message? 

Read to extend your knowledge in writing style and vocabulary.

Practice to apply what you learn from reading.

Get inspired to enjoy writing.

So what are you waiting for? Get writing! 

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