Right now my windows are wide open and one of my favorite sounds fills the house: it's the song of spring sung by so many birds belting out their beautiful chorus. I am thankful for our taste of spring yesterday. By late afternoon, it was nearly 75 degrees, and although it's supposed to get chilly again, it's still warm enough to have the windows open.
I love spring. It's one of my favorite times of the year. Waking up to fresh air and the sound of birds on days like today really is a pleasure. But what I love most is the transformation. I love watching the grass go from brown and listless to vibrant green and lush in a matter of days. I enjoy seeing the daffodils and tulips grow taller every day. I know that before long, they'll be erupting in color all over the country - along with new foliage on once naked trees.
It's new life, and like the birth of a baby, it's always remarkable. Forever inspiring. In fact, I think I'll let it inspire my muse today, and try to get some good writing in. I hope you all had an amazing weekend and find some inspiration in your own day!
Showing posts with label Stylish Writing. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Stylish Writing. Show all posts
Monday, April 11, 2011
Friday, February 18, 2011
Three Ways to Become a Better Writer
For some people, like my husband for example, the act of writing is about as enjoyable as cleaning the bathroom toilet, yet for others it exhilarates - it's the very breath of their life. Ever present thoughts of writing invade their head at convenient and inconvenient times alike. But the question is, how do great writers do it? How do they become successful? Do they possess a secret that's only revealed to a chosen few, or are they simply born with the talent? Over the years, I have learned a few pointers that have helped me improve my craft.
The first thing is to remember, especially for those who are just starting out, that writing doesn't always come easy. It's a common misconception to think that the great writers of our time, and even those of our past, simply put pen to paper and wrote great pieces of literature. This isn't so.
Yes, occasionally ideas will pop into your head and it all flows from there. More often an idea will come, but finding the right words is done with great difficulty. Yet at other times you find yourself staring at a blank screen or piece of paper with no ideas or anything.
Good writing takes time, practice and hard work - sometimes many hours of hard work. You can guarantee that a nicely crafted article or book has spent its fair share of time in the revision bin.
Another way to improve your writing may almost seem too good to be true - if you like reading that is. With the fast-paced life that many of us live, it may be hard to carve out extra time for reading, but if you can neither you nor your writing skills will regret it.
Reading goes beyond the obvious learning that you obtain from studying the latest self-help book. What happens is an interesting transformation that can be likened to moving to a new region. When a Northerner moves down South, he takes his own accent and dialect with him. After living down there for a while he begins to take on the Southerner's drawl - without even realizing it.
Reading books helps you absorb styles, ideas that you might not have thought of prior to, and even vocabulary in much the same way as the Northerner absorbs his changes in speech.
In her book Bird By Bird, Anne Lammott says of reading, "What a miracle it is that out of these small, flat, rigid squares of paper unfolds world after world after world, worlds that sing to you, comfort and quiet or excite you. Books help us understand who we are and how we are to behave. They show us what community and friendship mean; they show us how to live and die."
It's these very worlds that she speaks of that broaden our horizons, that give us new insights and perspectives - new understandings to the human emotion, and even ideas for our own stories. Just consider it grist for the mill.
Finally, and perhaps most importantly, one of the best pieces of advice I could give is to write, write, and write some more. The most productive times in my life as a writer have always been when I was writing a lot. Ideas actually were popping into my head out of nowhere. Articles were coming together and writing felt as though it was coming from my heart, not just something I had to do.
The more you write, the better you get, the more passionate you feel. The more passionate you feel, the more you want to write. It's a cycle that breeds not only productivity, but also the kind of practice that makes an excellent writer.
Writing can be many good things to many people. But remember, it is hard work, there's always more to learn, and practice does make perfect. Keep those points in mind and if writing is the desire of your heart, you are sure to be destined for greatness!
The first thing is to remember, especially for those who are just starting out, that writing doesn't always come easy. It's a common misconception to think that the great writers of our time, and even those of our past, simply put pen to paper and wrote great pieces of literature. This isn't so.
Yes, occasionally ideas will pop into your head and it all flows from there. More often an idea will come, but finding the right words is done with great difficulty. Yet at other times you find yourself staring at a blank screen or piece of paper with no ideas or anything.
Good writing takes time, practice and hard work - sometimes many hours of hard work. You can guarantee that a nicely crafted article or book has spent its fair share of time in the revision bin.
Another way to improve your writing may almost seem too good to be true - if you like reading that is. With the fast-paced life that many of us live, it may be hard to carve out extra time for reading, but if you can neither you nor your writing skills will regret it.
Reading goes beyond the obvious learning that you obtain from studying the latest self-help book. What happens is an interesting transformation that can be likened to moving to a new region. When a Northerner moves down South, he takes his own accent and dialect with him. After living down there for a while he begins to take on the Southerner's drawl - without even realizing it.
Reading books helps you absorb styles, ideas that you might not have thought of prior to, and even vocabulary in much the same way as the Northerner absorbs his changes in speech.
In her book Bird By Bird, Anne Lammott says of reading, "What a miracle it is that out of these small, flat, rigid squares of paper unfolds world after world after world, worlds that sing to you, comfort and quiet or excite you. Books help us understand who we are and how we are to behave. They show us what community and friendship mean; they show us how to live and die."
It's these very worlds that she speaks of that broaden our horizons, that give us new insights and perspectives - new understandings to the human emotion, and even ideas for our own stories. Just consider it grist for the mill.
Finally, and perhaps most importantly, one of the best pieces of advice I could give is to write, write, and write some more. The most productive times in my life as a writer have always been when I was writing a lot. Ideas actually were popping into my head out of nowhere. Articles were coming together and writing felt as though it was coming from my heart, not just something I had to do.
The more you write, the better you get, the more passionate you feel. The more passionate you feel, the more you want to write. It's a cycle that breeds not only productivity, but also the kind of practice that makes an excellent writer.
Writing can be many good things to many people. But remember, it is hard work, there's always more to learn, and practice does make perfect. Keep those points in mind and if writing is the desire of your heart, you are sure to be destined for greatness!
Thursday, May 15, 2008
Writing Technique's and Tips
The most avid readers understand the rewards of reading something that touches our senses and flows with the beauty of nature itself. People will return again and again to a writer who knows how to connect with his readers in this manner. Good writing is stylish, and stylish writers are successful.
The exciting thing is that you can accomplish writing style by many different means. The usage of good grammar, how you apply different writing techniques, and plenty of practice all help you create your own unique voice. These are all qualities a stylish writer applies to his writing.
Every Monday I am going to post on the topic of "Stylish Writing." It may be a post about something as simple as common word usage errors, punctuation, or maybe it will be a little more complicated. Whether simple or complex, it is guaranteed to be good information to help you (and me) to become a better writer.
Deep down inside, don't we all want others to read and enjoy our writing? Hope to see you Monday!
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