Write texts and improve writing style
In a comment to my book tip? Glass lock? I was asked if I could give some tips on writing. That made me very happy, it shows that my way of writing seems to be pleasing. At the same time, it poses a problem for me: How do you explain an individual as well as creative process? Nevertheless I want to try to give you an insight, which helped me to develop my own style of writing. Because that's what I think ultimately: to find the individual expression.
Reading as a basis
Once man has learned to read, he can not do otherwise. In other words, the ability to read automatically requires reading. No one can look at something written in his own language without automatically grasping the meaning. This works even under difficult conditions, as the following line proves:
Sogareinsatzohneleerzeichenkannnochgelesenwerden.
I taught myself to read at the age of four using a "Bussi Bear" reading book. Since then, so for 46 years now, I mercilessly read everything that comes my way. Of course, there is occasionally also scrap, but that's a good thing. Ultimately it is this scrap that shows you: That's not how it should be done. And who gives you a motivating feeling on the side, but I can do that better? I then draw the mental red pencil, stroke or through, correct, and make marginal notes. Mind you. By reading this analytical way one learns to distinguish the good from the bad.
When I read the book of a prolific writer like John Irving or T.C. Reading Boyle can either spur or discourage me. I decided to go for it and always say to myself, I want to be that good, too? instead of? I'll never be that good. It's not that these great authors have more words than me. They are only better at putting them in the right order.
Not without reason do I devote so much space to the topic of reading here? Reading is the mother of writing. For those of you who like to write and improve their style, I highly recommend: read as much as you can.
The right tonality
Before you start to write something, you should make it very clear who will read the writing later. A letter or email to a good friend requires a different style than a business letter or post at TheFruitAndFlowerBasket. "Hach, that's simple," I hear a murmur going through the readership. That's right, it's completely simple, but that's why it's so often forgotten or ignored. A potential reader should always feel that it was written just for him. Therefore: Write for your readers.
Simple versus complicated
Keep it simple ?, just keep it simple? is a common formula of journalistic writing. Why should that apply only to journalism? There are short sentences that everyone understands. And there are phrases like these that are so overstretched, in terms of both their length and the level of difficulty of the words they use, the reader's cognitive abilities, who find themselves helplessly exposed to those box-set monsters This reader would like to throw the book, newspaper or letter in the corner, but he does not, because he wants to know what's in it. Noticed difference? Philosophers like Immanuel Kant are allowed to do that. Everyone else should do better. If a topic requires many long sentences, you should always return short sentences to "recovery". to be built in.
Tips in a nutshell
I'm just barely the most important tips on the topic? Good writing style? together, who met me again and again in my writing life:
- Develop a writing routine. Means: write a lot. Keeping a diary or nurturing a pen pal is just two of many ways to make writing a daily norm. Of course you can also write lots of tips for TheFruitAndFlowerBasket.
- Whenever possible, use the shortest and simplest word. Better technology than technology and stroll instead of promenading.
- Short sentences make a text understandable and clear. Clarity is good.
- Write clearly. Concrete descriptions without abstraction or rating give the reader enough space. Keywords: see, hear, smell and taste.
- Avoid filling words. This is difficult for me personally, but makes a text clearer. Keywords: actually, somehow, somehow, anyway.
- Avoid nominal style. In texts of authorities and offices it is full of nouns, so nouns (nominal style). Strength receives a text but through the (active) verbs and descriptive adjectives used in it.
- Use paragraphs sensibly to structure the text.
- Collect beautiful words. I always have a notebook in which I write beautiful or unusual words for later use.
- Active is easier to understand than passive.? I raise the glass? is much more impressive than? The glass is lifted by me ?.
- Revise texts. If time permits, you should put away a finished text and read it and rework it the next day. It is very helpful to read the text to yourself or someone else. So you get a good feeling for the reading flow.
To anyone looking to get into the subject, I recommend the great book, Life and Writing? from Stephen King. Otherwise: Good word, you read?
