My Tips on Writing

1. Don’t worry about who is going to be reading it.

One of the things that has really plagued my mind over the years and in college when it came to my writing is who was going to be reading what I wrote. I was always okay if just my teacher was going to be reading my papers, but when it came to peer review I would become terrified. It always impacted my writing differently too if I knew someone in my class would be reading it or if I had to present it. It caused a lot of anxiety for me and I had to learn to just focus on what I was writing and not worry about what other people would think.

2. Don’t get caught up in the “rules of writing.”

When you’re writing it’s easy to get caught up in the “rules of writing.” You start thinking about different rules and grammar and it can really hinder your creative process. My advice is to just write what you feel like writing and worry about all that other stuff when you revise or after you’ve written what you wanted to say.

3. Honesty is key.

Being yourself in your writing is a big part of the creative process. Don’t write on a topic after reading four of your peer’s papers on the same topic. Then their opinions and point of views will keep you from coming up with your own ideas and block your creativity. Be honest with your readers and tell them what you think. I mean, that is why they’re reading your work.

4. Revise.

The revision process is a huge part of the entire writing process. I used to always write what I wanted to write, not even read through it, and then post it immediately without a care in the world. When you don’t revise you miss a lot of mistakes and could fix a lot of the little things you’ve messed up. I know it’s a little tedious, but its an important step that could lead to some of your best writing.

5. Make sure you add personality to your writing.

This is just that. Your writing. Your style and personality are key to all of your work. It effects your opinion, the way in which you write, and how people perceive your work. Make sure that you are adding your own personal style to your writing as everyone has a different style and yours is what defines your writing.