This past year I had the opportunity to study and take a course in writing at Ryerson University in Toronto. The course Worked with various tools, including blogging, to build a portfolio of work and to learn how to become a better writer. While I learned a great deal, here’s a list of the most important things I learned about writing in 20 words or less.
Be Confident
Writing is a very subjective field. Even in an objective sense, there are varying opinions on what makes a good piece of writing and how to go about writing it. One of the most important things I learned is that you shouldn’t be afraid to express your opinion and be confident in your decisions. The more you write, the more you’ll learn and the better you’ll become at expressing yourself. Be confident that your opinion is valuable, whether you’re writing for an academic journal or you’re just writing for your own entertainment.
Learn How To Collaborate
If you’re reading this, I assume you’re also a writer. A lot of what we write is done individually, but there’s a lot to be said for the finished product that’s the result of several minds working together. One of the most important things I learned in my writing class is how to collaborate with others. There are many different types of collaborations, from 1-on-1s with editors to group projects where you work with a team of people to accomplish a task. Be open to new ideas and considerate of the input of others. Learning to collaborate will improve your creative and professional skillsets.
Vary Your Techniques
I mentioned earlier that writing is subjective. This is especially important in the case of narrative nonfiction, like memoirs and biographies. When you write a piece about someone or something that you know well, there’s not really much room for error. Even in the case of an unknown subject, you can still vary your techniques and avoid committing to too many details. This allows you to remain authentic while still constructing a convincing narrative that will engage your reader. Varying your techniques and maintaining a variety of styles will improve your creative and professional skillsets and allow you to reach a wider audience. It also makes your work more flexible since you can add or change content as needed to keep up with the times.
Be Brave
Writing is often considered a “feminine” field. This can lead to women being judged more harshly than their male counterparts for the same mistakes. One of the most important things I learned in my writing class is that I shouldn’t be scared to put myself out there. Even if what you write is bad, you’ll still learn a lot from it. The more you put yourself out there, the better you’ll become at seeing things from new perspectives and being open to criticism. It’s never easy being a writer, but being brave will make you a better one.
Be Careful
This is important for any writer, but it’s especially important for “content creators” like journalists and bloggers. The line between journalism and fiction is getting blurred, and it’s important to remember where you stand as a writer when you’re describing or commenting on current events. I’ve seen a lot of fake news this past year, and it’s really important to be aware of where you stand as a writer when you’re participating in social media. Even if you’re writing fiction, it’s important to keep your subjects mattering. Make sure that what you’re writing is something that people will value and/or benefit from. The alternative is that you could end up harming the very people you’re writing about, and that’s not something to be taken lightly.
Learn How To Use Research
This is one of the most important things I learned in my writing class. Without good research, you have no basis for your work. Even if you’ve written about a subject you’re very familiar with, it’s still essential to do some research to back it up. I was surprised at how much I learned about using research in my work. It wasn’t just limited to looking up names and dates, but also incorporating details about the history of the subject. Incorporating research will make your writing more convincing and allow you to reach a wider audience. It also makes your work more diversified since you’re not just limited to one type of writing.
Learn How To Structure A Sentence
One of the most important skills a writer needs to learn is how to structure a sentence. The way you put words together makes a huge difference in how a sentence is perceived by a reader and also affects the writing process itself. Learning how to structure a sentence will improve your writing and speaking skills and allow you to become more independent. It’s easy to get lost in tiny details when you’re writing, but focusing on the big picture will help you see things more clearly and avoid making the same mistakes over and over. When you come across a word you’ve never heard of, there’s a good chance it’s because you didn’t structure your sentence properly and it ended up meaning something different than what you intended. Learning how to structure a sentence will prevent a lot of confusion and help make your writing process much more efficient.
Learn How To Use All The Tools At Your Disposal
There are many different tools out there that writers can use to improve their efficiency and overall quality of writing. Learning how to use these tools effectively will make your writing easier and more enjoyable. One of the most important tools I learned about is the digital library. A lot of writers and journalists use this tool to do their research. You can also find a lot of specialized vocabularies and other tools that will make your writing more formal and professional. All these tools will allow you to become a more efficient writer and will make your writing process much more enjoyable.
Learn How To Measure The Success Of Your Work
Even if you wrote a bestseller, it doesn’t necessarily mean your work is good. The point of writing is to eventually find an audience and to engage with your readers. The only way to do this is by measuring the success of your work. There are many different ways to measure the success of your writing, from page-view counts to live chat sessions and social media responses. The point is that you need to find a way to measure the success of your work so you can find out where you stand and what you need to work on to improve. Measuring the success of your work will help you become a better writer and will allow you to do more with your writing because you’ll know what you’re capable of. Learning how to measure the success of your work will make you a more independent writer and allow you to determine your own limits and possibilities.
Learn How To Improve In All Aspects Of Life
Writing is a lot of work, and it’s something you need to put a lot of effort into if you want to succeed. One of the most important things I learned about writing is that it’s a never-ending process. You’ll always have something new to learn, whether you’re a seasoned professional or you’re just starting out. There are always new words, new phrases, and new techniques you can learn to improve your efficiency as a writer. Learning how to improve in all aspects of life will make you a better writer and help you become more independent.
Hopefully, you now see writing as a creative and valuable skill you can utilize in many different ways. The more you put into it, the more you’ll get back. Just remember to be confident, be brave, be careful, and be careful. Also, make sure to vary your techniques, learn how to incorporate research, learn how to structure a sentence, and measure the success of your work. Last but not least, make sure to improve in all aspects of life so you can become a better writer – your efficiency, creativity, and overall quality of work will all increase due to consistent practice.