Jeff Brown(7,791) Jeff Brown Inner Projection Log in to become a member of Jeff Brown's Fan Club!
Now, I did say by reading this that you would learn how to write "anything," right? That's a tall order. So you're thinking, "Yeah, right." Well, I'll tell you right now why you should not only read this article but print it out and refer to it often for all the writing you'll ever do. That's right. Ever.
Read on.
When being instructed or informed through an article, you're mostly reading about what someone has read or what someone has done. Of course, if you want to know how to get rich, you'll read the rich person's articles before reading those by someone who has merely read the how-to-get-rich books.
So in order to see why you must keep reading this article, let me tell you what I've "done."
I have read and critiqued more than 100,000 pages from the well over 100 writing classes I've taught. The majority of those classes are at the college level: developmental and transfer composition, critical thinking, critical thinking through literature, technical writing (business memos, letters, etc.) and introduction to literature. I have also written and published hundreds of articles and essays; numerous poems; two books with three in the works (fiction, non-fiction, children); hundreds of jokes for myself and other professional performers, and so forth.
Now you're thinking "La de da. Big deal, Mr. Big Time. Whatever." But hey, I didn't write this to brag . . . OK, I did, but that's an insecurity issue I need to get into with my therapist. The main reason I tell you all the above is to show you that I'm not just some guy giving you recycled material. I've been there, done that.
OK, with that out of the way, let's get into how to write "anything."
In order to write well, you need to start at the top. What does that mean? You need to learn how to write at the most formal level using all the standard rules for grammar, sentence structure, proper pronoun usage, subject / verb agreement, the mechanical, and so on. But that's not all. That's just the technical stuff.
In order to write and write well, you have to read the masters. Who are they? The people who not only write well but, preferably, those you admire.
Don't have any? I'll give you a few suggestions.
Poetry Charles Simic Mark Strand Adrienne Rich Louise Gluck Lucille Clifton Maya Angelou Robert Frost Edgar Allen Poe Russell Edson Wislawa Szymborska Molana Jalal-eDin Runi
Fiction Douglas Adams Tom Robbins Isaac Asimov Hans Christen Anderson Dr. Suess C.S. Lewis Martin Luther King Homer Henry James Jack Kerouc Norman Mailer Stephen King George Orwell Saki J. D. Salinger Jonathan Swift Mark Twain Gore Vidal Kurt Vonnegut Tom Wolfe Oscar Wilde Gabriel Garcia Marquez Isabel Allende Ayn Rand
Of course these aren't exhaustive lists, and they aren't presented to give you the "top authors of all time" list, but rather a few of the best that I have read. If you desire, you may drop by and give me a list of your favorites, as well.
Nevertheless, what do you do with all this reading? Simply sit there with a good cup of jo or tea, relax and enjoy? Nope. Sorry, you're here to do some work to improve your writing. So what specifically do you do?
Read on.
I suggest that you read a poem or a chapter noticing style, rhythm, diction (word choice), syntax (word arrangement), pacing, where paragraphs break, punctuation use, figures of speech (metaphor, simile, personification), and so on.
As you read, notice how the author begins, maintains the theme, and concludes. What is he or she doing to get from point to point. More technically, you can look at the paragraphs to see how the author transitions from one sentence to the next, paragraph to paragraph, section to section. Notice how the author keeps the paragraphs together, keeps them unified: all sentences maintaining the main idea of that group of sentences. Also, take a real close look at how the words are arranged or ordered. Is the author using simple, complex, or compound sentences? Meaning, is she like Hemingway who used mostly simple sentences? Or like many other authors who combine sentences with an occasional coordinating conjunction or subordinate clause. Are the sentences passive or active? And so on.
Now, at this point, many are wondering, what's he saying?
That's a lot of information, so here's a few examples to help clarify.
Passive sentence
The barn was struck by the lightning.
Active sentence The lightning struck the barn.
These two simple sentences are different in that one is more emphatic, gets to the point quicker, and does a better job of keeping the reader's attention. That's right, the active sentence.
To see why you need to use simple, complex, and compound sentences, read the following example.
I woke up. I got out of bed. I took a shower. The water was real hot. I went down stairs and ate breakfast. My mom was late for work.
OK, wake up!
You can see why you not only need to combine sentences and add an occasional phrase and clause here and there but also the need for transitions to keep your paragraphs coherent. Here's the paragraph again.
When I woke that morning, I got out of bed but moved quite slow as I was tired. Jumping in the shower half asleep, it was some time before I noticed the water was quite hot. But it didn't matter because I didn't have time to linger. I was late for work. So I went downstairs for breakfast, which was simply grabbing a banana as I ran out the door. I waved to my mom who was late for work too.
So by adding a variety of sentences (a phrase here and a clause there before and after), some transitions, and a little more detail, you have yourself a pretty well-written paragraph.
