Content

• To step
• Method 1 of 4: Better basic technique
• Method 2 of 4: Consume the written word with enthusiasm
• Method 3 of 4: Write a lot
• Method 4 of 4: Building a story
• Tips
• Warnings

Do you dream of changing the world with your words? Do you want to be the next Harry Mulisch or David Foster Wallace? Or do you want to be able to express your thoughts and feelings better? You become a great writer - or just a good one - through practice and knowledge. However, if you are willing to work hard for it, you may soon be an example to someone else!

To step

Method 1 of 4: Better basic technique

1. Write actively rather than passively. One of the most common mistakes writers make is using the passive voice too often. This makes the subject of an action a direct object of the sentence with verb tenses such as X was attacked by Y instead of simply Y attacked X. Try to avoid these types of constructions as much as possible.
   • "The book was written by Anne Frank while she was still at school is passive. Frank wrote the book while she was still in school is active.
   • It's not always a bad idea to use the passive voice. Sometimes there is no clear way to make a sentence active or sometimes a passive construction makes a sentence just a bit lighter. However, first learn the above rule before making an exception.
2. Use strong words. A good text is precise and surprising. The correct verb or adjective can make a simple sentence memorable. Therefore, find words that are as specific as possible and try not to repeat words too much, unless you want to build a certain rhythm with this.
   • An exception to this rule are the words used to describe dialogue. Bad lyrics are full of fragments like she said and he replied. A well placed stuttered can sometimes add something extra, but often a simple one said enough. It may feel strange to repeat this word all the time, but the constant switching between verbs makes it difficult for the reader to follow the conversation. In dialogues, you want the reader to hear the character's voice and not the writer.
   • Strong language does not mean that you have to use complicated words. For example, don't say utilize if you too use can say. He sprinted is not necessarily better than He ran. If certain language fits with the text or character: use it above all, but do not overdo it.
3. Keep your text short and sweet. A good text is simple, clear and direct. You do not score points with extra long sentences. In good texts the correct words are used and the length of the text is of less importance. In a first version, it is good to incorporate countless ideas and details in every sentence, but this does not make your text more readable. If a sentence or phrase does not add anything to the story, it is better to delete it.
   • The overuse of adverbs is a classic mistake in mediocre texts. An adverb in the right place can work great, but often they are unnecessary. For example, don't write she screamed in fear; guild already indicates that fear is present.
   • Sometimes it is good to shorten your text late in the writing process. For example, while writing you do not have to worry about the most concise way to express something, but you have plenty of room to express yourself and shortening is of later concern.
   • Your text does not exist in a vacuum, but also takes shape in the imagination of your reader. You don't have to describe every detail; the reader can fill in the rest on the basis of a few excerpts. If you give directions in the right places, the reader will make connections between them.
4. A classic rule of writing is to show things instead of explaining them in detail. A character's background can be triggered by plot changes, but that doesn't mean you need to provide a full character biography. Rather, let the character's past emerge in a different way, such as through the character's choice of words and actions.
5. Avoid clichés. Clichés are sentences, ideas or situations that are not original. They may once have been great examples but have now been used so often that they no longer have an impact. It is difficult to pinpoint what makes a cliché a cliché; this is often a matter of feeling.
   • "It was a dark and stormy night is an example of a cliché. Compare these similar opening lines:
     • “It was a light, cold day in April and the clocks struck one o'clock. - 1984 by George Orwell. It is not night, not dark and not stormy, but you immediately notice that something is not quite right in 1984.
     • The sky over the harbor was the color of a television set on a snow transmitter. - Neuromancer by William Gibson, in which the word cyberspace was first mentioned. Not only do you get an idea of ​​the weather, but you also immediately notice that you have entered a dystopian world.
     • It was the day my grandmother exploded. - The Crow Road by Ian Banks.
     • It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the age of faith, it was the time of unbelief, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, all doors were open, all doors were closed, we all went straight to Heaven, we all went the other way - in short, the time was to the extent that some of the noisiest authorities forced us to receive it, in good or bad sense, in a superlative way or just for comparison. - A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens. Weather conditions, emotions, damnation and despair - Dickens' opening line has it all and makes sure the reader is prepared for anything.
6. Break the rules. The best writers don't always follow the rules - they know when and how to break them. Everything from grammar to the above writing advice can be adjusted if you are sure that this makes your text better. You have to do this in such a way that you know that you are breaking a rule and you are doing this on purpose.
7. Rewrite, rewrite, rewrite. Don't believe your Dutch teacher: there is none perfect text. Any author can make adjustments even in his most celebrated masterpiece, if given the chance. Rewriting is essential to achieve good work. Once you have finished a text, put it aside for a day and then look at it again with a fresh look. Remove typos, delete paragraphs - do whatever it takes to make your text better. Once you are done, read it again and then again.

