When you write, you’re not just writing. You’re also critiquing, editing, and revising. And, while you’re doing all of that, you’re also learning. In this article, we’ll discuss the many things you learn from writing. It won’t be easy, but you’ll come out a better writer for it.
Critique And Edit Your Work
Perhaps the most important thing you learn from writing is how to critique and edit your work. When you’re writing, you’re constantly observing yourself and your work. You see your errors and gaps in knowledge and are able to fill them in. In a way, you’re always editing and critiquing yourself as you write.
As a writer, this is a skill you need to develop. If you’re unable to recognize and correct your errors as you go, you’ll never become perfect. And, while perfection is highly overrated, having the ability to improve your work and recognize your mistakes is invaluable. In the same way a photographer can learn from his mistakes as well as the good shots, the same goes for a writer. You can’t always tell when a piece is going to turn out well or badly until you’ve finished writing it. So, it’s important to be able to go back and change something, if necessary.
How To Organize And Maintain A Routine
Writing is a lot of work, so it’s important to make sure you have everything you need to be able to do it. With a lot of different variables in life, it can be difficult to have a routine that works perfectly every time. But, with writing, you have the opportunity to build one that is both effective and efficient.
When you write, you’re often faced with a blank page. But, rather than feeling deflated, you should feel inspired. Instead of seeing the blank page as a problem, see it as an opportunity to create something wonderful.
Building a routine around your writing can be difficult. So, here are a few tips to get you started.
Set Up Regular Writing Blocks
If you want to become the best writer you can be, you have to set up regular blocks of time for it. There are no shortcuts to becoming a good writer, but you can put in the necessary hours to learn the skill. Instead of trying to fit it in around your existing schedule, carve out blocks of time in your planner specifically for writing. This will help you prioritize it in a way that makes sense to you.
Create A Space That Is Relaxing
To write, you need a space that is free from distraction. This could be a room in your house, a quiet corner of a café, or even a park. Make sure that the space is somewhere that you can concentrate and be undisturbed. If you can’t write in peace, then you’ll never be able to produce exceptional work.
Take Notes
Writing from notes is very different from the ordinary process of creation. It requires a lot more planning and organization, but it can also enhance your overall creativity. There are a few different ways you can take notes while you write. You can make extensive use of sticky notes, you can use a dedicated notebook, or you can use a pen and paper. Your choice here will largely depend on your existing setup or the kind of material you’re writing.
Learn How To Structure A Story
When you write, you’re usually putting words onto a page in a manner that makes logical sense and has some degree of coherence. However, stories, by their very nature, are incoherent. They make no sense if you’re following them in a purely logical manner. Instead, you have to allow for a certain internal consistency while also keeping the story moving forward with purpose and interest. To do this, you have to learn how to structure a story.
Structure is vital in any form of writing, but it’s even more important in narratives. The reason being that stories are meant to be consumed and engaged with by readers. So, if you want your readers to fully understand and appreciate the story you’re telling them, you need to have an effective structure in place.
For the best chances of your story being both effective and interesting, you want to avoid anything that can be labeled as a plot hole. A plot hole is something that happens in a story where something goes missing that is vital to the story. When this happens, it creates an inconsistency that, as a reader, you have to work hard to unravel. So, if you want to avoid this, then you need to be extremely careful about the way you structure your story. This brings us to the next point.
Know Your Characters
Another important thing you learn from writing is how to know your characters. This is especially important if you’re writing a novel, where you have numerous characters to contend with, but it also goes for any sort of short story. You need to know what motivates each character and how they fit into the larger story you’re telling. The more you know about your characters, the better you’ll be able to write them effectively.
Every character you’ve ever read or seen in a movie or TV show is some sort of human being. While we don’t always know exactly what makes them tick, we do know that they’re all, in one way or another, flawed. This means you, as a writer, will have to commit to a certain amount of character development before you start writing. The more you know about your characters, the more you’ll be able to write them with nuance and depth. And, the better they’ll be able to tell your story.
Revision Is More Important Than First Draft
When you write, you’re continually revising and editing. The first draft is only the beginning and there’s a lot more to come. While it’s extremely important to get your ideas down on paper, it’s also important to be able to go back and change things. Sometimes, a lot of changing is necessary. You may need to remove characters or scenes that don’t work or add new ones that do. It’s important to be able to go back and forth between the original draft and the final version, as numerous times, something will be better in the final product than you originally imagined.
The main point here is that, as you go along, you’ll learn things that you didn’t know about your story. There will be things you discover about it that you didn’t see clearly until later. This is why it’s important to go back and revise, even years after you’ve written the initial draft. With each new revision, you’ll see something new that you didn’t see before, and it’ll make you a better, more effective writer. You never stop learning as a writer.
Use This Special Gift
Writing is a gift. It is a gift that not every person is fortunate enough to receive. So, instead of letting this gift go to waste, you should be thankful and use it to the best of your ability. Don’t be afraid to sit down and put your thoughts on paper. Remember, there is no wrong way to write. Everyone has something to say, and they all deserve to be heard. So, instead of getting upset because there is something you cannot do, get excited because you have an opportunity to learn something new.
There are many things you’ll learn from writing. There are things you’ll learn about yourself, about life, and about how to express your thoughts and feelings. So, be proud that you have this special talent. Instead of worrying about what you cannot do, work hard to achieve your full potential. You’ll become a much better writer for it.