The Process of Writing
In the internet age writing has re-established itself as an important form of communication. As a writer, I still find it sad and surprising that many seem to fear the act of putting pen to paper or finger to keyboard.
Pianists practice at the piano. Tennis players practice at the net. Athletes practice at the track. They all recognise that skills need to be developed and honed if they are to be maintained.
When we write we are simply translating our thoughts into a more tangible format. Those ideas that float in and out of our minds are captured and recorded. It really is as simple as that. The difficulty comes in discerning which thoughts to capture and which to ignore. If your mind is anything like mine, you will possibly not even be aware of many of ideas that flit around your head.
Good writing is clear, concise and fit for the purpose. Most writing needs to be planned, possibly even researched, depending on the subject matter and the existing knowledge of the writer.
I know a number of writers who are so keen to start the writing process they skip the planning and preparation stage which, almost without exception, makes their job much harder in the long run. Having said that, it is important to get on with the process of writing and not get so bogged down in the thinking, research and planning that the piece never quite makes it on to paper.
Writing styles vary, which is considered to be a good thing by readers. There’s the matter of personal writing style combined with the style most appropriate for the piece being written. These two variables alone combine to produce a rich diversity in the written word.
My definition of good writing is something that makes me think and question any previously held views I may have had on the subject. It is writing that elicits a response in me. I want to have reason to stop and think about the words I am reading. I want the words to tell me something I didn’t already know or to provide me with a new angle on my existing experiences.
It saddens me when I come across web content in particular which is there for the sake of being there. It provides nothing. No interest, no entertainment and certainly no value. It leaves me feeling cheated and breaks trust with the author.
Whilst some fear writing and think it is difficult, it’s a piece of cake compared to editing.
Editing is a different animal from proof reading. The latter is an exercise to spot errors in spelling, punctuation, grammar, syntax and the plain old typo. Editing is the process by which a raggle-taggle collection of words is pummelled and pounded until it becomes clear prose that is a joy to read.
I am an avid reader and passionate writer so I have to declare myself as biased. I want to encourage others to write - either for themselves or others. I want you to experience the joy of creating a piece of written work that adds value to others. It’s a way of connecting and sharing. If this piece has demystified the process of writing and given you some inspiration, I shall be happy.