Guidance On Methods Of Writing

A brief introduction:

If you really want to be a good writer, here are some steps you should follow:

1.) Don’t listen to one word I have to say.

2.) well… except step 1.

3.) and 2.

I’ll elaborate on those three, extremely important steps in the contents of this column, and in further articles. If you’re intrigued, read on, please. If you have already figured out that I can’t help you at all, congratulations, you’ve become a better writer.

Article 1: What is really important.

Here’s a truancy: Writing is all about doing what YOU want to do, we write for ourselves first, and our audience second. This isn’t to say that people don’t deserve to critique your writing, they do. Yet, we look at critiquing in the wrong light. When people critique your writing, all their doing here is giving you some ideas, whether they know it or not. They are not improving your writing. It isn’t their creation. They do not know it and understand it like you do.

How can one improve what one does not understand?

Answer that one for me.

If you want to be a good writer, you have to simply sit down and write. Your writing may not ever be any good, but you’ll be good at writing.

“What the hell is he talking about?” you ask. Don’t worry, I’ll explain.

The most common mistake I see people making is one which they are completely oblivious of. This mistake is simply that we do not realize that writing is not something that anyone can say is good or bad. They can not say if it is good or bad because the value of a written piece is nothing more than opinion. People can’t say whether it’s good or bad. They can say whether or not they liked it, but certainly not whether it is good writing. However, most writers do not see this. They write for the approval of others, and that approval only. This is their error.

This, is not the only reason people write, I know, but it is one of the most prominent, yet certainly not the most important. There are many reasons for writing, but four main ones: force, emotion, approval… … and love. Not love for someone else, no that falls under emotion. We are all on this site because we love to write. There’s something in our blood and genes, something beating at our every chromosome declaring in a deafening voice: “GET THESE WORDS DOWN ON PAPER!!”

It is this voice that should be the most listened to reason for writing. This voice declaring your love of writing. If this is the only reason we write for, we will become good writers. Our writing may not be good, but we will be good writers.

“Again with that line, what does that mean?!” You ask, aggravated. I’ll tell you.

We can be good at the action of writing, the method of writing, the process and the heart. Because, really, where does writing start? Not on the paper. It starts within the self, and it is here that the souls of all our words thrives. It is this heart of writing within the self that we must tap, and allow to freely flow forth onto the paper. The words that flow may not be the best ones written, but they will be the one’s most pure, and true to ourselves.

And that is what is most important.

Article 2: A ‘ lesson’ on grammar:

If you’re reading this right now, because you really think that I can help you become a better writer because I am an experienced and knowledgeable writer myself, I want you to leave. Wait, don’t go yet. First, let me tell you why you should leave.

Look at my writing. I’m sure by now you have already noticed some grammatical errors; commas and semi colons misplaced, run on sentences, fragment sentences, incorrect capitalizations. You have? Good, you paid attention in 7th grade. Those worksheets of filling in where the commas go really helped you out, I‘m sure your research papers of old are outstanding. No really, I bet they are. Oh yes, that teacher instilled upon you hours and hours of tedious grammatical work, that molded you into the perfect machine for spitting out proper grammar. Now think about this: 200 years ago, and in England now, “color” is spelt with a “U” in it, like this: colour. Creepy, ain’t it?

Let me tell you something that you’re seventh grade teacher didn’t tell you. Grammar, is nothing more than an accepted way in which people take the English language, not a correct way. Because let’s face it, language is ever changing, and nothing will really be ‘correct’ forever. Centuries ago ‘what’s up’ would be scoffed at and questioned, people would think you’re illiterate. If you were to use it then, you’d look like a fool. In the present, however, it’s a common greeting. The rules of grammar, especially when writing fiction, are nothing more than suggestions. If you want to use a period, instead of a comma, because that’s the way your writing flows. Do it. This is your writing, no one can tell you how to do it. Especially me. So if you want that perfect grammar, because you think it perfectly governs the English language, Use it!

Like I said before, if you think I’m going to be able to help your writing because I’m an experienced and knowledgeable writer, you should probably be leaving by now. Actually, you have probably already noticed that I am not an experienced and knowledgeable writer, and you have left. Good for you, I admire your impeccable eye for frauds. I am not a knowledgeable or experienced writer, I simply have experience with writing things. At least, I like to think that I do. And with this experience, I might be able to share some things that can help us ALL become good writers, both you and I, because we both know, that I’m not a very good writer at all.