Happy new week my valuable reader, hope you had fun during the weekend. As for me, i spent my own indoors so, no much fun :). Today, i have a guest in the house whom you might already know because she has written for us before. So, lets hear what Jane has to tell us today.
Writing is very complicated. It’s not complicated in the sense that it’s hard to learn to write. That’s the easy part and everybody can do it. The difficult part comes with learning to write well. Writing is usually about conveying your inner world through the words so when other people read them, they feel the way you feel. It’s about sending your message across time and space.
It’s a really complex process and doing it well isn’t nearly as simple as some people might lead you to believe. But it’s all really subjective, when you think about it. Some people will like my work, others will hate it. This is one of the aspects you need to ignore if you want to write well. Some people will enjoy your work, and some will not, but you need to remember that you’re writing as much for yourself, as you are writing for them. If you want to learn how to write well, there are a few things you need to know.
Writing well doesn’t really matter
Paradoxical as it may seem, it’s true. It doesn’t matter whether or not you write well. All that matters is that you write. In the beginning, the process of writing much is more important than how well the content is written. By writing a lot, you are exercising the patterns in the language centers of the brain, which means that you become better at it the more you do it.
Recommended Reading: Why You’ve Not Been Getting Your Desired Result from Blogging
So even if you think your work isn’t good, don’t stop writing. It will get better in time, just like everything else. Of course, talent and imagination play an important role, but if you want to learn to write well, I think you’ve already laid the foundations.
Consider your style
But let’s focus on blogging. Writing blog posts is much more different than, say, writing fiction. It’s about what you want to say, as well as how well can you say it. The message you convey is more direct than fiction and there are certain ground rules you need to follow. You need to always be clear in your opinion or thoughts.Preparation is a very important part of blogging. You need to research the subject you’re going to talk about so you know what you’re going to say. And never stop practising. The more you do it, the better you will become.
Consider your readers
Your potential readers have to also be taken into consideration. What sort of people do you want reading your blog? Answering this question is important because it’s invariably connected to your writing style and your subjects of interest. If, for example, you want to have a humorist blog, you need to stick to such a style.
Of course, like I said, not everybody is going to like it, but that’s not really what makes a blog post great. What makes a blog post great is sending a clear message and conveying your thoughts upon your readers. Everything else is just minor details.
Read a lot
If you want to be good at writing, you have to read a lot. The more you read, the wider your lexicon will be and the easier you will be able to express yourself. Reading materials in your chosen niche is excellent, but going beyond it is also a good idea as it will help you diversify. Read what you want to write. Also, read your own works after a while (say, a few months or even years) to see how far you’ve come, what mistakes you were used to making, etc. That’s extremely beneficial.
Most importantly
Take your time. Practice a lot, but don’t write if you don’t feel the mood for it and take your time for every single post. The more you work on it, the better it will be. And finally, don’t doubt yourself.
There you have it all, if you practice all i shared on this post then believe me, you will soon become one of the best writers out there :).
Have any question or comment? Lets discuss further on the comment section and remember, sharing is caring so please, share this post with your friends.
About the Author
Jane is blogger keen on topics about Internet and writing. She currently works in the support team of Carpet Cleaner London and she loves her job.
Photo Credit: Freedigitalphotos.net
Ryan Biddulph says
Hi Jane,
Simple and clear tips. Write. Read. 2 of my faves. I read like mad daily and churn out 2 posts. Practice makes better and reading exposes you to new, interesting writing styles.
Reading also teaches you how to write effectively. Follow top bloggers. Take notes. Read, and you will hear a different voice feed you the words when it comes time to writing your posts.
Thanks for sharing 🙂
Jane Mires says
Thank you for the comment Ryan.
Reading is truly very important. Taking notes from someone who knows better than you can always be useful.
Susan Velez says
Hi Jane,
You’re so right the only way that we will become better writers is to keep practicing, reading and learning from others. I have definitely noticed that since I started my blog 5 months ago my writing has improved.
Of course it can still use further improvement. Sometimes I find it difficult to write about something, but after reading these tips I should be able to put them to use.
Thanks for sharing these tips and I hope you have a wonderful week.
Jane Mires says
Susan, I completely agree with you – improvement is the most important! Thank you for your comment 🙂
Harleena Singh says
Hi Jane and Theodore,
Oh yes…writing IS not all that easy as it seems, especially if you are writing blog posts that need to be updated regularly. Blog writing is very different from the normal writing we all tend to do, which is easier as compared because there you can take your own sweet time.
