Edward Myers - Tips for Writers

Pen Everyone finds writing a challenge in one way or another. This is true of professional writers like me as well as for student writers like you. Here are some tips to make your writing easier:

        Tip #1: Have fun with writing. Explore the possibilities of storytelling. Try experimenting rather than believing that there's only one "right" way to tell a story or write an assignment. You can always back up, start over, and try something else. Especially when using word processing software, you can write one version of a story or report, clone the document, then experiment with the cloned version to try out other possibilities. Sometimes you can discover great ideas just by relaxing, telling your story, and seeing where the words take you.

        Tip #2: Read widely. You can learn a lot about writing by reading other writers' books. I don't mean that you should imitate them, but you can discover what you like and don't like, what works well or doesn't, what amuses you or holds you in suspense. Also, reading other books can save you the trouble of "inventing the wheel"--of doing what you thought was original but wasn't. But reading widely is also simply the best way to get a good sense of the possibilities of language, storytelling, and thinking on paper.

        Tip #3: Observe the world around you. Keep a notebook and take notes on what you see. This effort will help you learn to watch, listen, and think more clearly, and the notes in the notebook can be useful in providing information for writing projects in the future.

        Tip #4: Find a good artistic guide. By this I mean someone--a teacher, a parent, or a friend--who can read what you write and offer their own insights into what you're doing. It's important to find someone who knows something about writing but who doesn't think he or she "knows it all." Every writer (even a professional) needs an editor! The trick is to find someone who's savvy but also supportive—who gives you suggestions but doesn't try to write for you.

        Tip #5: Revise what you write. No one gets it right the first time. Professional writers often rewrite their stories and books over and over and over. Some of the most creative writing occurs in the process of rewriting. Again, computers have made this easy. If you're unsure about one version of what you're writing, clone it and tinker with the copy. You can always go back to an earlier version. If you don't have a computer, save your old drafts.

If you have any questions about writing--whether your writing or mine--feel free to send me e-mail at any time. Just Write to Ed!

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