Tuesday, September 1, 2009

Learning How to Write

Learning how to write, and to write well, may come naturally to some and may prove harder for others. Even seasoned writers regularly devote their time to reading books by other authors they admire, and consistently work at honing their craft. For writing is a skill like any other, and requires the same care, dedication and adherence to certain rules like any other art form.

People who are learning how to write have many reasons for doing so. There are numerous instances in which writing is necessary and important, such as writing academic papers or drafting a concept paper in a job. Others may wish to be better at penning a letter or writing about their travels to friends. Some kinds of writing are more specific and warrant a certain adeptness of style and form. For example, writing novels, short stories, poetry or journalistic pieces.

All kinds of writing can be learned, and the quality of writing is normally directly proportionate with how much time and effort is put into the piece. Revising and editing are crucial, as is having a clear structure and main thesis of your piece. For a news story, having an angle and a ‘hook’ to your article is critical; for novel fiction writing, having a strong story with vivid characters and an engaging conflict will attract readers; for poetry, the ability to draw up lyrical, universal emotions in a sparse and sensitive style are important. In every instance, successful authors have rarely picked up a pen for the first time, but have gone through the arduous process of learning how to write.

If one is casually looking to improve upon their writing skills, my suggestion is that they devote more time to reading. Reading books that are well written and interesting will increase your vocabulary and give you good examples of writing. Try to avoid the ‘airport trash’ books and look to more respected authors in the genre you are interested in. This is not to say that you should model your style on another author, but their attention to detail and their flare for storytelling may help in learning how to write better.

More serious students may wish to enroll in writing courses. These days, there is no end to writing tutorials offered at community colleges, on the Internet or in creative writing workshops. There are some towns that offer retreats for those learning how to write, where people can learn the craft in a more rustic, inspiring environment. You can do a search for all of these courses online, and some are often advertised in newspapers, posted on kiosks or in college pamphlets. For busier people who do not have time to attend the classes, distance-learning courses offer alternatives for aspiring writers learning how to write.

Learning how to write may not come naturally, but there are plenty of courses and books that are willing to teach you how to do it well. If you persevere, you will find that over time, the writing process becomes easier, less painful and more enjoyable. Like most things, writing becomes more effortless the more energy and enthusiasm you put into it. Only then will you start to reap the benefits.

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