To excel at writing...

[mikola]

Hi.
I'd like to develop my writing skills. So I am going to begin with reading books on this subject. Can you advise some books which cover this topic at outstanding level?

[SelfAwareWorld]

I do a lot of writing. I have to say that I get a lot ideas from listening to lectures on various subjects on my Ipod. People who are good speakers and can relate there messages clearly to an audience will demonstrate the proper way to hold peoples attention. After all, you are "speaking" to your reader through words. Write like you are speaking, or telling a story to someone sitting next to you and you will do well.

[mikethedrummer44]

I don't really know about books, but if you really want to excel at writing, I'd suggest you practice. Start a blog, or join a article submission website such as Ezine Articles.

Books can teach you a lot, but I've really noticed my writing has seriously improved ever since I started practicing. And by practicing, I mean writing 2-3 400 word blog posts everyday. Gaining better writing skills wasn't really my goal when I started these blogs, but it's a nice bonus.

[James81]

BIC FOK brother. BIC FOK.

(Butt In Chair, Fingers On Keyboard )

The only way to improve with writing is to write. Write until your fingers go numb and then write some more.

Then, pick up a copy of Strunks Elements of Style and give it a read.

The Right to Write by Julia Cameron is another good book.

As is Telling Lies for Fun and Profit by Larry Block.

Still, best method is to:

1. Write
2. Edit
3. Edit again
4. Edit again
5. Post to beta readers for feedback
6. Edit again based on their comments.
7. Repeat.

[James81]

Oh, and I almost forgot:

Welcome to Writing-World.com!

[PipHunn]

Some other books that I can recommend:

The Artist's Way, by Julia Cameron - more of a holistic overview of getting your 'flow' happening.
The Writing Book, by Kate Grenville - I rate this up there with Elements of Style as a good way of addressing the fundamental needs of writing.
Also, Stephen King's On Writing is OK. I can't be more enthusiastic in recommending this because King seems to take a "MY WAY DAMNIT" approach to writing, where it's pretty clear that there are approximately 6.5 billion ways to go about telling stories, and the best thing to do is to experiment until you find what works for you.

[Michael Chui]

What hasn't been explicitly mentioned here is self-criticism. Developing a sense of personal cadence, tone, and style are important, but then check to see if your writing actually matches up with that. When I've heard knowledgeable writers praise other writers, they usually point out things like, "You must be very widely read; it shows in your writing."

Emulate writers who you like to read. Borrow the way they phrase something, or take your own rendition of the images they craft. Sure, you're copying, but it'll rub off and mix in with your own experience and your wider reading and then it will be yours.

Of course, learn grammar and all the syntactic rules: when you break a rule, do it because it's better broken than because you didn't realize it was a rule. Strunks' book has been mentioned several times, and it is excellent.

Also, read literary criticism. Reading Howard Bloom rant, for instance, is a lovely way to absorb perspectives of writing as well as get a quick overview of different styles in literature.

[Gaz]

It all depends on why and what you're writing.

Here's an interesting post from one of the sites i frequent Bad Writing Habits. The rest of the site is very useful if you're going to try and write persuasive copy, but there is enough generic advice that will help your normal writing anyway.

If you're trying to write fiction it may be a little bit different. I don't have any experience in that area but These Guys are amusing and helpful. (There's two professional writers and a professional webcartoonist) They have a lot of good information and cover a lot of topics (all freely downloadable and great to put on an ipod to listen to while exercising)

But the best way is BicHok (Bum in chair, Hands on Keyboard). Just write, put it up somewhere where people can read it and comment and you'll improve with practice.

[James81]

Originally Posted by PipHunn

Some other books that I can recommend:

The Artist's Way, by Julia Cameron - more of a holistic overview of getting your 'flow' happening.

I never could get into that one.

It's laid out more like a course than a book, and it's not specifically for writers alone.

I'd definately recommended The Right to Write over that one.

[Silenced140]

Your better than struggling with hard concepts and tedious practice. Practice is needed of course but take a shortcut.

