I don’t really like doing these things—giving advices when it comes to writing—because I feel like I am not in the authority to do so. Since a lot of you guys have been messaging me about this on my public spaces, I decided to just give my point of view on what I think would help make you a better writer. I may have given some of you guys advices in the past, and it probably changed as I experience new things and whatnot.
I hope you guys find this helpful! I am not giving tips on exactly how to write, how to narrate, and stuff like that (so if you’re looking for a structural advice, this is not the place to go). I am merely giving what keeps a writer going. I just believe writing structures are a preference… so you can write however you want as long as you can convey it really well. After all, we should not be all uniform because then reading all these pieces would be boring!
You ready for some essay-ish fun? Let’s go!
1. Find joy in writing. I know, you are probably rolling your eyes and are like—please! Why do you think I’m here? Well, I don’t think you would be perfectly effective if you cannot find any type of joy into putting words together. If you are writing only because you feel like everyone is doing so—you’re in the wrong profession/hobby. You are probably destined to love something else. The joy of writing (however cliché this may sound like) comes from the joy of telling what’s in your mind, what is in your imagination—and weaving it together so that someone else can see it too. If you cannot bring someone else in your mind, you are not effective and you will not love this field. There is also this thing called joy in listening, wherein, you have to be able to listen to what others say, however critical and hateful it may be. Listening to critical judgments (or occasionally hate messages) will you be able to know if there is something to improve upon. Once you find enjoyment in writing then you can only find it to be fulfilling.
2. Screw up. Yes, you actually read it right—screw up. Make a mistake, mess it up! It IS PERFECTLY OKAY! You are not born to be perfect with words, in grammar, in the way you convey… that comes along with making a mistake and realizing it is one. A lot of our very well-known writers did not write their pieces with a perfect one-draft piece, they messed up and tried again. So if you made a mistake and screw up a piece, it does not mean it is a dead piece… but rather a piece that you can re-work on.
3. Ask. Asking never hurts. If you think someone else is going to be more effective than you are in a certain aspect—go ahead and ask. Asking questions and for help is a sign of humility. It means you are not afraid to admit to yourself that you are not the expert—neither is the one you’re asking help from. But asking is what makes an effective writer. Help is not handed, you need to ask. It is the same as being effective is not handed; you have got to work for it.
4. Educate yourself. A good piece of writing is not an empty piece. Write something where people can learn something from—whether it is from general knowledge to all things Math. If you are going to write something that involves technicalities, make sure you are consistent and do your share of research. Educating yourself helps expand what you write. The less you know, the shallower it gets. The shallower it gets, the less interesting it appears. You get the drift. Be knowledgeable yourself and be an expert yourself. Read. Read. Read.
5. Inspiration comes from anything. It could be from a pen to the old guy who walks down the street every morning. There is no set rule when it comes to getting ideas. It is how you perceive the world and your surroundings. Be observant, see people more than how they act superficially, find things cute, create a little drama, and seek out a new hobby. Inspiration is set differently for everyone. But guess what? Everyone’s inspiration is different and there is not one of us who will perceive it the same as you did. Voila. Write about it. How did you see the world?
6. Put it down and have it another go some other time. I may sound a little crazy on this, but I do not necessarily believe in writer’s block. Bad day maybe, but not a block. I do not think a block is necessarily like—there is no way out. You are the writer, there’s always a way out! You can write however you want the story to be since you are the driver of the story. So if you are having a bad day, put it down and have a go at it the next day. You do not have to do it right then and there. Take a breather and seek out why you are writing and what inspired you to do so.
7. Do not plagiarize. You know it is not yours, and you know for a fact it never will be no matter how many times you tell yourself that. Plagiarizing does not entail copying a whole piece. Plagiarizing also comes from stealing the same ideas. You did not come up with that, and there is no reason for you to say you did.
8. Support each other. Give each other a boost. Every writer likes to hear a bit of positive comment. It keeps you going. Putting someone else down does not make you any better. You are still on the same spot, if not stooping down lower. Try to channel that energy on something productive.
9. Set goals and reach it. If you tell yourself that you are going to finish a story, do it! Stop making excuses. If you are busy now, come back to it when you are not. There is no such thing as a loss piece—just a loss of time.
10. Have a life outside of writing. There is more to life than writing. Keep yourself acquainted with the world and it will open you to new ideas and experiences. Life does not mean you are always behind the computers. An effective writer keeps a balance of life and writing.
Like I said, this is not a structural advice. This is how I perceive writing to be. I cannot tell you how to write your prologue, how to come up with titles, or where to get your ideas—it’s different for everyone. Once you find that comfort zone, try it and see if it works!
