How to write right… it’s a bit of a contradiction because there’s really no right or wrong way to right, only general guidelines that you want to keep in mind as you put pen to paper, or in a more modern sense as you type words onto a screen. Writing is such a singular, individual task that you can’t tell someone exactly how they should be writing; you can only guide them down a path in an attempt to help them find themselves as a writer. When you write, keep these guidelines in mind:
1. Write in your own voice – One problem that plagues many aspiring writers is trying to mimic their favorite authors writing style. But that’s not going to get you very far as a writer because it’s not you. Instead you have to find your own writing voice and embrace it! Once you find your writing voice everything is going to become more fluid and easy.
2. Paragraphs don’t have to be 2-3 sentences long– I know, I know. All through your English and writing classes you were told to make sure that your paragraphs had at a minimum of 2-3 sentences in them so that you could get your point across. That’s just not true though. Sometimes the most effective paragraphs are those that are only one sentence long. They hammer home a particular point, make the reader think, and then carry on to the next paragraph.
Right? Right.
Moving on.
Right? Right.
Moving on.
3. Don’t overuse commas – Overuse of commas is one of the most common mistakes people make. People like to place commas everywhere, but in reality you don’t need them nearly as often as you might have initially thought. Read the sentence out loud before adding in a comma – if you wouldn’t naturally pause there in everyday speech don’t use the comma!
4. Keep it conversational – Writing should never sound stilted or forced unless you’re writing something technical. To really engage readers in your writing you have to write in a more conversational tone. And if you’re unsure if you’re writing conversationally or not then try reading it out loud. You’ll notice right away if something doesn’t sound natural.
5. Be concise –Being a writer it’s easy to get caught up writing long, verbose sentences full of words that no one has ever heard of in an attempt to capture something truly unique. The only problem? Unless you’re writing English literature no one wants to read sentences that take up half the page. Be short and to the point and use words that everyone can understand.
Writing well is an art form that takes practice and time to perfect. You will continually evolve as a writer as different outside forces influence your thinking, your tone, and your writing. Embrace it; the beauty of writing is finding new ways to uniquely embody yourself.
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This is a guest post from Laura Backes, she enjoys writing about all kinds of subjects and also topics related to internet providers in my area. You can reach her at: laurabackes8 @ gmail.com.