Guest Author - Glenda Schoonmaker
I know. That's sounds a little crass. However, most of us are a little selfish--we do things to meet our own needs or wants or for someone whom we know. Think about it. When was the last time you read a book or article you weren't interested in or wanted to learn from? School and class work don't count.
When you write for publication, your whole focus needs to be on how you can help your reader. Even if your book is
humor, it's still about "how can I as a writer create an environment where my reader will have a good time?"
If you are doing journal writing or something you never intend to publish, by all means, write to please yourself. When you read books or articles, you appreciate it when the author seems to connect with exactly where you are or how you feel. Do the same for your readers. When you write, try to put yourself in your reader's shoes.
No one likes to be talked down to--in other words, be treated as if they are dumb. Look to see if your writing sounds preachy or antagonistic. Are your words demeaning? Are you trying to sound lofty, eloquent? Do you use flowery language, more commonly known as purple prose? All these things distance your reader instead of inviting the reader to read more.
Writing can be a solitary lifestyle, but if you keep it that way, you'll not be the writer you could be. You need to get feedback on your writing. Join a critique group either in person or online. Develop a thick skin. The sign of an amateur writer who needs a lot of work in writing is one who constantly defends the way he or she has written something. Learn to listen to what people are saying about your writing. Not everyone will be correct in their assessment, but everything that everyone says needs to be considered. Especially if you are a new writer, heed advice of more seasoned writers. A foolish writer is a stubborn writer who won't listen to correction.
Also, look for things you especially like to read. Read passages several times to analyze what make you identify with those passages. Is it the conversational tone of the author? Realistic dialog? Vividness of setting and place? If all five of your senses are pulled into what you are reading, try to figure out how the author pulled your whole self into the text.
Once you've determined what elements you like in what you are reading, try incorporating those same elements in what you write. Your readers will thank you and will look for more pieces by the same author---that's you! No one every completely arrives in writing. When you talk with best selling authors who've been writing 20-30 years, they all say there are still things to learn to make writing the best it can be.
