One of the biggest problems that inexperienced writers have is simply knowing how to get started. If you've unsure of your writing skills, then here are some quick tips to help you get started.
1. Get yourself a thesaurus-or better yet, two of them. These can be tremendously helpful tools when you're struggling to find the right word. A thesaurus is no substitute for a solid vocabulary, but it is still helpful in a pinch.
2. Avoid using the same word too frequently. This can make one's work sound repetitive. Again, a good thesaurus can be helpful in this regard.
3. Keep your sentences fairly short, since longer sentences can sound unwieldy. I've found that 17 words or fewer is a good guideline. Do remember that this is just a guideline, though.
4. Even as you keep the sentences short, make sure that they flow together well. Sometimes, unskilled writers will simply chop longer sentences up into shorter segments that don't blend together smoothly. If in doubt, try rephrasing the sentences or adding the proper connective phrases (e.g. "then," "so," "as a result").
5. Get a copy of "The Elements of Style" by Strunk and White. It's a short book, but incredibly helpful. There is no better reference for aspiring writers.
6. Don't rely too much on your word processor's grammar checking features. They can be quite impressive, but their capabilities are still quite limited. Spelling checkers are also limited in their capabilities, since they cannot recognize a lot of proper names and technical terms. In addition, spell checkers cannot detect situations wherein the user has entered the wrong word in place of the proper one.
7. Proofread, proofread and proofread? over and over. When you're done, have a friend proofread your work as well.
8. Remember your target audience. Ask yourself, "What information will my audience require in order to understand what I'm saying?"
9. Avoid clever wordplay unless you're sure that it will work. In most cases, it is best to gain more writing experience before trying something witty.
10. Remember the artists adage, "Practice, practice, practice"? If you want to become good at writing, then write, write and write!
About the Author:
V. Berba Velasco Jr., Ph.D. is a senior electrical and software engineer at Cellular Technology Ltd (http://www.immunospot.com, http://www.immunospot.com, http://www.immunospot.com) where he also has various technical writing duties.
executive chauffeured services Bradford .. Madison to Airport carDon't they drive you nuts?You can visit all the rules... Read More
Writing is a muscle that needs exercise to stay in... Read More
Everybody knows writing a story is not easy. Like the... Read More
What a wonderful resource the Internet is!Students find information to... Read More
1. What Is A Premise?A premise is the point you... Read More
FIVE MINUTES ... Is All You Need ........to phone a... Read More
You may wonder why I have chosen this title of... Read More
Great writing transports one vicariously to realms that the reader... Read More
The first step in the writing process is to put... Read More
While novels do not usually attempt to convey concepts about... Read More
Traditionally, business writing uses the "one thing after another" format,... Read More
Do you consider yourself a storyteller? Do you consider yourself... Read More
Is there a book inside of you? Yes? Then why... Read More
What to do when you get rejected.You've just finished your... Read More
Written communication is often the first impression you make on... Read More
Have you given up on getting your book out of... Read More
I'm willing to bet that quite a number of you... Read More
How to Start Your Story with a BangThe purpose of... Read More
Recently, I was hunting for a book that would simply... Read More
Since the headline is the first contact your readers have... Read More
We all need a cheer squad.We all need people to... Read More
Have you ever written a letter to a friend? Ever... Read More
Freelance writer STANLEY BURKHARDT has a passion for animals. He... Read More
Productivity begins by recognizing and valuing your brilliance, time, and... Read More
He ran up the steps and knocked on the door.... Read More
O'Hare Chicago prom limo ..Many of us dream of writing a book. Why not.... Read More
The tiniest things can be so useful when you come... Read More
My Dad has this old joke that goes, "What's the... Read More
All writers should use a plan whether written or reflected.... Read More
Do you want to publish something? An article, a non-fiction... Read More
What a lack of research could do to you.When creating... Read More
How to get a lot of traffic to your website... Read More
People want information, they want it quick, frequently in short... Read More
Although he has his own website, John Grisham probably does... Read More
I have added a new word to my vocabulary. Logorrhea.... Read More
Complaint letters aren't always fun, but sometimes they need to... Read More
So you want to be a successful author? You want... Read More
Traditionally, business writing uses the "one thing after another" format,... Read More
Ever wonder what an author's life is like? What that... Read More
First, let's tackle the question that is uppermost in many... Read More
You have just completed a draft of an article. It... Read More
There is an image most people carry of the artist... Read More
Take out a white piece of paper and place it... Read More
Word processors are so widely used now that I tend... Read More
What a wonderful resource the Internet is!Students find information to... Read More
Each author has special editing needs. To save yourself time... Read More
Do you know what a query letter is? If so,... Read More
A writer can never be self indulgent whether writing fiction,... Read More
To write books for readers at an elementary reading level... Read More
All your publishing options are as follows:--Conventional publishing--Vanity or subsidy... Read More
Writing |