Writers: 5 Golden Rules to Make You Better

by: Adrian Cobon (Guest Writer)

There are thousands of rules, suggestions, tips, and guidelines on the Internet detailing how to write. Most of these are written through the lens of “it works for me, it should for you.”

I do not have that philosophy, instead I believe that every individual should develop a unique writing style that suits his or her capabilities and goals. Instead of telling you what to do, I wish to give you the tools necessary to create your own rules.

 

1)    Acknowledge the amount of time you have to work on the project.

It is vital to recognize if you have the time necessary to actually write the document. To use an extreme example, it is impossible to write a full length novel, including editing, in a few short days. I have found that the best way to determine how much time you should dedicate to a project is to type one thousand words without regards to any specific goal. Multiply that time by three, and you will have a rough idea on how long it will take you to write a competent first draft of a thousand word document. For instance, if the formula gives you three hours then it will take two hundred and ten hours to write a seventy thousand word first draft.

2)    Determine exactly how much you still need to know to finish the project.

The best way to do this is to write an essay describing everything you know on the topic. After typing it, look for any gaps in your knowledge. For instance, if you are writing about the civil war but have very little information on any battles you have a good place to start researching. This is also a good time to reach out for outside help, for there is always someone with more information.

3)    Don’t be afraid to experiment.

Every project is unique. I have written stories using: the snowflake method (go from simple to complex), the free-write first draft then edit like mad method, and most recently a start from the ending method. Each has worked, and each has presented their own challenges.

4)    Acknowledge the no first draft is perfect.

Budding writers almost always become irritated over redoing something they thought was perfect. Here is a little fact of life: Nothing is perfect. By receiving feedback and working on the defects of the document you will be left with a much better document more apt to receiving positive reviews.

5)    Be ready to handle criticism.

Everyone is a critic, regardless if the item being criticized is a basket full of kittens or your document. Some comments will be scathing, that is to be expected. Pay attention to what is being said, and improve from the feedback. If people complain that your grammar is terrible, pick up a grammar guide. Same with formatting, spelling, vernacular (vocabulary), and genre choice.

These five ideas are not rules, nor guidelines. They are tips designed to help you formulate your own unique set of rules for writing.