Method 2 of 4: Consume the written word with enthusiasm

1. Devour a pile of good books. Read and learn the works of great influential writers to see what is possible with the written word. By immersing yourself in the most impressive stories and ideas, you expand your vocabulary, learn about the world and enrich your imagination.
   • Immerse yourself in the different ways in which a text can be constructed or told.
   • Try to compare how different authors approach the same topic.
2. List the references to literature in your own culture. You may not be aware of it, but books, films and other media make frequent references to classical literature. By reading these works you build up cultural knowledge that you can then use when you write stories yourself.
3. Make sure you understand why a classic work is considered one of the great works in literature. Sometimes you read a classic like The Catcher in the Rye and you fail to see why this is such an important work now. If this happens to you, try reading essays on the play to find out what makes the book a classic. This is educational and also of value for your own work.
4. Go to the theater. Watching a play may be a passive activity - such as watching television or the news - and you hardly need to read anything. However, your imagination can be stimulated by it and that is also worth a lot.
   • More than in a film, words written in the theater come to life, with the director's interpretation and the actor's acting as filters between the author's pen and the audience's ear.
5. Read magazines, newspapers and whatever more. Literature isn't the only place to get ideas - the real world offers countless fascinating people, places and events that can inspire the writer's brain.
6. Know when to get rid of influences. It happens all too often: you read a book and can't wait to sit down at your writing table yourself. But once you sit down, the words that come out of your fingers don't sound original, as if you are subconsciously imitating the author whose book you just read. While you can learn a lot from great writers, you need to develop your own voice. Learn to let go of the influence of certain authors by taking some time off to write, tinker with old work, or take a leisurely walk.

Method 3 of 4: Write a lot

1. Buy a notebook. Not just any notebook, but a good sturdy one that you can take with you everywhere. You get ideas everywhere and of course you want to be able to write down your best ideas immediately.
2. Write down your ideas. Titles, subtitles, subjects, characters, situations, sentences, metaphors - whatever sparks your imagination when you're sitting at your writing table.
3. Fill your notebook with words and keep writing. When a notebook is full, label it with the dates you wrote on and general notes. This way you can always pick up the book when you are in need of inspiration.
4. Participate in a writing workshop. One of the best ways to improve your writing skills and stay motivated is to talk to others and get feedback on your work. Find a local or online writing group and ask for opinions on your work. What did they like, what less and what do they think can you improve? Giving and receiving feedback teaches you a lot about improving your skills.
5. Write every day. Keep a diary, write letters or set aside an hour every day to just write. Simply choose a topic and start writing. What the subject is doesn't matter - the idea is to write. And write. And some more to write. Writing is a skill that takes practice, a muscle that needs training and that you need to keep challenging to keep it tense.

Method 4 of 4: Building a story

1. Choose a topic and write a rough outline of your story. This doesn't have to be complicated, but is a way to give you insight into the plot. Take, for example, the classic Hollywood storyline: boy meets girl, boy gets girl, boy loses girl, boy wins girl back.
2. Write a sketch. It can be tempting to simply start writing and determine the course of your story later. Don't do this though! Even the simplest outline of your story can help you see bigger connections. This can save you hours of rewriting. Start with a basic gradient and split it into parts. Then add characters, locations and so on.
   • Keep in mind that of the parts of the story, the latter often takes up the most space. If you need more than a few words to describe a part, create an extra layer to break this part into multiple pieces.
3. Write the first version. You are now ready to write your rough draft. Use your sketch and explain the characters and story.
4. Keep some space in the story to add characters and give each of them their own story. This way you get to know your characters better and you gain insight into how the characters will react in certain situations.
5. Don't be afraid to jump from one part of the story to another. If you have a brilliant idea to fix a situation at the end of the story, write it down, even if you're still tinkering with Chapter 1. Never waste an idea.
6. Let the story guide you. Let the story have its say and before you know it it will take an unexpected, but also very interesting direction. You remain the director, but be open to inspiration.
7. Finish your first draft. Don't focus too much on fine-tuning the story just yet, but finish the first draft. If you find out along the way that a character is actually the ambassador of Dubai instead of a lawyer, write this down so you can insert this detail later.
8. Rewrite the story. First version, remember? Go through the story again from the beginning, now knowing how it ends and how the characters will develop.
9. Rewrite your story from start to finish. Once you are done with the second version, you have all the information about your characters, the main plot and the subplot well organized.
10. Read and share your story. Now that you have completed the second draft of your story, it is time to read it as unbiased as possible. Preferably share the story with some friends whose opinions you value and trust.
11. Write the final version. Armed with the feedback from your own talk and that of your friends, go through the story again and make adjustments. Try to resolve conflicts, knit individual pieces together and cut out characters that don't add anything to the story.

Tips

• Equations and metaphors are a lot of fun to use! If you do this correctly, they will be sweet as the scent of a rose and, moreover, by using them you will also look smart.
• Writing should be fun. Or torture. That depends on the person you ask. It can make you feel overjoyed, but also exhausted. There is no right way to write, and no right way to feel like writing. Find your own style.
• If you don't like an idea at first, try to turn it into something; who knows where it will lead!

Warnings

• Do not plagiarize! Presenting someone else's words or ideas as yours is serious business in science as well as journalism and fiction. If you get caught, you could be expelled from school, charged or fired. So never do this.
• Pay attention to the words you use. The fastest way to appear stupid is to use a word the wrong way or in the wrong context.If you are not sure how to use a word, look it up in a dictionary.