How did you learn to write well?

StonesQuest · Post by **StonesQuest** » 17 Sep 2010, 14:42

You just need to do it and practice at it everyday of your life. With us using emails and texting more than picking up the phone. We are all improving our writing skills. Twitter has helped me to say what I need to say by using less words. I appreciate the 140 spaces. I learned that I was using far to many words to say something.

Mellida02 · Post by **Mellida02** » 20 Sep 2010, 06:04

i am bad at writing.

StonesQuest · Post by **StonesQuest** » 20 Sep 2010, 11:08

I was too. It does change. First, you need to change your thought patterns. Somewhere, you made a decision in your youth that you were a poor writer. There is a way to change it.

Perrywinkle47 · Post by **Perrywinkle47** » 22 Sep 2010, 12:04

StonesQuest wrote:You just need to do it and practice at it everyday of your life. With us using emails and texting more than picking up the phone. We are all improving our writing skills. Twitter has helped me to say what I need to say by using less words. I appreciate the 140 spaces. I learned that I was using far to many words to say something.

I agree cent percent

Career Novelist · Post by **Career Novelist** » 22 Sep 2010, 23:08

Learning to write well is a decision you make. It's that simple, it's that hard. Saying things like "I'll try," or "It'll come to me" is crap. You have to make an unchangeable decision to constantly study your craft, and write. Write every day. Start a blog that forces you to write every day if you have to. If you're working on a novel write a page or two every day. Write a short story if you don't think you can write a novel just yet. Write a few lines of poetry. Just write. Then study. Study your craft, things like how to inject conflict into your stories, how to layer your characters, how to write a great query letter or synopsis, how to create standout plots. Also you can read your favorite writers and study their history, how they came to be. And above all, don't think of your writing as something you'll try, or a phase you're going through. If you want to be a writer, think of yourself as a writer. I used to tell myself I'll get published or die trying, whichever comes first. It only took ten years.

Perrywinkle47 · Post by **Perrywinkle47** » 25 Sep 2010, 10:28

Wow! Hats off to your determination!! There are only few people who are that patient.. All the best for your future work

Shaysmommy5810 · Post by **Shaysmommy5810** » 16 Dec 2010, 14:27

I'd say I'm still learning about myself as a writer. I find new techniques and styles everyday. But, when I first got started I didn't know I was any good. I thought I was just doing "make believe". I was probably 5 years old when I wrote my first book ("Let's Do Nails!" lol), and looking back on it....I still don't think it was very good. BUT, everyone in my life made a big deal about it. All throughout my life I've received encouragement through "Good Job" and "Well, it's nice, but let's fix it...".

Sophius · Post by **Sophius** » 16 Dec 2010, 16:32

Though I'm still pursuing an education in writing in the hopes of of becoming a novelist, I am already fairly decent and have won awards in a couple short story contests. I write short stories during my freetime and am intending to try and get them published. I am for the most part up to this point self taught, and I have aumented my abilities through extensive reading and my previously mentioned writing hobby.

Fanlynne · Post by **Fanlynne** » 07 Jan 2011, 21:46

I'm still learning,there is no end for a good learner.....

Kilgore-trout · Post by **Kilgore-trout** » 08 Jan 2011, 20:18

I think part of being a good writer is never being happy with what you write. I always feel good when I write something but when I go back and look at it I get more and more ideas about the subject, ways to improve it.

Nigella · Post by **Nigella** » 10 Jan 2011, 08:00

I still struggle quite a bit with putting all the information down on paper, in my head so many ideas float that I get a bit overwhelmed sometimes.
Nowadays I draw the story line which helps me stay on track.

Lita · Post by **Lita** » 08 Mar 2011, 12:38

Well, first of all, English isn't my first language, Spanish is...
I moved to the US when I was 11, and back to my country when I was 15, so those four years I learned to speak/write in English, and I was very good at it... until I came back to my country and I had to adjust to Spanish again, so now my English isn't very good.... and neither is my Spanish, ever since I learned English. I really don't like Spanish lol.
I like to write in English better though, I think it looks way prettier hahaha

I'm hoping I can "learn" to write well again!

Wulaishiwo2 · Post by **Wulaishiwo2** » 10 Mar 2011, 02:53

In my experience, you sheldomly improve writing in teaching writin school. Reading more is the best way to improve writing skill.

Esperanza1988 · Post by **Esperanza1988** » 28 Mar 2011, 04:59

Hi, I am also learning. It keeps me free!

Neveranda · Post by **Neveranda** » 03 Apr 2011, 11:28

mmorpgs. I played Everquest for years back in the day and it just slowly came to me how to adapt and send it into words. Gaming has helped me tremendously in my writing career