One more thing, writing is not exclusive of these ten things. Who knows, I might add more to this one day. I hope it helped a bit! J Good luck!
Jess x
I hope you guys find this helpful! I am not giving tips on exactly how to write, how to narrate, and stuff like that (so if you’re looking for a structural advice, this is not the place to go). I am merely giving what keeps a writer going. I just believe writing structures are a preference… so you can write however you want as long as you can convey it really well. After all, we should not be all uniform because then reading all these pieces would be boring!
You ready for some essay-ish fun? Let’s go!
1. Find joy in writing. I know, you are probably rolling your eyes and are like—please! Why do you think I’m here? Well, I don’t think you would be perfectly effective if you cannot find any type of joy into putting words together. If you are writing only because you feel like everyone is doing so—you’re in the wrong profession/hobby. You are probably destined to love something else. The joy of writing (however cliché this may sound like) comes from the joy of telling what’s in your mind, what is in your imagination—and weaving it together so that someone else can see it too. If you cannot bring someone else in your mind, you are not effective and you will not love this field. There is also this thing called joy in listening, wherein, you have to be able to listen to what others say, however critical and hateful it may be. Listening to critical judgments (or occasionally hate messages) will you be able to know if there is something to improve upon. Once you find enjoyment in writing then you can only find it to be fulfilling.
2. Screw up. Yes, you actually read it right—screw up. Make a mistake, mess it up! It IS PERFECTLY OKAY! You are not born to be perfect with words, in grammar, in the way you convey… that comes along with making a mistake and realizing it is one. A lot of our very well-known writers did not write their pieces with a perfect one-draft piece, they messed up and tried again. So if you made a mistake and screw up a piece, it does not mean it is a dead piece… but rather a piece that you can re-work on.
3. Ask. Asking never hurts. If you think someone else is going to be more effective than you are in a certain aspect—go ahead and ask. Asking questions and for help is a sign of humility. It means you are not afraid to admit to yourself that you are not the expert—neither is the one you’re asking help from. But asking is what makes an effective writer. Help is not handed, you need to ask. It is the same as being effective is not handed; you have got to work for it.
4. Educate yourself. A good piece of writing is not an empty piece. Write something where people can learn something from—whether it is from general knowledge to all things Math. If you are going to write something that involves technicalities, make sure you are consistent and do your share of research. Educating yourself helps expand what you write. The less you know, the shallower it gets. The shallower it gets, the less interesting it appears. You get the drift. Be knowledgeable yourself and be an expert yourself. Read. Read. Read.
5. Inspiration comes from anything. It could be from a pen to the old guy who walks down the street every morning. There is no set rule when it comes to getting ideas. It is how you perceive the world and your surroundings. Be observant, see people more than how they act superficially, find things cute, create a little drama, and seek out a new hobby. Inspiration is set differently for everyone. But guess what? Everyone’s inspiration is different and there is not one of us who will perceive it the same as you did. Voila. Write about it. How did you see the world?
6. Put it down and have it another go some other time. I may sound a little crazy on this, but I do not necessarily believe in writer’s block. Bad day maybe, but not a block. I do not think a block is necessarily like—there is no way out. You are the writer, there’s always a way out! You can write however you want the story to be since you are the driver of the story. So if you are having a bad day, put it down and have a go at it the next day. You do not have to do it right then and there. Take a breather and seek out why you are writing and what inspired you to do so.
7. Do not plagiarize. You know it is not yours, and you know for a fact it never will be no matter how many times you tell yourself that. Plagiarizing does not entail copying a whole piece. Plagiarizing also comes from stealing the same ideas. You did not come up with that, and there is no reason for you to say you did.
8. Support each other. Give each other a boost. Every writer likes to hear a bit of positive comment. It keeps you going. Putting someone else down does not make you any better. You are still on the same spot, if not stooping down lower. Try to channel that energy on something productive.
9. Set goals and reach it. If you tell yourself that you are going to finish a story, do it! Stop making excuses. If you are busy now, come back to it when you are not. There is no such thing as a loss piece—just a loss of time.
10. Have a life outside of writing. There is more to life than writing. Keep yourself acquainted with the world and it will open you to new ideas and experiences. Life does not mean you are always behind the computers. An effective writer keeps a balance of life and writing.
Like I said, this is not a structural advice. This is how I perceive writing to be. I cannot tell you how to write your prologue, how to come up with titles, or where to get your ideas—it’s different for everyone. Once you find that comfort zone, try it and see if it works!
One more thing, writing is not exclusive of these ten things. Who knows, I might add more to this one day. I hope it helped a bit! J Good luck!
Jess x