Style is vital to any writing project. From poetry to advertising
copy, the choices you make will determine whether people continue
reading, and what reaction they have.
Steps
-
1
Read widely. If you are only exposed to your own
writing, your 'writing world' will narrow considerably. There's no
better tutor than a beloved book that inspires you to write. Explore new
genres and authors as well, to expose yourself to new vocabulary and
new styles of writing.
- Try writing in the style of a certain author as an exercise. Mimicry
can force you to flex new writing muscles, although you should use your
own voice for serious writing projects.
-
2
Learn the rules. Your writing will read more smoothly
if you follow the rules of the English language. If you could improve
in these areas, read our advice on grammar, spelling, and punctuation.
-
3
Choose words carefully. Find descriptive words that
communicate the exact feeling you're going for. If you don't like the
sound of a word, or you aren't sure it's the right choice, think of
synonyms or alternatives.
- Try to avoid overused words, such as "good" and "bad" and "ugly" and
"said." Instead, think about what you're trying to say. Does "good"
mean charming, sunny, lucky, or something else?
- If you have trouble writing vivid descriptions, try a "comparagraph"
exercise. Write a paragraph comparing any two people, objects, or
settings. Try comparing a sunset to jewelry, or a forest to a woman.
-
4
Be clear and concise. Cut every unnecessary word from
your writing. You may prefer lengthy descriptions or flowery language,
but be strict at this stage. Most novice writers use many more words
than necessary.
-
5
Listen to how people speak. To improve your dialogue,
listen to how real people express themselves. How does someone's speech
change when they're angry, sad, or in love? Learn how to reproduce real
speech accurately in print if you ever want your dialogue to sound
natural.
-
6
Make your characters believable. If you're writing
fiction, make your characters sound authentic. A doctor might sound
educated and use obscure medical terms. The patient may just say he is
feeling sick.
- If you're having trouble making characters sound different, give one
of them an accent. An accent is difficult to write convincingly, but it
will make the character seem different.
-
7
Begin and end on a strong sentence if you are writing an essay.
Spend extra time polishing the first and last sentences of each
paragraph in an essay. Aim for a punchy sentence that grabs the reader's
attention. This practice can help improve the first and last sentences
of a short story or novel chapter as well, although you have more room
for stylistic changes.
-
8
Practice. You can read all you want about improving
your writing, but if you don't actually put it into practice, you will
not improve. Try to write every day, or as often as you can. If you keep
putting it off, ask a friend to help keep you on task while she works
on her own project in the same room.
-
9
Edit exhaustively. One famous piece of writers'
advice: kill your darlings. Cut every passage that doesn't fit into the
rest of the work, or that's too personal for other people to appreciate.
Edit for clarity and style as well. Correct mistakes and try out
alternatives until you're satisfied.
- Never be afraid to trash something and start over. Authors have
written and thrown away countless books, usually for good reason. If you
don't feel good about what you wrote, scrap it and start over. The
second (or fifth) version is often better, as you march in knowing the
entire storyline.
- Ask your friends to give feedback. Even people with no writing
experience can identify awkward passages, although you may need to find
the solution yourself.
-
-
- Article From wikihow
Comments
Post a Comment