But notice the rhythm. The pacing. There are a lot of options, so notice where the phrases are placed, clauses, simple sentences, complex sentences, and so on. Generally, after the writer gets the idea down and covers her bases, so to speak, it comes down to actually looking at words, phrases, clauses, sentences, even punctuation. Some writers will replace a comma with a period. Put it back. Add a phrase. Take it out. Put it back. Combine sentences. Take them apart. And so on. I read about one author who looks at every page TWENTY TIMES! Excessive you say? Sure. But to write well, it takes time and work and dedication.
Bottom line, the best thing you can do is read, read often, and read a variety of writers in a variety of genres. As you read and write, you will begin to notice connections that will aid you in a greater understanding of what you are doing. And the more you understand and are able to adapt what other authors have done to your writing, you will begin to write with greater clarity and power.
But what if you're writing memos for work, articles for article directories, screen plays, emails, essays, and so on. Well, as I said before, you need to know the basics, but that doesn't mean you need to become a grammar scholar. A good place to start is a writer's handbook titled The Everyday Writer (Bedford St. Martins). It contains a section called the "20 Most Common Errors," or errors that will likely give you the most trouble.
Once you get these down, the next step is to read some of the best and get a feel for how they do what they do. You obviously won't be writing like a poet or master of letters all the time, but if you are able to handle the writing basics, how to turn a phrase, pacing, diction, vocabulary, and so on, you will then be able to pull from your pallet what you need for any occasion.
Good luck and good writing.
Jeff is a Motivation, Self-Improvement, and Success expert and can be found at SelfGrowth.com. He has written 100's of essays and articles;over 50 poems; and several books: At Amazon.com, you can find Black Body Radiation and the Ultraviolet Catastrophe, a novel to inspire young adults and the young at heart. For more inspiration, get his collection of poems, To Die at the Age of Man at Lulu dot com. Coming soon: Give and Grow Yourself Rich (July, 2008); Education is a Waste of Time, (early 2009); and a children's novella The Search for Adriana (late 2008). Currently, he teaches writing and owns Inner Projection, a self-improvement business.
» left by Jennifer Cuddy(1,528) Jennifer Cuddy (223 days 17 hours ago.)
excellent recommendations in this. however, i was very disappointed in Norman Mailer's 'The Castle in the Forest'
an awful book.
have you read any of JM Coetzee's work? apologies if i'd missed the name. or how about Richard Wright? he is one of my all time favourite authors. i am currently reading an incredibly well written book called, 'The First American' by HW Brands. amazing write! Respond to this comment
» left by Jeff Brown(7,791) Jeff Brown (223 days 16 hours ago.)
Jennifer,
Mailer is a classic even though I've only read a few of his books, not The Castle in the Forest, though. I haven't read Coetzee of Wrigt but I'll put them on my to do list. So many authors, so little time. Thanks for dropping by! Respond to this comment
» left by Hannah Quinn from Australia (221 days 5 hours ago.)
Jeff, Some excellent advice here. Unfortunately, not all writers are writing from the love or artistry of writing but, alas, to speak, or even spout. You will have come across that in many places, even in the class room of writing courses. Some think it is a light subject, an easy mark and just fun. What a shock for them when they discover there is actually work, real work to be done. Some, though, come to life with it, while others just make token efforts. The one area I've been in both as a student and a teacher, is drama, playwriting. There never seems to be any 'floating wood' in those classes! Not that I've quite figured out why. (Sorry about that last 'fragment.') :)
Cheers, Hannah Respond to this comment
You're oh so right. Lots of pedestrians out there, but that's OK. There are many levels of wrting, and that includes interest levels too, but to write well it's best to start at the top and work your way down. Thanks for dropping by! Respond to this comment
» left by James P Krehbiel(1,456) James P Krehbiel (220 days 17 hours ago.)
Jeff,
I would agree. This is an article that all writers should absorb. Improving our writing skills is an on-going task. Thanks again for a great article. Respond to this comment
Thanks for taking the time to respond. And yes, "on-going" as in never ending. Take care. Respond to this comment
» left by April Lorier(0) April Lorier (186 days 9 hours ago.)
Jeff, this was an excellent how-to article... just perfect for Search Warp! I remember my first college writing class. Boy, it was hard work, but I loved it. And then eventually I encountered Flannery O'Connor! I was genuinely hooked for life! And then MANY years later I read "Wisdom Hunter" by Arthur Randall. His writing was so spectacular, I actually spent weeks typing paragraphs from his book to place in my own writing notebook. I have re-read "Wisdom Hunter" too many times to count, and actually know him personally now. He was very supportive of me in my writing career, giving me solid advice. If you have not read "Wisdom Hunter" I promise you an exciting, suspenseful, and "truth-telling" novel. (I now know that feeling I first had - that it was not really "fiction" - was legit!) Respond to this comment
» left by Jeff Brown(7,791) Jeff Brown (186 days 8 hours ago.)
April, thanks so much for commenting. Yes, we all learn by observing those who come before us. Have a great week.
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