Tips on Writing

Write first, edit later

Most people write on two levels… a creative level, and a critical level.

Creative level writing happens unconsciously. Your unconscious mind creates powerful words and images, and it creates a dynamic connection with your reader when you let it lead your writing. Unfortunately, creative level writing from your unconscious mind will shut down if your critical mind kicks in too soon.

Critical level writing happens in the conscious mind. This is where editing, grammar, and formatting take place. Of course spelling and good grammar count! However, those things only support vibrant writing. They do not create it.

One key to good writing is to allow your unconscious, creative mind brainstorm images and ideas that will bring your writing to life, and save the critical editing and formatting for the very end.

Make it conversational

Another way to enable a dynamic connection with your reader is to write in the way that you speak. If your tone is conversational, your reader will have the feeling that you wrote “just for them”.

I use word contractions quite a bit when I write. I tend to use words like “don’t” or “shouldn’t” when I speak, and I know that it sounds unfamiliar and awkward to people who know me when I write “do not” or “should not”.

Be ruthless with your writing

Writers tend to fall in love with their own words. It can be painful to eliminate something you’ve written, even if it leads to a clearer idea.

Cutting words from writing should be thought of like pruning in the garden… you’re getting rid of everything that’s dead and unnecessary, and what you’re left with is stronger and more beautiful.

Show, don’t tell

It’s your job as a writer to help your reader to hear, to taste, to see, and to feel what you write. Describing something helps the reader feel like they’re inside of your writing… telling a reader something without describing it will bore them, and they are left unable to relate.

Consider the following examples:

“Joe was sad after he lost his job.”

“Joe slowly walked outside and leaned against the wall. He heaved a sigh and dropped his head into his hands.”

In the first sentence, the only way the reader will relate to Joe’s sadness is if they’ve lost a job themselves. It’s terribly weak, as far as descriptive writing goes. In the second sentence, the readers mind will work differently. They’ll wonder, “What’s the matter with Joe? Oh, I get it. He just got fired.”

Use humor when appropriate

Not everybody will be cracking jokes all day long, but a light touch from time to time lowers a readers guard and may open them to your ideas. Just be careful that your humor is kind and tasteful.