Top Ten Writing Tips of 2006

There are an over abundance of tips and suggestions for new and experienced writers. You can search the internet and find more websites than you would visit in a lifetime, all giving the writer necessary tips on how to improve their writing. While all the tips are worthy, they only work for some. Everyone writes different. The following is a list of the top ten writing tips that apply to every writer, regardless of experience.

Imagery improves your writing. Stephen King called this process "writing with the third eye - the eye of imagination and memory." Throughout high school you've heard the process of writing "Who, What, Why, Where, When". That is a good process, but for more in-depth writing you need to use imagery. A reader must be able to close their eyes and See, Hear, Feel, and Smell the vision of your words. Descriptive detail engages the reader and keeps t heir attention.

Make mud. The material of your first draft is what is considered mud. The words are all over the place, the writing might lack coherency. However, the tracks are laid for the story to come together. The simple fact is, if you don't write, you won't write. Make mud and play with it.

Just write. If you spend too much time thinking about what you're writing, you won't get anywhere. Have you ever sat down to write and started thinking and realized you don't have much down on paper? Write what you're thinking, even if it doesn't make much sense.

Create Lists. Brainstorming is a creative way to increase your writing skills. When the ideas aren't coming, and you feel blocked, creating lists will help your brain juices to flow again. It also helps in the revision process, adding texture to your work.

The thesaurus is not a dinosaur. Using a dictionary and thesaurus is a great way to start making lists. It's also your prime tools in the revision process. Increase the details of your writing with these tools.

Breakfast: Coffee, Bagel, Pen and Paper. Writing is a skill. Skills must be honed. The start of your day is the perfect time to begin writing. Your mind is usually clear and the mud you make writing at your kitchen table can bring projects into focus. It will also leave you more relaxed during the day, with the stress of writing being taken away by your new routine.

Set minor unrealistic goals. Have you ever noticed that when you first start out to do something, it's exciting. You're rejuvinated and excited to begin working on your project. Setting unrealistic goals takes hard work, but in writing, without those goals that novel may never get started. The magic of setting unrealistic goals is that when you achieve them, it's not exactly as you envisioned it, it may just be something better

Don't edit while you write. One reason that writers fall into blocks is because while they are writing, they are thinking of how to edit what they just wrote. You may not realize it at first, but it is a common problem. Write as though you are talking, chatting with a friend. Edit when you're done writing. You'll find that the process goes much smoother, and often will provide better results.

It's worth the struggle. If you are working on a novel and you begin to struggle, you write each day, struggling even more to the point you say to yourself that you don't care anymore what comes out of your pencil. This release leads to a sudden change in your writing. Suddenly you're inspired. You may still occasionally struggle, but you will find that when you give into the struggle and let the words flow, you overcome a block and the words of your writing begins to appear

Write truthfully. Writing truthfully can feel like undressing in public, this hampers many beginners. Write for yourself, all writing takes courage. When you finally show your writing to someone else, you'll find the ultimate truth: No one cares. No one is judging you. To put it bluntly, Get over yourself. Just write.