I find it sad that I feel as though I must write this entry. I figured it would be obvious. Apparently not. So, here I go:
Read what you write. Please.
It's rather inconvenient when your reader is looking through your story and then finds ten thousand spelling mistakes and things that don't make sense. Don't that to those that bother to use their brain power and time on your story.
If doing it out of kindness isn't enough, read what you write because it will make your writing better. And beware: If your writing sucks, you will lose readers. I promise.
Stubborn, apparently always-right writer: But I use spell-check you dimwit! That catches everything.
Wrong. Spell and grammar checks can only do so much. They also screw up a lot and have absolutely no clue what writing style is (which is why some grammar mistakes are better left unchanged). They assume that every sentence fragment must be abolished. Oh, you have a phrase in another language? That's spelt wrong, too, or so it will report.
Additionally, I've never seen spell-check tell you that your description makes you want to throw the book at the wall, that what the character is saying is incoherent, that it's impossible to tell which character's talking, nor that your paragraphing can use work.
And don't read while you're writing and assume that that's good enough. I assure you that that doesn't always work. When you're in "the zone," you assume everybody knows what you're talking about, since you know. Go back and read it after your mind has cooled down. Sometimes, when I do that, I find that I've missed paragraphs of things I missed or didn't express clearly enough.
Even better, don't be the only one that reads what you write. I'm assuming most of you post on Wattpad, but get somebody else to read it first. Get him/her/it to tell you if something sounds unnatural or is impossible to follow. It's much more profitable to the writer if this process happens in person, that way the reader says immediately what might be better changed instead of forgetting or whatever may happen.
If you don't care about any of the above, please, read what you write for my sanity. Thank you.
A/N: I solemnly swear that I read this entry before posting. And I promise I changed a lot.
YOU ARE READING
Helpful Procrastination
Non-FictionPerhaps writing this book is procrastination in itself. But, at least, in doing so, I can help you. In this book, I'll be giving writing advice. No 5-page entries, just my advice in its most concise, blunt form. Enjoy.
