To Be Or Not To Be An Effective Writer

To Be Or Not To Be An Effective Writer

            There is no other way of stating this plain truth: Effective writing takes time and effort. The single most important thing to remember is not to procrastinate when faced with a writing assignment. That being said, here are some other valuable suggestions to think about while you write.

1.     Allow yourself time to explore different topics unless a particular line of thought is demanded of you. Follow any and all ideas that come to mind by putting them down on paper or on some document on your computer. It is not unusual for writers to wake from their sleep or jump out of the shower to jot ideas down to recall at a later date. The more details that you can associate with that idea, the better. Write them all down.

2.     Understand the audience to whom you are addressing. Most of the writing during these next six years or so will be for a teacher. But perhaps you will want to write for the school newspaper. Your tone of voice and the language you should use should connect with your readers and what they already know about the subject. In other words, you can use big, fancy, multisyllabic words in essays to impress your teacher, but a much more simple choice of words is more appropriate for addressing your peers. By the way understand the meaning of those fancy words you use. Your teacher just might ask you what they mean.

3.     Make sure you know what you are writing about so your readers feel comfortable in the knowledge you present to them. The use of “fluff” or unnecessary vocabulary is not ever needed to impress or persuade in most cases.

4.     In order to connect with your readers you need to first connect with yourself. If you don’t believe what you have written then chances are neither will your audience. Therefore, write accurately, state what you believe to be true, and say it in your own voice and in your own language.

5.     Seldom are first drafts final drafts, unless you have waited too long to start an assignment. Don’t be dismayed if you feel like ripping up your paper or deleting your document. Go ahead and give it to the dog to eat if you don’t like what you have written. Then get up and take a walk, shoot hoops, get your blood circulating to increase blood flow to the brain and to relax your muscles. Who knows, you might have an epiphany! Better look up the meaning for this word. It just might be on your next vocab test. (hint, hint).

6.     If you are writing an argument for or against an issue of concern, see if you can argue against the points you have presented. Play the devil’s advocate. If your words can be trusted and sound logical,  your argument is well prepared.

7.     Refrain from ”feely” words such as “I believe” or “I feel” when stating facts or making an argument. Your readers really don’t care about how you feel; they care about the facts.

8.     Last, and second only to not procrastinating, when you are finished with a writing assignment read your work out loud to yourself. You will be surprised at how many little grammatical mistakes, key word omissions, and sentences that just don’t make sense you discover.  Then, have someone else you trust to honestly and constructively critique your work read your writing. After all, you are writing for someone else in the first place. See what they think. And it’s okay not to change anything in your paper if you are comfortable with what you have written. Writing is a personal experience, and you own what you write.

The suggestions are not unique to my own writing process, but rather an accumulation of

insights and advice gathered from seasoned, successful educators and writers. Refer to this list often and you will find your writing improving by leaps and bounds.

Ms. Kausen