3 Simple Tips for Better Writing
There’s always room for improvement
Do you always just love to write, or do you sometimes freeze in the process?
Even some of the most prolific writers say that there are times when it just seems impossible. At one moment they may find their thoughts flowing like a river onto their document. At other times, they can’t seem to find the right words, and every thought feels like having to break up a block of ice with a pick.
Hard, hard, hard.
Writing content can be that way. When we do this for a living, we can’t wait for a surge of inspiration. We have to be ready “in season and out of season.”
So is there a solution?
Yes. In fact there are several solutions. As with all customs and habits, what works for one might not work for another. Take a look at these ideas, and see what clicks for you.
As writers and entrepreneurs, when we master some of these, we find our river days more and our ice pick days a lot less.
- To Be a Writer, You have to Be a Reader
When you write, you are putting your thoughts down so that another can pick them up. And where do your thoughts come from? From that great reservoir of images, ideas, facts,and figures which you have loaded into your mind.
That’s why it’s great to read what other people have to say. They have ideas which you have never encountered. New information about their living conditions and their experiences. New insights. New sensitivities.
But now you get to add those to your own. Your reservoir is expanding.
My husband is an organic chemist, and, as such, has information which I haven’t encountered.
One day, as we were out walking and observing nature, he made some comments about the clouds.
He said, “Do you realize that those clouds, when they get heavy with rain, weigh many tons? If all of that water poured out on us at once, we would be killed by the blow. It would be like loaded boxcars falling on our heads.
“But instead, the rain comes down in drops, waters our crops, and replenishes our rivers.”
What a thought! I added this to my reservoir of ideas, and have used this in my writing several times. (Hey. I just did, didn’t I)?
Anthing you read is like that. Sometimes I will remember concepts and stories which I read about 15 or 20 years ago. They are in that catalogue in my mind, and as I am writing, they can pop up when I need them.
- To Be a Writer, You Have to Be an Observer
Another way we load our idea reservoirs is by observing people and things around us.
When it comes to people, what makes them tick? What are their aspirations? Their hurts? Their pleasures?
And why are they that way?
When you travel around from place to place, you will pick up on major differences in thought and custom.
The first time we went to Ukraine, we were looking at some travel tips for the area. One of the tips was not to say, “How are you?” when greeting people. According to this person, if you said that in Ukraine, people would think you really wanted to know all of the details of what’s been happening.
They would then begin to tell you about their aunts, uncles, and cousins. If you attempted to change the subject, they would then think that you were rude. After all, they were just answering your question.
I have to admit, I ask “how are you?”without thinking, and continued to ask it in Kiev. More than likely our interpreters helped us out and saved our reputation.
Back to the point… In making observations such as these, your writing gets better. It connects with your audience.
One way to enhance your observing ability is to look at a picture, and think of an article to go with that photo.
You might go to pixabay.com or look online for photos. It’s best if you grab a random photo. One out of your area of expertise — or interest.
Begin to think of an article you might write to go with that picture. It’s really amazing the way your imagination kicks in and you get flooded with ideas.
- To Be a Good Writer, You Have to Be a Writer
What?!! That doesn’t make sense.
Oh, yes it does.
Practice is what develops every skill. Writing is no different.
Writing is a craft. And the more you write, the more you will notice which changes you can make.
I thnk back to my first book.
You see, up until that point, I absolutely did not think of myself as a writer. I had something which I felt like would help other people, and wanted to share it. So I did.
After that book was published, my daughter mentioned that I was a writer. I said, “Oh no. I’m not a writer. I just had some thoughts — like I was talking — and wanted to put them down.”
My daughter laughed. “That’s a writer.” I guess it is…
Now that I write more, I find that practice is really important. I personally like to write something almost every day. Sometimes it’s nothing I would publish, but other times I discover some new ideas and go with them on all of my platforms.
I’ll close with this experience. It’s about putting the observation and the everyday writing together.
I was trying to do both. Observe things around me — and write.
When I first started to write everyday, I was determined to carry it through.
We were leaving to go to Europe, and it dawned on me that I needed a new passport. Uh-oh. No time to do the mail-in version. I needed to go stand in the long line to expedite the process.
As I approached the line, and realized that it was a looong, slooow line, my heart sank. No writing today.
But wait just a minute. I decided to look around and observe what I saw.
So, as I looked at the array of people in the line for passports, and as I started some conversations with them, I was flooded with things to say.
In fact, the blog post I wrote from those observations became one of my favorites. I had more comments than usual.
Just from observing and writing — every day.
So there you have it. Three major identities you must have as a good writer. You must be a reader, an observer, and an all-the-time writer.
As you read or observe something noteworthy, take notes. You’ll find ideas coming to you all the time. Ideas which can be helpful in your mission.
When you live like this, you will never have “writers’ block” for long.