1. Read...Read...Read...:
Extensive reading is the key of effective
writing. In the first stage of reading, read whatever you get. After developing
a firm reading habit. At a stage you will start recognizing what is your
special interest in reading, like mine is detective stories in fiction and
autobiographies in non-fiction. You will learn about your reading interests and
start recognizing your writing interests. Extensive Reading is a must for every
writer.
2. Decide your writing genre:
After an extensive
reading and exploring the subjects you will know what you want to write about.
Like I prefer writing Memoirs and How to. Know your favourite writing genre Here.
3. Write…write…write:
Like extensive
reading in the first stage, now in this stage you have to write extensively.
Set a time everyday especially for writing, I prefer bedtime. Set you timer for
10 minutes or 15 minutes and then start free writing, just write. It will help you
in building your confidence in writing.
4. Set your inspiration:
Explore an author
of your genre, read him, follow his pattern and learn from his writings. Just
follow his each step he does in his writing. If you feel that the author you
are currently following does not fulfils your criteria, then change the author
and start following another author, better suits your requirements. Just jot
down every point you liked about all the authors you followed. This will help
you in discovering your special pattern of writing.
5. Set time everyday for writing:
In the
busy schedule of everyday life, no one gets special time for writing. So, take
your writing tools wherever you go. If you read a book, jot down your favorite
quotes, sentences, ideas etc from that book. If you go to a park and see an
interesting banner, note down the quote. If you are talking to someone, he says
something interesting, or your own thoughts, write it down. Use your mobile
phone for writing them and at the end of the day write them down on your
writing copy date wise. Now you can use them whenever you need. It will help
you in coping writer’s block.
6. Follow your heart:
In the first stage of
writing you need not to follow the basic rules of grammars nor attractive adjectives.
Just don’t forget in the first stage of writing you are writing for you own self.
So just write what you want. Each one of us is a wonderful thinker, but only some
of us masters the skill of recording them on our writings.
7. Write for websites:
Write for websites
like wikipedia or wikihow. Because such websites motivates writing, they have
team to rectify your mistakes, they give you tips to improve your writing.
8. Join a writing club:
Becoming member at writers’ club will help you to be surrounded by
like minded people. Senior club members having better writing skills will help
you in reviewing your articles and give you tips for improving your writings. Example: www.writerscafe.org/
9. Subscribe for writing newsletters:
Subscribe for writing newsletters. You will learn important
many things you can adopt in your writing.
10. Reading group:
If possible form a
reading group to read your articles. Readers’ group consist of writers of same
lever as you are in. Each member of the group reads others’ article loud among
the group; each member make notes on the article and later discusses it to improve
the article.
Hope that helps, as it helped me.
--
Umm Umar
