A lot of people think writing is easy. They believe putting words down on a page will magically turn into beautiful, creative writing. But it takes a lot of work to become a proficient writer. And it certainly doesn’t come naturally.
Many people get discouraged at the beginning, thinking that they won’t be able to write well enough to satisfy an audience. If you’re finding yourself in this situation, it’s time to reevaluate.
There are plenty of opportunities out there for people who want to write. But unless you have a degree in English or creative writing, you’ll probably have to take some time out of your day to learn how to write. That’s a lot of time, especially if you want to write professionally.
You can take a course at a community college or go for a workshop with a professional tutor. Or, you can simply read books on writing and listen to podcasts on the topic. Once you’ve determined that you want to write, you can begin the process of educating yourself about how to do it effectively.
Find Your Style
Before you can start writing anything, you’ll have to decide what kind of writer you want to be. Do you want to be a journalistic writer who sticks to the facts and writes in a straightforward manner? Or do you want to be a creative writer who paints vivid pictures in your head and brings those pictures to life on paper?
If you want to be a creative writer, you’ll need to begin by exploring your passions. Think about things you’re passionate about. Do you love nature walks or going to the theater? Perhaps you have a specific sports team you root for. These are all valid topics for creative writing projects. Don’t worry about what kind of topic you choose first – instead, pick something that resonates with you and that you feel confident enough to write about.
Now that you have your topic, it’s time to start gathering your research. If you’re writing a non-fiction piece, you’ll need to do some serious research to back it up. If you’re writing a narrative piece, however, you don’t need as much research as you would for a historical article. All that you need is a good sense of chronology and an understanding of how the events in the piece unfolded.
Get Inspired
You can’t force creativity. It will not come to you by writing down repetitively or forcing yourself to write. That will only bore you and make you frustrated. Instead, you need to find a way to get inspired. And the best way to do that is by talking to people.
Look beyond your own knowledge base to see what different people have to say about the topic you’re interested in. Talk to people who are more knowledgeable than you are about the subject. Ask them questions. If possible, observe the subject matter in person. Use your resources and access to the internet to gather information.
For instance, if you want to write about fashion, don’t just look at what has already been established in the fashion industry. Instead, talk to independent fashion bloggers to see how they approach the topic. Or, perhaps you’ll want to talk to professional stylists who can help you determine how you should outfit a character based on their personality.
Plan Your Structure
When you’ve got your topic and you’re feeling creative, it’s time to sit down and map out your structure. The way you organize your thoughts and the way you plan your piece will determine the effectiveness of your writing. And, as with any other discipline, there are numerous techniques you can use to improve your skills. Carefully consider your ideas and how you’ll put them down on paper. If possible, write out the whole piece in outline form before you begin writing. This will help you avoid many of the major pitfalls that can stop you from moving forward successfully.
If you’re writing a narrative piece, start by establishing the conflict. This can be something as simple as two warring personalities or it can be something more complex. What is the inciting incident that started the conflict? Why did these people become opposed to each other in the first place? What was the catalyst that started the conflict?
From the very beginning, your narrative should have a clear protagonist and antagonist. Without them, what is the point of the story? Who cares about the characters when the conflict lacks an engaging central point? The conflict in your narrative needs to be focused and intense enough to hold the reader’s attention, but not so much that the character becomes a bit two-dimensional. Your protagonist should be engaging enough that the reader feels a connection to them, but not so much that they’re entirely unlikeable. The antagonist should be the complete opposite of your protagonist. If there isn’t an obvious distinction between the two, maybe you need to redefine what is an antagonist and what is a protagonist. These are not easy tasks, but by identifying and understanding your characters, you give yourself the best shot at creating an engaging story.
Put Your Passion Into It
Writing is a lot of work, and it’s easy for a discipline to become stodgy. But, if you want to become a good writer, you need to put your passion into it. This means utilizing your subject matter creatively. If you’re passionate about fashion, explore the different ways people express themselves through their clothing. If you’re passionate about food, go above and beyond what most restaurants would consider a normal dinner. Write about the restaurants you love to go to or the meals you had when travelling. Get as creative as you can and go against the norm. If you do this, you’ll find that you have a creative outlet that will improve your day to day life. And maybe, one day, you’ll even enjoy the fruits of your creative labor.