New To Writing? Here Are Some Tips To Help You

Becoming a writer is easy nowadays, with the increase in online content, blogging and other social media platforms. Here are some tips for new writers.

Writing is a great idea to enhance our sense of expression and confidence. It is an opportunity to share one’s thoughts, opinions, advice, and experiences to the world closely connected via those digital gadgets in our pockets.

Writing can help you to establish an identity. Today, writing is no more a nerd’s job, but a choice for anyone who is looking for creating an individual space for oneself!

If you are a new writer, here are the answers to overcome those common confusions you face as you start your journey!

What do I need to begin with?

Useful and fresh content is a must. Entertainment, knowledge, advice, personal experience, hacks– anything that you offer has to have a freshness in it.

You could use same old data, but with new statistical updates or a different visual presentation style such as infographics, charts, slideshow etc. Always remember to mention the source of information.

Going forward, we will also discuss more about the sources you can use in the ideation process.

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I have the idea/topic ready. What next?

The approach is everything. To convert a content idea into a successful story, use a ‘first-thing-first’ approach. Once you decide on what to write, document a rough chart to structure the basic flow. Finalize the plot to make writing an easy and enjoyable process.

Do research and list down key points and sub-points. Plus, search out backup data, facts, figures etc. to support your points.

The title is a one-liner precis-writing for your work.

How can I become precise?

Make use of appropriate words. Focus on grammar. Go reasonable in terms of expressions and length. Retain readers’ excitement all the way through by using a flawless and practical presentation.

And remember that it is not always necessary and even possible to accommodate each of your thoughts. Too much of stuffing ruins the taste of food. Likewise, too much of content ruins the subject focus.

I take too long to pen it down!

Mostly, this happens due to the inability to structure the scattered thoughts. If you have the same problem, use a reader’s logic to structure your random thoughts.

Another reason could be a constant urge of bringing in the best, which directs us to edit the same part of the work over and again. This habit results in the waste of time, scattered focus, and an unwanted procrastination.

To avoid this, allocate time to each topic and try to maintain it. Decide on how much description is required by each topic to make it lucid and interesting.

I want to make my writing more realistic!

Be an author 24X7. Yes, the key to writing well is to research well. Being a good writer means that you are a keen observer of your surroundings, events, ideas and human expressions. This will come handy when you need to elaborate, visualize or describe the scenario. With observation, you can also develop ideas and topics on which to write.

Fiction aside, most pieces of writing, especially conversational write-ups focus on real life elements and stories to associate with the readers. Learn to connect ‘what you have to say’ with ‘what they want to hear’!

‘Margin of adjustment’

Every time, writing might not go as a planned process. That perfect document sometimes requires you to make adjustments in terms of structure, tone, presentation or the subject itself. The last one happens rarely but the rest of them, many times, are subject to change over the course of writing.

Why? Because ideas are inevitable and there is no harm to adhere a better idea which appeared half the way through, if it helps you better explain and represent your point. Therefore, it is always wise to keep a margin of adjustments to encompass new ideas and changes easily.

Check and proof?

No escape here. Grammar is essential to any language, even more than the vocabulary. Keep checking the tone and message time-to-time and if possible, remove those unnecessary and distracting descriptions to emphasize more on the actual punch you wish to throw up. You must become a human version of spellcheck.

Often, during the final review, we realize some parts of the writing being less relevant to the broad subject but hesitate to remove it only because it is our own good work. To resolve this dilemma, avoid reviewing the content as soon as you finish it. Rather, review it after a fair gap of time with a clear, unbiased and objective eye. Omit repetitive statements. Brush up the tone. Add more fun, fuss and form, as needed.

It is always better to get your work checked and judged by a third person, to receive fresh outlook and feedback, with better chances of improvement.

How to generate more ideas or concepts continuously?

The creative minds are always on auto-pilot mode for ideation process. Your everyday observations are the most important source for finding new topics to write about. This apart, there are many opportunities you should smartly use to storm your brains with ideas:

• Have a discussion with your buddies or colleagues during tea or lunch time at the office and ask what they think on a particular topic. You might end up having the best of ideation output. It also helps to build up additional content and opinions relevant to the final work. Your social and/or professional network could be your primary audience and so, their feedback and opinions matter the most to create a strong impact and appeal in your work.
• Develop a habit of discussing a variety of subjects with people from different walks of life, so that you can learn and bring in diverse perspectives to relate with different audiences. You can do this while shopping, during waiting for that commute train, during travel, during an informal chat with relatives and guests at social functions, etc. This habit will help you a lot if you are planning to write something big for the public in general.

What time is the best time for writing?

There is no best time anywhere prescribed for the best thing to happen. However, it is very important to note down key points whenever they arise. Just don’t let those little sparks skip your minds, as once they are gone, it is difficult to receive them with the same intensity or formation. This is especially true for some wordy dialogues or monologues.

How can I promote my work?

Use all social channels you are connected with. If you are writing for an online source, consider how to prepare a keywords-based writing. Improve your work based on search engine indexing, titles, links, sub-links and other important factors.

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Image source: writing in a notebook by Shutterstock.

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