I belong to the 'learn writing by writing' school. The more you write the better you get at it. This leads, somewhat logically, to the idea that writing anything is good practice. And that's true. Almost.
Writing letters, blogs (duh!), journals, ads, reviews, even fan fiction can help you hone your writing skills. But not if you are just writing willy nilly. You have to be writing your best. Don't just cram words on a page, supposing that it will help you improve. Work at it. Select the right word. Polish the phrase so that it turns gracefully, or with force. If you're telling an anecdote about something that happened to you, enliven it with dialogue, capture the sound of the interaction and help your reader be in the moment. If you can't put the picture of the event in their head, what is the point of sharing the story?
Put another way, make this an exercise that really works your writing muscles; don't just mess around with words. If you do your best at any writing you do, personal or professional, you will be more satisfied and proud of the result and you will do better.
1 comments:
Thanks, excellent advise. I have always enjoyed writing and usually do it straight from the heart but don't always like going back and changing what I have put down. But, I do see the value of "polishing the phrase/word". My first novel is in progress and I am looking forward to going over it with a fine tooth comb and making it come alive.
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