As a writer who has a passion for writing since forever, I have always kept in mind that, because I aspire to be a published author someday, I have to develop the skills I need in order to present a craft worthy of someone’s time and interest. From the moment I realized I had this calling in literature, I have always searched and practiced various writing styles, which I acquire and adapt from my favorite authors. That way, I thought, I may know what style suits me best and is most effective for me.
Being an active writer of short stories for quite a while now, I have learned a few things to keep in mind when writing. These are all the basic stuff I also want to share to you. And I hope it may help you in one way or another.
1. Grammar and Use of Words– Basically, grammar is the foundation of all write-ups. May it be in a form of poem, song, novel, short story, and any other kind of literature, grammar plays an important role in the effectiveness of the piece. You don’t have to be so technical when it comes to this. However, having the basic knowledge about proper grammar helps a lot in delivering the content and message of your craft. Understanding of the correct subject-verb agreement/relationship is a must when writing. It won’t hurt to study how to construct sentences properly. It actually makes your write-ups more interesting. And you yourself can testify that your works become more effective when you observe proper grammar.
I am…
You are…
She/He is…
We are…
The place is…
These questions are…
Just in case/In case… NOT if in case…
With regard to/As regards to…
Much clearer (or clearer)… NOT more clearer
Also, observe the proper use of words and terms. You don’t have to use flowery or hifalutin words, or idiomatic expressions/figures of speech just to attract the eyes of your readers. Being able to deliver the content well is enough. Just know the meaning of the words and how it should be used so as to not mislead your readers into receiving a meaning from your work when you mean another thing.
2. Spelling and Capitalization– This actually goes hand in hand with grammar. The second most vital factor in a write-up is the spelling. When you know how to properly spell out words, your write-up becomes more inviting to read. Some often write the following words mistakenly among many others:
They’re (They are) to Their
You’re (You are) to Your
He’s (He is) to His
In Filipino write-ups:
Ng; Nang
Kung; Kong
These words may be homonyms (having the same sound when read/pronounced) but there’s a thin line between them that gives out a different meaning to each word.
Capitalization is also an issue to some writers, especially those who have just started writing. This is okay if you haven’t had prior experience in writing. But once you get to understand the rules (if there are such things) in writing, you will know what I mean.
You only need to capitalize the first letter of a word if it is a proper noun, meaning, the word refers to a name of a person, place, or event.
Examples:
Mitch Albom
Namsan Tower
World War III
Avoid capitalizing all the letters of the word especially if it is not an abbreviation or acronym. If there's a great need for emphasis, you can either bold or italize the word instead.
3. Content or Message – As a writer, being concrete with the message of your work should also be observed so you won’t get lost in the course of your writing. With this, your readers would get a clearer vision of what you want to say in your output.
4. Mood and Tone – if you want your readers to feel empathetic of your characters’ undertakings, it would be effective to use the appropriate tone and mood. Tone refers to how your craft would sound when read. It may be angry, bitter, humorous, nostalgic, or serious Mood, on the other hand, refers to the feeling or atmosphere of the work. Examples are sad, happy, overwhelming, exciting.
5. Writing Style – This one marks the difference of one writer from another. You have your own taste in writing, you are comfortable on your own zone, and you feel freer with what style you’re currently using and there’s not a problem with that. Stick to what style you are more adapted with and try to improve it more. However, do not be afraid to learn from others.
There, five things I always remember when I’m writing my own works. I am not saying that I am a pro in writing already because I have a lot of things to imrpove on and I have a lot more to learn. I just observe these things to better my own craft. You can apply these too if you want, and I won't mind.:)
