Writing seems like a simple task, but it is not. The process of coherently setting down words on a page takes study and practice. Conveying thoughts in black and white requires organization and smoothness. If you are venturing into the land of the written word for the first time, you may find that what is so easy to read and understand is not so easy to produce.
To become adept at writing, you need to understand the three principles required in writing: reading, thinking, and writing. The oft heard advice to "write how you would speak", is faulty. Vocal inflections and body language convey meaning in speech that is not evident in writing. Writing that is a reproduction of speech is often so disorganized and grammatically incorrect, it is unintelligible. Instead, you need to use the principles of good writing to organize your thoughts in a format that is easily understood by readers. These principles are essential in all types of writing, including fiction and non-fiction.
Reading
Teachers can tell by reading the essays they're grading which of their students spend time reading and which don't. Studying examples of experts allows you to understand what good writing is. A writer who has been exposed to a great deal of literature but who hasn't yet learned the principles of writing will still produce a paper far superior to the writer who has read little more than traffic signs. Readers know what good writing looks like and although they may not be able to duplicate what they know without a little training, they can at least recognize the weaknesses in their writing and seek to improve them.
Careful reading also supplies you with a thorough understanding of the subject. Spending enough time studying a subject allows you to form your own conclusions and make your own argument. If you haven't spent enough time reading a subject, you will find it difficult to write a paper about it. On the other hand, when you completely understand a subject, writing about it become natural and often provides an essential outlet for sharing it with others. People naturally want to share with others new knowledge they have gained, and writing provides that opportunity.
If you haven't been an avid reader, don't let your lack of experience stop you from taking on the world of literature. Books come in a wide variety of subjects and any person who is willing to spend a little time in a good library will find something of interest. The greatest writers in history all spent great quantities of time reading before picking up the quill and recording their thoughts. You also can learn to write in a way that will intrigue and excite your readers if you spend adequate time in preparation.
Thinking
Reading by itself will be pointless if you do not think about and understand what you are reading. Mindless reading will only produce mindless writing. Not understanding a text is no excuse for disregarding it. If you put a little work in to the task, you can understand anything you read. Serious readers own good dictionaries and use them regularly. If you are not in the habit of looking up the words you do not understand, make that a goal.
Although it can be laborious to continually stop and look up words, it will be much more effective because you will actually understand what you are reading. Over time you will acquire a larger vocabulary and find understanding texts much easier than before.
You should also pause frequently to consider the subject and make sure you understand what the writer is saying. When reading very difficult texts you may find it necessary to stop after each paragraph or even each sentence to think about the writer's message. This kind of thorough understanding will enable you to form your own opinion about the subject.
As you carefully read about a subject you will most likely find that you are forming your own thoughts and opinions about it. Take time to brainstorm and organize your thoughts. Be careful of any preconceived biases you may have and open your mind to alternatives. You may find that you were wrong about something or that there's more to an argument that you previously rejected. By carefully considering all angles of an argument you can be more confident in your conclusions regarding the matter and present a strong argument of your own.
Writing and Rewriting
After all that preparation, you are finally ready to put your words on paper. If you have adequately prepared, you should find it easy to express your thoughts. However, if you think you can write once and forget it, you will probably find that your papers aren't as strong as they could be. Even the best writers need to go over their writing and reorganize, reword, and sometimes even rethink.
Approaching a paper with the knowledge that you will be coming back to it again later to rework it can greatly ease the process of writing. You may find that the ideas need to come out, but you can't find the best way to express them right at first. Knowing that your first draft will not be your last draft allows you to leave some parts unorganized and irregular. When you go back through the paper, you will have your main argument already written out, so you can then focus on the difficult parts.
If you have a very difficult time expressing a certain point, you probably need to go back and do a little more preparation. Because writing is the process of recording thoughts in an organized manner, difficulty in writing often results from disorganized thinking. When you come to difficult points in your writing, stop and brainstorm on the subject. If you find it difficult to come to any conclusion through brainstorming, then go back and read a little more on the subject. You may find that you didn't thoroughly understand the point and needed a little more preparation in that area.
Applying These Principles
Creative writing requires these three principles just as much as non-fiction does. You must read in order to understand how to organize the language and plot of a work of fiction. You will need to think expansively about how your own plot will play out. Once you start writing, you will also find it easier to write a rough draft first and smooth it out later. Just like non-fiction writing, fiction writing takes a great deal of preparation and is much stronger when authors carefully think through their storyline and go back repeatedly to revise.
No matter what you are writing, start off by reading. Zero in on the things that pique your interest and think deeply about them. Don't try to skimp on preparation and hope that your writing will be easy and excellent. Good writing takes hard work, but it's worth it in the end when you have a strong text that influences others.
