Becoming a Better Writer (If it Kills You)
Posted by Beth Hrusch on Sun, Jul 26, 2009
Let's get something straight. Writing should not be painful. It should not make you want to cry, scream or kill yourself. If the thought of having to write evokes these feelings, you probably need an intervention. Maybe some tough love is in order.
Writing phobia is so prevalent that it could probably be considered an epidemic. Some people hate writing so much that they hire professionals to do it for them. For which I am secretly glad (but that doesn't get you off the hook).
You probably want me to tell you that it's OK, it's not your fault and that your evil third grade English teacher is to blame. Well, I have a better idea. Instead of enabling you, I'm going to set you up with a five-step treatment program. Want to become a better writer? Here's how:
1. Adjust your attitude- You are no longer in school, so it's time to quit thinking of writing as homework. Writing is an enjoyable activity. Feel free to frame this and put it on the wall. Begin with topics that interest you. Start a blog where you share your thoughts or talk about your hobby. Write articles about your field of expertise. Tell stories. People love stories. If you write about what interests you, then you will naturally want to start writing more, which leads to...
2. Practice, practice- There is no substitute. But be warned, once you start enjoying the writing process, you may become addicted. It's actually a good problem to have; however, if your incessant writing interferes with your personal life, you will need another intervention. So use common sense here.
3. Edit as necessary- A common aspect of writing phobia is the belief that the product of your efforts must be perfect every time. Again, we aren't being graded here, and while everything you write should be your best work, fear of flaws should never prevent you from writing. Here's a tip: write a draft, take a break from it, then revisit it later. Edit as necessary but don't fuss over it.
4. Tighten it up- Once you realize that writing is awesome and fun, you will suddenly be overwhelmed with the urge to pour out your thoughts in a never-ending stream to anyone who will listen. Resist the urge. Anything you have to say can be said in fewer words than you think. We call it "tightening up", and it means being clear, concise and to the point. A great time to take care of those pesky extra words is in step 3 of the treatment program.
5. Check your skills- Grammar and spelling are important, so if you aren't confident in these areas, get some help. There are many online resources that can assist you in boning up on your grammar skills. Or, just crack open your old college writing class textbook. It's not the fun part of writing, but once you improve these skills you will start producing work that is a joy to read.
One more thing- let your personality come through in your writing. Just like in real life, being anything but yourself comes across as, well, phony. OK, my work here is done. Now, go out into the world and write!