Are you intentionally using complex, that is, ‘refined’ vocabulary in your writing? Is it because you feel it sounds better, sophisticated, cultured?
For quite some time now, my observations of the style of proclaimed authors indicate they use simple vocabulary. Yet, even though their choice of words is rather simple, the thoughts they are expressing and the way of expression they use is what makes their writing special.
Sentence structure matters, no matter who you are.
You might be a student trying to get a passing grade on an essay, a guy trying to write a text to a smart girl without humiliating yourself, an employee writing a company-wide memo, or a writer working on your next book. When sentence structure gets out of whack, there can be consequences (no passing grade, no first date, no raise, no publishing contract).
Through the Story Cartel Course, I’ve always wanted to create a community combining my passion for the writing craft with everything I’ve learned about publishing through Story Cartel.
I wasn’t sure it would work, and while it’s too early to tell if the course is a success yet, after working with over 200 writers, the signs are promising.
Last week I asked you what you think the basics of writing well are, and today, I thought I’d ease into the subject of how to write well by talking about the five biggest pitfalls that are hurting your writing.
How do I become a better writer? Nearly every day people email me questions like this. The questions come from the most unlikely places, from fourteen year old aspiring novelists, from corporate and government leaders who want to help their colleagues hone their writing skills, even from people trying to improve their English.
“Practice,” I often tell them. But what do you practice? What are the basic skills you need to learn to write well?
