Writing is still considered to be a passion rather than a full-fledged profession. It is underrated in terms of time and emotional investment that goes into it. Though there are a few writers who earn their living by writing, but many still write while coping with a 9-5 job. Especially in India, there is a very low percentage of writers who can be slotted as full-time writers. Fair enough, writing as a profession still needs to go a long way to be recognised as a decent income earner.
The situation gets worse for the newbie writers who attempt first-time novel writing and then wait for a long time to get the approval from the publishing houses. Many times, lack of decent information and an insight into the writing methodology also causes the writers to land up in a tussle.
Nowadays, becoming a writer is easy. But if you intend to become a good writer, and I don’t imply “a good author”, take note of some handy tips. Becoming a good writer is way more essential than to become a bestselling author. A successful stint as an author comes by when you excel in the art of writing. Now, there are other factors too that count when we talk about the strategies involved in becoming a successful author, but here our focus is primarily on the first stage, i.e. Writing.
Writing is not a rocket science. But to assemble the jumbled up thoughts in a systematic manner and weave a narrative, surely requires some basic understanding.
Following are some of the tips that might come handy if you plan to hone your writing skills.
- To be a good writer, be a good reader
This is no mandate, but the logic behind this is that when you read good stuff, you learn to understand the nuances used. Reading provides an insight into the creativity of the writer’s mind and how to pen down the experience that probably only occur in the imagination of the writer.
- Keep the spell check on
A very important tip. Correct grammar and spelling are a must. Always keep the spell check on while writing. This helps in rectifying the errors then and there only. Nobody likes a messy copy.
- Avoid repetition
Many times we end up using same words at multiple places. This diminishes the appeal of the novel. “Maybe”, “Surprisingly”, “Although”, etc are some of the words that are used commonly throughout the novel. To avoid repetition, use thesaurus. It gives a better clarity to your thought process.
- Introduce the characters in the initial 3- 4 chapters
The character sketch plays a very important role in any novel. The characters should ideally be introduced in the initial first 5 chapters so that the readers are abreast with the role that they would play in the novel later. The impact of the characters in the reader’s mind shall be more prominent. It gives an insight into the plot and builds up the interest of the reader.
- Construction of events
Very often the writer gets lost in a maze of thoughts while penning a novel. This may happen because of the time gap involved, breaks during writing or mood swings. To avoid such incoherence, make a construction of events. This will help you in maintaining the clarity and the direction of the story.
- Use language that is comprehensible
Do not use language that is alien to a lot of people. Try to express in a language that is easily comprehensible. Using words that are difficult, way too sophisticated, lot of vocab and abstract slangs only complicate the flow of the story. Use simple, yet impactful words.
Read on the complete article at;
http://www.halfbakedbeans.in/blog/2016/09/19/10-essential-writing-tips/
Richa Saxena
HBB Content Curator and Blogger