However, if you are running a professional blog and need to update it say once, twice, or thrice a week, depending on your commitment, then you need to forget your mood and always have your creative hat on, or else it doesn’t really work. For example, if I am not in the mood for a post for 15-20 days and don’t write or update my blog, I’d really be out of touch with everything, isn’t it? I guess that’s where blog writers differ a little, unless of course you have a multiple author niche and can tend to take a little back seat. In the case of writing a book or fiction, or anything more creative and at leisure, you can easily write depending on your mood, and you should. Just my cents about it 🙂
Thanks for sharing. Have a nice week ahead, both of you 🙂
Jane Mires says
Thank you for the useful tips Harleena.
You are so right, you always have to be in a mood. Thanks again for the comment!
And have a great week 🙂
Lisa says
Hi Jane and Theodore, you are right, writing takes practice. I find it amazing to look at my old blog posts verses newer ones and there is quite a difference. Amazing. You really have to find your mo jo as they call it. Whether it’s being in the mood or find something that inspires you to write. Once you are in the zone keep on writing as long as you can. Reading others too helps to expand your own knowledge and flair. Thanks for sharing these tips and have a great day.
Jane Mires says
Thank you Lisa, I appreciate it!
Emmanuel says
Hello Madma Jane,
I do appreciate you as well for this interesting masterpiece. We newbie bloggers here have learnt our lessons! Thanks and hope to see you around more often.
Theodore Nwangene says
Hey Emmanuel,
Come off it, who said you’re newbie blogger? You’re a guru man so, stop deceiving us here :). Thanks for stopping by man 🙂
Mr Free Things says
Very nice post. I choose my style of writing based on my audiences after months of studying them
Jane Mires says
Thank you!
Jeevan Jacob John says
Hey Jane and Theodore,
What do you mean by writing well?
Is it about the grammar? The proper use of the language? Or is it about writing as you speak – to convince readers to do something? Persuasive writing?
I am going to assume that you are talking about the first one, so yes, I agree. It doesn’t matter (well, to an extent it does). But, what matters most is we write.
We practice writing (of course, we must also learn more while writing – learn about writing). We don’t want to practice the wrong method of writing, do we? 😉
I also agree with you on the importance of reading. Reading, particularly across all or various genres, helps us to be more knowledgeable, to get more ideas and to inspire ourselves and our readers (makes it easier to get inspiration and to inspire).
Anyways, thank you for sharing your expertise on the topic 🙂 Appreciate it!
Jane Mires says
Thank you (:
Susan Neal says
Hi Jane and Theodore,
This is an excellent post – I love the way you talk about writing as an evolving skill, something you need to have to work at and develop over time.
Like Jeevan, I’m not sure what you mean by “writing well” – ultimately, if we’re writing for publication and want our writing to have an impact, then I think we do need to aim to write well, but it’s important that anxiety about the quality of our writing doesn’t inhibit us when we’re first starting out.
My only other quibble would be your suggestion that you shouldn’t write if you’re not in the mood for it – if you’re serious about being a writer and improving your writing skills, I think you need to get into a writing habit – and that usually means writing something every day, whether you feel like it or not. It’s no good waiting for inspiration to strike – the way to become a better writer is to get on with it.
I’ve found committing to writing a daily journal, which I write by hand and don’t allow myself to edit, has been a great way to discipline myself to getting into a daily writing habit.
Thanks for a very interesting post and enjoyable post 🙂
Jane Mires says
And thank you for the helpful comment Susan. I really appreciate it.
Steve Freeman says
Jane, There are times I stare at a blank screen and blinking cursor. I will just lean back and think about the topic I would like to write about as if I’m having a conversation with myself. Then I try to write an article I would like to read. It has been a real learning process for me. I try to write a little every day just to stay up on the process itself.
The best lesson I have learned is when re-reading what I’ve written I will remove words that don’t help the sentence. If the word feels extra for some reason, it’s gone. The result are articles that get to the point faster. Thanks for the post!
Jane Mires says
Thank you for the comment Steve. Really interesting approach.
Okto says
Hi Theodore,
Great post! It’s so true. As bloggers I have lack of confidence to write two languages blog about blogging. After taking sometimes to build my confidence thus I finally decide to write. My biggest mistakes was focusing to much on understanding how to write killer post. Then I realize that the most important things to do is to write.
We will learn many things as time goes by. As long as we have commitment, plan, and dedication on our writing we will soon find the touch that every writer needs on their writing. The post is amazing when we enjoy to write it and let readers to decide.
Thanks for this post my friend
Adrienne says
Hi Jane and Theodore,
I know when I first came online I was writing articles. I never considered myself a writer but that this was something I needed to do in order to get traffic to my site. I could write decently because my profession had been in the secretarial field so it wasn’t like I couldn’t put any words together properly.
