With the rapid expansion of the Internet, it is clear that the quality of writing has taken a dive for the worst. “Netspeak” is taking over most electronic communications, making good writing practices increasingly scarce.

You know good writing when you see it. Good literature starts with good ideas, followed by a logical progression of even more good ideas. The simplest way to tell whether a piece of writing is good or bad and if it has potential – read it.

Writing is an art form that takes a great deal of dedication and commitment before it is refined. So don’t give up too easily. An avid reader can easily make out what is the difference between good writing and bad writing.

Before you dump your beginning efforts into file thirteen, pause and take another look at the first draft. Then edit, rewrite, edit again, read, rewrite and edit again. In time it will become a piece of art.

Good writing has engaging, compelling characters. Incredible consequences with structure are a must. Powerful narrative drives the story. Good writing is timeless and universal.

And there are two kinds of writers – those who think they cannot write and those who think they can. No doubt there is a fine line of truth between the two.

TEN STEPS TO GOOD WRITING

  1. Have a plan
  2. Write like you talk. It has to sound natural.
  3. Mind your tone. Not only does your written work have to be pin-perfect in spelling and grammar, but it has to say something and leave the reader with an impression.
  4. Imagery using the 5 senses: taste, sight, touch, smell, and hear
  5. Write Dialogue. When you write dialogue dialogue, use simple language, and keep your sentences concise.
  6. Share inner thoughts and voices. Sometimes the best way to express yourself is through feelings. Novelists have an ability to take what a character is thinking and use it to further develop them and their actions.
  7. Answer questions. Put yourself in the position of the reader. Explaining and describing the necessary information will engage your reader. Take care to not extend beyond the concise and relevant details.
  8. Change Perspectives. Shift your thoughts and develop them with a change in perspective. Say you’re writing about… home organization. Don’t just think of yourself as the harried housewife with too much clutter. Instead be the busy executive who walks in the door and adds to the mess every day.
  9. Practice. There is a skill to being able to take a lengthy text and rewriting it down to a concise shorter piece. Use synonyms. Use stronger words that have better meanings than lengthy phrases or descriptions.
  10. Edit, edit … and edit again. This is nothing new. Writers review what they have written all the time. Regardless of the method, rarely is something publishable shortly after it is written. Writing is a craft, and craftsmanship takes time and precision to develop.

Expressing yourself in the written form is not easy. Even the greatest writers past and present have their frustrations. Writing is a process.

“Linda has published fifteen books. She blogs about the publishing world, posts useful tips on the challenges a writer faces, including marketing and promoting your work, how to build your online platform, how to get reviews and how to self-publish.”