Use subconscious affirmation. Tell your subconscious that you are an extremely talented writer. And it will respond.

Thats how visionaires get their ideas.

[YourHumbleNarrator]

Zen in the Art of Writing. Best book I've read on the subject.

[johnpaul]

This is actually a very good question. Anyway- as you said reading is one of the best ways. However, reading alone will only do so much. Examine what you read. Go to one of your favorite books and find your favorite chapter. Then go through it line by line and see what techniques the author uses. See what they emphasize, what they leave to your imagination and what they just ignore.

Also, have as many educated people as you can read your writing. Take it to a teacher, or find a web forum that focuses on writing. Don't put work up on here, its not worth it. And then most importantly, LISTEN.

Good luck

[Cochonette]

Originally Posted by YourHumbleNarrator

Zen in the Art of Writing. Best book I've read on the subject.

Are you serious? A while back, I started reading this book online, and I couldn't take it. The title is virtually a joke, the author said he just used it because it "sounded cool," and he also admits in the book that he doesn't know a thing about Zen, which is painfully obvious to anyone who studies Zen. Oh, I forgot... on Amazon the book had good reviews and I almost ordered it. Good fortune the entire book was actually available on Amazon.

[danthony]

Originally Posted by SelfAwareWorld

I do a lot of writing. I have to say that I get a lot ideas from listening to lectures on various subjects on my Ipod. People who are good speakers and can relate there messages clearly to an audience will demonstrate the proper way to hold peoples attention. After all, you are "speaking" to your reader through words. Write like you are speaking, or telling a story to someone sitting next to you and you will do well.

Like the above poster, i listen to alot of podcasts for excellent content but i also do a whole lot of writing to hone in on my writing techniques. The more you write, the easier writing becomes for you. You will also get a lot less mind blocks if you listen or read other people's content. It's all about how you massage your writing mindset. It definitely is a practice makes perfect scenario. If your writing skills are poor, take a good English Reading and Grammar course to help get your skills up to par.

[David Turnbull]

On Writing Well is the best book about writing I've read. Really changed my approach. :-)

[PipHunn]

Remember:

"There are three rules for writing[...], unfortunately, no one knows what they are."
- -W Somerset Maugham

The best way to see if you can find those rules is to write, freely, prolifically and constantly.

Technique is good. But you can write terribly, as long as you edit well ;-)

[Mr Anderson]

In many ways writing is like many art forms. When I was learning to play the guitar I played all my favorite guitarists songs, note for note, over and over again. As the member Michael Chui pointed out this is copying, but it helped give me some of my musical vocabulary. And that is one of the main points in writing, to find your own voice Elvis Costello said that every musician was a thief and a magpie. He meant that we may not write something that is completely original, but the way we interpret someone's music or in this case writings, can help us find our own style,cadence,etc. The thoughts, feelings and questions that we have now are pretty much the same as the people that were here thousands of years ago; purpose, love, fulfillment etc. The way you write it is what make it distinctly your own.
So as others have said i agree that you should write as much as you can, and as in music, read things that will help you to grow as a writer.

[Bruce Achterberg]

Originally Posted by mikola

Hi.
I'd like to develop my writing skills. So I am going to begin with reading books on this subject. Can you advise some books which cover this topic at outstanding level?

This series of articles by David Sirlin had a significant positive impact on me:

- Writing Well, Part 1: Sensibilities
- Writing Well, Part 2: Clear Thinking, Clear Writing
- Writing Well, Part 3: Origins of a Writer

Also, The Elements of Style (already mentioned in this thread) is a book I often reference. I keep it in my desk drawer. (No other books enjoy that privilege. )

Above all, write for the love of it. I choose to write well because I enjoy clear expression; it matters to me.

I come to a page (or a text box) for many reasons, but almost always, it's with love of (or for) something.

[bapl88]

Originally Posted by James81

Still, best method is to:

1. Write
2. Edit
3. Edit again
4. Edit again
5. Post to beta readers for feedback
6. Edit again based on their comments.
7. Repeat.

