Writers are known for doubting themselves, whether they are globally recognized or have not yet shown their work to a soul. The papers pile up in the drawers, and they find them everywhere, from the desk to the floor. If you reflect yourself in this description, it will take time and patience to improve your writing skills, but there is no reason why you should do it without receiving any suggestions.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Practice
Step 1. Write every day
Maybe you prefer to write a short paragraph a day, or work on a long-term writing project. Maybe you've made it your goal to complete at least one chapter or an entire page on a daily basis. Whatever your decision, you need to stick to one important habit first if you intend to follow the tips in this article: write every single day.
If you can't find a free time on your calendar, try getting up earlier or going to bed later, even if you only have 15 minutes left
Step 2. Write without hesitation on your notebook
Don't be afraid to write something "bad", it is always better than finding yourself staring at a blank sheet of paper. Putting down whatever comes to mind can be a good place to start. Tell them you have writer's block, and can't think of an interesting topic to write about. Alternatively, describe an object in the room in exhaustive detail (too much) or take it out on something that irritates you. Often a few minutes of warm-up is enough to enter "writer mode" and be able to come up with other ideas.
Search online, at your bookstore, or library for collections of creative writing prompts. These cues are meant to give you a starting point from which to proceed, and are often purposely quirky to ignite your imagination and get you to work
Step 3. Challenge yourself
If you've been writing for a while, you're likely to be limited by a particular style, topic, or format. Practicing your favorite type of writing is a great way to keep motivation high, but make a conscious effort to vary your writing exercises once in a while. Voluntarily tackling new and difficult challenges is vital to improvement in any field. Consider these challenges as exercises, whether you are interested in refining the final results or not:
- If your writing projects or storytelling skills seem to repeat themselves, try a different style. Imitate another author, or combine the styles of two writers.
- If most of what you write is for a lasting blog or plan, take a break from this work. Think of a topic that could never, ever fit into your classic writing project, and write about it (for a complete challenge, rewrite this piece so it might fit your project instead).
Step 4. Exchange views with a supportive group of writers
Invite them to give you feedback on your work, and offer to read other authors' drafts. Welcome honest criticism of you to encourage you to improve, but protect your work from friends who behave in a contemptuous or pessimistic manner. There is a substantial difference between criticism that is useful to a writer and negativity that serves only to discourage him.
- Search for online communities like Writer's Dream, or search for a niche community focused on a specific literary genre.
- Drop by your local library or community center to find information on local writing workshops.
- You could also practice writing on a Wiki site, such as wikiHow or Wikipedia. This allows you to help people while you practice, and it could be one of the biggest co-writing projects you'll ever participate in.
Step 5. Make a commitment to follow a writing schedule with other people
If you have trouble with consistency and diligence with writing, make a commitment to other people for external motivation. Find a pen pal you can regularly exchange letters with, or create a blog with weekly updates. Look for a writing contest that has a specific deadline, and promise to submit a text written by you. Take part in a writing challenge, whether it's a single drafting session with a group of friends or an annual event like NaNoWriMo, which involves making a novel in one month.
Step 6. Rewrite the pieces that interest you
The first draft of a story always has room for improvement, and often ends up changing a lot after a few revisions. Once you have written a piece that you find interesting, review this finished text and identify sentences, paragraphs or entire pages that do not satisfy you at all. Rewrite a scene from a different character's perspective, try alternative story developments, or change the order of events. If you're not sure why a passage doesn't convince you, rewrite it without referencing the original, then try to figure out what you particularly like in each version.
Discarding a passage you love and starting to write it all over again can be incredibly difficult. Incidentally, for more than a century now, many writers have referred to this process as "killing your loved ones" (the phrase is attributed to several authors)
Part 2 of 3: Acquiring Fundamental Skills
Step 1. Read as much as possible
Writers have a real passion for print, and reading is the absolute best way to fuel that love. Read in the most varied way possible, from magazines to novels for young adults and historical dissertations. Either way, you don't have to feel pressured to finish whatever you choose. Reading enriches your vocabulary, teaches grammar, inspires you and shows you what you can do with the language. For a budding writer, reading is just as important as writing in and of itself.
If you're not sure what to read, ask friends for advice, or go to the library and pick a couple of books from each section
Step 2. Expand your vocabulary
As you read, keep a dictionary and a dictionary of synonyms and antonyms handy; write down unfamiliar words, and look for them later. Is it better to use simple terms or use long and complex words? This discussion involved world famous writers. Such a decision is up to you when you write, but you need to make it only after you find out what tools are available.
The definitions of vocabularies often do not offer intuitive examples of how to use a word. Search for the term online and read it in various contexts to get a better understanding
Step 3. Learn the grammar rules
Of course, there are many famous and historic books that have been written with a grammar far from linguistic standards, but learning the rules does not just mean memorizing a series of sterile definitions. Studying how a sentence is constructed and how punctuation is used to structure it gives you the knowledge you need to express yourself the way you want. If you think this might be your weakness, study a grammar textbook, or hire a writing tutor.
