Summary

The web content provides guidance on how to write effectively, emphasizing clarity of ideas, editing techniques, engaging storytelling, reader-focused proofreading, and targeting the right audience.

Abstract

The article "How to Write Like a Pro" outlines key strategies for effective writing. It begins by stressing the importance of having a clear idea before writing, suggesting that a well-defined concept is foundational to a compelling story. The second point underscores the necessity of editing with an editor's mindset, ensuring that the writing meets word count expectations and adheres to the style of successful writers in the genre. The third piece of advice is to bring the article to life by creating vivid characters or a clear roadmap, depending on the genre, and structuring the narrative with a strong beginning, a well-developed middle, and a satisfying conclusion. The fourth tip is to proofread with the perspective of a reader, which can reveal the need for refinement in storytelling and articulation. Finally, the article advises submitting the work to the appropriate audience to ensure that the story resonates and receives constructive feedback.

Opinions

The author believes that a writer's true happiness lies in the reader's clear understanding and connection to the story.
Writing with the mindset of an editor and reader is crucial for crafting a story that is both engaging and well-articulated.
The article suggests that thinking like a star writer and employing the "fake it till you make it" approach can enhance one's writing performance.
The author emphasizes the importance of a fitting climax and a clear purpose to maintain the audience's interest throughout the story.
Proofreading is seen as a critical step in refining the story and ensuring that it is presented in the best possible light.
Submitting to the right audience is considered essential for receiving valuable feedback and adding value to the reader's experience.

How to Write Like a Pro

Become a star storyteller of your best work

You have great ideas or you have put your ideas into action. Now you want the world to know about it in writing. The idea of penning down those thoughts drives you bonkers.

There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you. ― Maya Angelou, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings

Every writer writes to reach the audience, he or she wants to connect to them. True happiness for a writer is when his or her reader understands their stories clearly and can connect to them. A few tricks and tips could help you become a better writer.

1. A clear idea boosts a great story

You need to know what you are writing about. Having a clear idea kick starts a good article. Either you write for fun, or as a hobby, or to communicate an idea or your work, knowing what you are writing about is crucial.

So, Tap! Tap! Tap! Tap your brain and get your thoughts together. Start filling your blank page with ideas.

It need not be neat or perfect, just needs to be your own idea.

2. Edit with the mindset of an editor

The idea has been pitched onto the page in maybe four or five sentences. Now what? You need to fill the gaps. The next step in the craft would be to set up a target number of words that need to be filled. Every genre, may it be an essay, a short story, or a novel is expected to have a certain word count.

The art of writing is in discovering what a reader wants to read from an author. Every genre on Medium got great articles written by excellent writers. Read them and read more to understand the style of a good writer.

Great writing comes from great thinking. Your ideas can be big or small, but the way you communicate makes a difference. Start thinking as a writer — think you are a star writer already. Ask important questions to yourself. What do readers love to read? Why should your audience love you?

‘Fake it till you make it’ is a popular proverb for a reason. The more you think and work like an expert, the chances are you perform like a pro soon.

“Fake it till you make it”

3. Give life to your article

If you are writing a story, create the characters. If it is a tech essay, create a road-map. If you are writing about life lessons, picture the purpose to the target audience. Use the examples — if and where you can.

A great beginning, narrating where your story might lead the audience is important. You catch the reader’s attention at this stage and lock the audience from here on, to the rest of your story.
The mid-section is where you analyze the situation created in the beginning paragraph and develop the solution. It is important to break your stories into paragraphs as each paragraph can communicate only one idea.
The fitting climax is every audience favorite part. A reader reads your story intending to make sense of something, and leaving loose ends to the story gives your audience the disappointment, no matter how good the rest of the story was. In the climax paragraph, derive the conclusion of the story, and give the morale of the story if possible. It helps readers relate to your thoughts.

End your story appropriately!

4. Proof-read with the mindset of a reader

Once you finish writing, proofread your article. After a story is written with the editor mindset, it is now the time to read the same with the reader's mindset.

Briefly assume it is someone’s article and see to yourself if you like the story. You will be surprised to see how many sentences you have to jiggle to make your story look good. Articulate the story. Add the right headline to your article.

Proofread your Story and ariculate

5. Submit

To the right audience. This step is very important — as important as the effort you put into your writing. If you tell the tree climbing story to a fish, it may never be interested in it and cannot relate to that story. Presenting the story to the proper audience builds constructive criticism to your work and also pose value to the reader.

To recap:

A clear idea boosts a great story
Edit with the mindset of an editor
Give life to your article
Proof-read with the mindset of a reader
Submit to the right audience

You think you can! You think you can! You are doing it... Voila . . . YOU DID IT!!

Thank you for reading! I adore poetry, also admire writing on mindfulness and self-improvement topics. To read more, follow me on Medium or connect on Twitter.

Ash