Be a writer; be a reader

There are three things you must do to become a good writer.

First: Read.

How can you do something well if you don’t understand how it’s done? You can’t. Read so that you may write. Read everything you can get your hands on. Read books. Magazines. Newspaper articles. Comic books. Jokes. Read stuff on the Internet. Read something.

Occasionally read something hard. Many literary classics are hard to read. But the artistry of that writing is unmatched. That is why they are classics.

If something sounds really good when you read it, read it again. Read it out loud. Why does it sound good to you? Read for fun or for information, but sometimes analyze the writing you read.

Second: Practice.

Practice. Practice. Practice. Write something almost everyday. I have been writing professionally for 20 years, and I write virtually every day, and still, I learn something new all the time. Once you know all there is to know about writing, then you have become a mediocre writer. That’s because writing is fluid. It is not rigid. It cannot be done by formula.

Sometimes rules change. For example, we were once told that we could never begin a sentence with the words “and” or “but.” But now, it’s OK.

Third: Study the fundamentals of writing.

Learn punctuation. Learn grammar. Study what you read to see how sentences are put together, how paragraphs are crafted. Take a class if you can.

Two additional points: Never be afraid to make mistakes and have fun.

We learn from our mistakes. And most of all, writing should be fun.

FabulousFables.com offers writing tips and lessons on its forum. The forum is interactive and easy to use, so you can ask for personal help. In order to access the forum you must be a member of the club. If you need help writing, I will help you.

David Madrid

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