- Learn to write without using informal grammar forms, if you are not used to formal and written Italian.
- If you have a grammatical doubt, refer to a specific book, such as Grammatica italiana, by Luca Serianni.
Step 4. Personalize your writing with your goal and audience in mind
Just as you change clothing for the time and occasion, you should also change the writing for the readers and the message you want to convey. For example, “flowery” writing is usually better suited to a poem than a business relationship. If you are targeting a specific group, make sure the choice of vocabulary and the length of the sentences are not too difficult (or too simplistic) for the audience. Avoid specialized jargon when speaking to someone who is unfamiliar with the subject in question.
Part 3 of 3: Making a Writing Project from Start to Finish
Step 1. Brainstorm before you start writing
As you think about what you are going to write, write down any ideas that come to your mind, even if they seem unlikely or you think they are unlikely to find an outlet. A mediocre idea could be the key to a flash of genius.
Step 2. Choose a topic you would like to read about
Identify a topic that catches your attention and you are passionate about. Enthusiasm and interest are two essential factors to pave the way and maintain high standards; with a bit of luck, maybe you will be able to infect the reader too.
Step 3. Outline the shape you intend to give to the project
Following a serious writing project doesn't necessarily mean writing a whole book. Creating a short story can be an equally complicated and satisfying challenge, not to mention that it could be a more effective way to practice your skills when time is running out.
Step 4. Write down the ideas
Use a dedicated notebook to write down observations, overheard conversations, and sudden ideas that come to you in daily life. When you read or hear something that makes you laugh or think, or want to repeat these words to someone else, write them down and think about what makes them effective.
You could use this notebook to write down unfamiliar words as well
Step 5. Plan your work
Use all the techniques that are right for you, or try several if you don't have a pre-established process yet. You can write a draft, jot down notes on cards, keep and organize them until you find an order, or draw a diagram or map. The draft could simply have an approximate order of events or topics covered, or it could be a summary detailing each individual scene. Establishing such a structure in advance can help you keep going for days when you're not feeling particularly creative.
- There are many different types of organizational software for writers, such as Scrivener.
- You can definitely deviate from the initial plan; however, if you abandon it completely, stop for a moment and consider the reasons behind this choice. Create a new schedule to guide you through the work you've edited and to be able to consciously think about how you want to finish it.
Step 6. Research the topic
Generally speaking, non-fiction work requires knowledge of the subject, but even a fiction book would benefit from research. If your protagonist is a glassblower, read a text on this crafting technique and use the correct terminology. If you are writing a book set before you were born, interview people who lived in that era, or who have heard stories told by parents or grandparents who did.
If you were to write a fiction book, you usually have the option of throwing yourself headlong into the first draft before embarking on a thorough search
Step 7. Quickly write the first draft
Try to write for as long as possible without pauses. Don't stop to change your word choice or correct grammar, spelling or punctuation. This is one of the most common recommendations to make sure you actually finish what you started.
Step 8. Rewrite.
Once you have the first draft, reread and rewrite it. You have to look for grammatical and spelling errors, but also in terms of style, content, organization and consistency. If there are any passages you don't like, get rid of them and write them again from scratch. Knowing how to criticize your own work is an important skill, and, like writing itself, requires a lot of practice.
Take some time between writing and proofreading, as long as it is possible. It's best to wait for a certain amount of time, but even a short break can give you at least some of the distance and detachment needed to perform a good fix
Step 9. Share your work with the public
Request feedback on work in progress from interested readers, whether they are friends, other authors or visitors to your blog. Try to accept criticism without getting angry or hurt; While you disagree with the specific comments you receive, knowing what parts of the text people don't like can be key to focusing on your correction.
Step 10. Rewrite, rewrite, rewrite
Don't be afraid to make drastic changes, and even delete entire sections of the project or rewrite them from a different character's perspective. Continue the cycle by asking for feedback and correcting as you try to figure out how to perfect the job. If you feel like you're not making any progress, remember that these exercises are for you to cultivate skills that will help you with all the texts you write in the future. You can always take a break to write something funny and ridiculous just to downsize and remember that writing is a pastime first and foremost.
Advice
- Find a room or space where you can write better. Someone needs a quiet place to write, while others prefer to do it in a bar or other noisy place.
- Be prepared to receive rejection letters from publishing houses. Instead of being too hard on yourself after an experience like this, take no in the right direction - as constructive suggestions about what you can do best.
- Get in touch with writers in your area, or participate in book launches with the authors present: these meetings allow you to receive advice from professionals. Although famous writers are often inundated with mail, many of them actually try to reply to emails and letters.