I am a firm believer of the maxim: "there is no good writing, only good re-writing." no matter how much you know about the theory, you have to get your thoughts on paper/screen, look them over, and work out every word you're going to use. you can't concentrate on style and content effectively if you do them both at once, so go for content, then rework it until it's a masterpiece.

[blossom]

You could do all that AND start a writing club...or join one. It's good to recieve feedback from other writers. There is an awesome website called redbubble.com...I highly recommend you check it out! There are all different groups for writers, photographers, visual artists etc. and you can get inspired by all the amazing talent there, which is good for motivation.

[mikola]

Thanks
I've found a lot of usefull advises here.

However, now I'm thinking of exploring speaking in addition to writing. I gather it can be a sort of a catalist for writing. So, are there any usefull books about how to speak well and to sound well if you're recording a podcast, for example?

[Conan Stevens]

You need to spend some time and think about what you really want to do. Speaking and writing are two different skills, though related. What are you really interested in doing?

Anyway the advice for speaking is the same for writing - practise, just sit down and start doing it.

I write a lot, well I have written a produced movie script that had a successful 7 week run in cinema, 3 ebooks on fitness, another 2 scripts ready for presentation to investors, a massive blog as I go about making my acting career successful, etc.

None of this would have been accomplished by reading books. Just sit down and write as much as you can then edit it.

[Conan Stevens]

You need to spend some time and think about what you really want to do. Speaking and writing are two different skills, though related. What are you really interested in doing?

Anyway the advice for speaking is the same for writing - practise, just sit down and start doing it.

I write a lot, well I have written a produced movie script that had a successful 7 week run in cinema, 3 ebooks on fitness, another 2 scripts ready for presentation to investors, a massive blog as I go about making my acting career successful, etc.

None of this would have been accomplished by reading books. Just sit down and write as much as you can then edit it.

[mikola]

2Conan Stevens

I agree with you. However, I suppose that at first I have to absorb a great deal of content before I can produce something. I think of it like being a child. One has to listen a lot of the language before s/he can say something. Of course, I can just sit down and begin to write or I can just sit down and begin to record a podcast. But how am I being able to do adjustments along the way? Certainly by reading. I made a worth list of books on writing and I want to add a worth list of books on speaking.

By the way, I read quickly your blog and found it very useful. In my teens I wanted to be an actor as well. Now it all forgotten but reading about it very interesting.

[Mused]

Two books I really like

The 3 A.M. Epiphany and The 4 A.M. Breakthrough by Brian Kiteley.

Both have tons of short writing exercises that aim to inspire creativity

[Michael Chui]

Originally Posted by mikola

I agree with you. However, I suppose that at first I have to absorb a great deal of content before I can produce something. I think of it like being a child. One has to listen a lot of the language before s/he can say something.

Yes, that's true. But what does a child have to listen to? What does the subject have to be about?

I'll answer that: anything. It doesn't matter. A child both listens to all the language around him... and also starts to babble to play with the way her throat, teeth, and tongue work together to make sounds.

Ask people for reactions to your writing and your speaking. It could be direct: I didn't like this or I liked that: or it could be indirect: I felt this way at this point, and you could infer from that what worked or didn't work.

Be like a child: start trying while you're learning. If you want to know how to write, then read. Not books on writing: books on everything. Read books on the same stuff you want to write about. Same goes for speaking.

[Conan Stevens]

Originally Posted by Michael Chui

Be like a child: start trying while you're learning. If you want to know how to write, then read. Not books on writing: books on everything. Read books on the same stuff you want to write about. Same goes for speaking.

For a good example go back and look at the first few posts on my website, a few of them are absolute rubbish but over time I have gotten much better through practise. You don't need to read anything first.

You should be an expert on your field, if not then you should not write about it in my opinion.

Continue to read though, and practise, you need to improve your English, or write in your native language for your countrymen - then you can 'report' on an authoritive source and give all credit to that authourity figure but have your own website - many bloggers write things like "Steve Pavlina says..."

Don't procrastinate or delay is my only advice or you will still be doing nothing in 5 years time