10 Tips to become a successful writer
One understands that writing demands special attention to details and, foremost, an academic background. However, this is false unless your intention is to pursue a career in journalism or research. At least, knowing how to read and write is obviously the basics of this beautiful art.
You don’t become a writer; you are already one. We all are. Nowadays, we are always writing something: a message, an email, grocery lists, and so on. When we talk about creative writing, the approach is a bit different since we seek to express ourselves through a channel that is not used quite as often. Therefore, to explore this amazing writing activity as creative, we are going to leave here 10 tips to help you to be the writer you have always dreamed of:
Be honest
It is the first and probably the most important thing to keep in mind when it comes to writing and life. One must be brutally honest about the things we want to talk about. Of course, this doesn’t mean that you are going to insult the world or deeply describe a landscape. It means, perhaps, that your approach could be subtle and gentle, while at the same time, your words have enough strength to convey the message and inform your reader about the importance of the topic.
Use dictionaries
To write means to use the vast cosmos of vocabulary. But using strange and old words is not always the right way to deliver a proper message, whether it's a poem, a story, or a novel. Dictionaries are there to help you be precise with whatever you want to discuss. The use of words helps us describe perfectly, without ambiguity, the colors of a sunset; the expression of feelings towards someone or something; or the narration of an interesting and exciting activity like the uplifting hug of a bee with its flower. In the other hand, if you speak several languages, you can use translate dictionaries to find the correct word from one language to another — be careful, Latin languages have false friends, so verify always the meaning of concepts in each language before use them in your text.
Use synonyms
Nevertheless, a proper text needs to have an extravagant use of words. Hence, synonyms exist to enrich our texts by saying the same thing in multiple ways, like looking at a cube from every angle, each with its own word, concept. It involves playing with words, finding a rhythm, and creating the fluidity that keeps the readers' attention completely engaged.
Read, read, read
It is very important that you read a lot, but consciously. Even if you read ten hours per day but don’t understand what you read, your insights will be shallowed and biased. The recommendation, then, is to read what you love and also explore different points of view so you can have useful and crossed information in your brain. What comes afterward? All that reading becomes a huge data store that you will visit every time you start the writing exercise.
Write; write, write
If reading is the key, then writing is the keyhole. But what is it that you want to write? There you have a blank page waiting for you to take the initiative. Sometimes it is good to carry a notebook and a pen with you, so your writing exercise can be done wherever and whenever it’s needed. Moreover, be authentic, don’t reply what others have said in the past for it is for you to give us your insight.
See what other artists are doing for inspiration
Be careful, this doesn’t mean that you are going to commit plagiarism. What is proposed is that you activate your inspiration by seeing what other artists like you are doing or not doing. There is always something to innovate, something new to show, or a taboo topic to discuss…
Write about what you want to express
What is it that you want to express? Feelings, discontents, current events… The cosmos is a vast universe of topics. Write about things you truly know, questions you have been wondering about during your life, or current contexts you wish to discuss because it is important to convey a message, such as social inequality, discrimination, climate change…
Try different types of writing
There are many kinds of writing. Each language provides you with a way to express yourself through its rules. In creative writing, you have the freedom to use words as you please. Sometimes, automatic writing is useful if you have a blockage or a lack of inspiration. You can throw out thoughts and later arrange them into logical ideas. The important thing is to feel the freedom to write. Your style will develop over time when you start feeling that this is the way for you. However, like any art, accept the fluidity of changes and never stick to one thing if it doesn’t give you what you need most—the will to never stop writing.
Sometimes being ruleless is helpful
Written languages have a lot of grammar and syntax rules. Yes, we need to keep them in mind in order to produce something readable and understandable, but also play with them. The most influential writers have done this and didn’t pay too much attention to language dictators because it is easy for critics to criticize, yet extremely hard to write a powerful poem or a deep philosophical and romantic novel. Therefore, writing should be your playground with your own rules!
Don’t be afraid to show your work
Many hidden artists who have amazing writing skills often harbor a deep fear of showing their work due to judgment and criticism from others. Of course, it is not easy to expose our vulnerability, but art is about expression, and someone will appreciate what you create. Remember, you are not doing it to become famous; you are doing it because you contribute to the expression of human culture. There is no greater reward than contributing to human civilization; everything else follows, or not.
