8 Writing Tips for Beginners


It is easier for the common Joe and Jane to become a writer today than it has ever been before. It used to be that writing was an elite preserve dominated by thinkers and philosophers… basically a few who inhabited a rather rarified intellectual space.

Things are far more egalitarian today – the internet and modern technology have made it possible for practically anyone to become a writer – anyone who reasonably has something to say, that is.

1. Find your niche

There are so many mediums to write in: novels, fiction, nonfiction and short stories (the same are now routinely reproduced in eBook formats as well), journals, newspapers, online publications, blogs, and what have you! Are you comfortable with creative writing – novels, fiction, short stories? Do you enjoy doing opining or commenting on social or political reality or current affairs? Do you enjoy creating informative content that can help people looking for information on the net and elsewhere?

2. Don’t be intimidated

You don’t have to be highly erudite to be a writer today. This is because there is a readership for all sorts of writing – formal and informal writing, personal writing, informative writing, opinion pieces, blogs and much else besides. So you don’t have to fit any particular mold to become a writer.

3. Read, read, read

No reading is a complete waste of time. Reading broadens your vision, educates you, makes you think, improves your vocabulary, informs you and basically increases the sum of your knowledge. A well read person is automatically better equipped to become a writer.

4. Observe

For the same reasons that reading is important, observation is important as well. Watch how people speak, move, behave, interact – this is wonderful fodder for creative writing.

5. Check your facts

Inaccurate information or facts that don’t check out can really put off a reader, particularly in informative or nonfictional writing. So always do your research and make sure that any statements you make are factually correct.

6. Write regularly

Getting into a habit of writing will ease the process. You could start a journal or a personal blog to keep yourself writing regularly.

7. Take breaks

Breaks can help refresh the mind and improve the creative process. A short break is when you’re likely to be struck by the best ideas!

8. Enjoy yourself

Whichever type of writing you decide to do, remember to enjoy yourself. Writing is a creative process that has its own rewards.

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