When I started blogging I wrote like my articles and trust me, they were pretty boring. It wasn’t until I started really writing for myself that I feel I drastically improved.
Now I know that people write for different reasons so I definitely can’t speak for anyone but myself but I do think that the more you write the better you become. I don’t write everyday as far as blog posts go but I do comment everyday so I think that counts. Sure, I’m just responding to something that I read but I think that also gets you in the habit and of course puts you in front of enough great ideas for more posts.
I think everyone should blog if they want but depending on what they want from it they may have to really study in order to improve some areas. Then again if they just love to write then I say go for it.
Thank you both and hope you have a wonderful week.
~Adrienne
Jane Mires says
I am so happy to hear that someone is encouraging young writers. And I am completely agreed that the more you write the better you become. Thanks a lot for your comment 🙂
Disha Sharma says
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Geri Richmond says
Hi Jane and Theodore,
I’m a lot like Adrienne, in that, I knew that I had to write posts in order to get traffic. In school, English was my favorite subject, but, i didn’t like to write. Now, I love to write because I can voice my opinion and be heard. In school, I was writing for a grade.
Now, I’m writing because I’m delivering information and learning in the process.
Like Disha, I didn’t know about Shabzy.com, but, am going to go and check it out.
Thanks for sharing the info.
Geri Richmond
Jane Mires says
You are more than welcome about the shared information. It is all about sharing in writing, isn’t it? 🙂 I also didn’t like to write in school just because someone push me to. It is all about inspiration and we all need it to write great articles, right? 🙂
sherman smith says
Hey Jane,
Making it clear and concise, practice, reading a lot, and only target those that you want to read your post aka target market. This is the mindset of a great blogger and it doesn’t mean that you have to be the best writer the follows every syntax in the text book either. You want to appeal to the interest of your readers and give the a great understanding.
I like when you said “Writing is usually about conveying your inner world through the words so when other people read them, they feel the way you feel.” This is so true! You make this hidden feeling come to life for others to see how you feel and maybe they’ll feel the same way, or at least be more empathetic.
Thanks for sharing!
Jane Mires says
I am really glad that you like the article. Thank you so much for your comment 🙂
Peter says
I guess I am still learning how to write blog posts. It’s a trial and error kind of thing for me right now. Just starting with the entire blogging thing and not seeing too many readers right now, however hopefully my writing will improve with time 🙂
Jane Mires says
Keep going, my friend. You will become better and better with every finished article, I promise 🙂
Asaolu olubayode Andrew says
Honestly writing is fun for me when I get in the mood. I believe most writers often face writer’s block , but if you just pick you pen to try and writing the ideas come right back. Honestly jane and Theo actually did a great job here. For someone to become a great writer, you need to be a reader, you can escape that. And one more thing, I was thought that if I want to be a good writer, I should keep writing, either good or not sharped. When you keep writing, you keep getting better. ?Hª?Ks for the article.
Theodore Nwangene says
You are so right Asaolu,
The more you write, the more good you become at it. That is why they said the practice makes perfect. I’m very happy you agree with Jane’s points man, Thanks for the visit 🙂
Sergio Felix says
Hello Jane and Theodore, first of all I want to thank you both for sharing this great article here on writing!
I normally don’t consider myself a writer just for the mere fact that English is my second language and my lexicon is pretty limited but I have come to love being able to communicate with others the best way I can without murdering their language of course.
I do not practice writing and I also don’t think I have a structure for either developing or writing a new article but what I do know is that when somebody is reading on my site, they are 100% sure it is me behind the writing.
I would love to say I have a “style” but I just call it like it is, instead of trying to sound like a boring book, I write the same way I talk. I don’t try to sound smarter by using words I would never say in a conversation and I also don’t try to create beautiful articles, I just express myself and normally use a story or talk as if I was talking to a friend.
Do you have any recommendations or tips for me to improve my writing? Thanks in advance Jane!
Sergio
Theodore Nwangene says
I love the points Sergio,
Most people always sound like a boring book while I’m reading their posts and, its not good to try to be what you’re . About improving your writing, i know you’re already a good writer so, i don’t think there is anything else i can tell you about that, just continue the way you’re doing.
Thanks for stopping by my friend 🙂
Aki Andrew says
I guess I am still learning how to write a good blog posts. It’s a trial and error kind of thing for me right now. Just starting with the blogging and not seeing too many readers right now, however hopefully as I learn from great blogger like you my writing will improve with time. Thanks once more
bay re nhat says
thanks so much for sharing
Jane Mires says
Thank you for the comment 🙂
Jane Mires says
Agreed 🙂
Jane Mires says
Agreed