George Orwell likened good writing to a clear piece of glass. It hides nothing, it is transparent and all who see it know exactly what they are getting out of it. However, good writing is not easily accomplished. In fact, the most brilliant writers experience writer’s block at some point or the other. The question is this: How can anyone be creative and be able to produce good writing all the time?
1) Read lots
There is a reason why reading is strongly encouraged. It feeds the mind and creativity. It allows one to benefit from the knowledge of a variety of cultures, ideas and gain insight into the complexity of human nature. Once the mind is fed as such, the thought process begins to flow easily and fluently. From there, creative and critical thinking become second nature. Writing then becomes the outward expression of those inward thoughts.
2) Review, Rewrite, Rephrase
No one’s first draft is ever perfect. (That’s why even professional authors have a whole editorial team behind their books.) The secret is in the many rounds of editing and reviewing to get that sentence sounding exactly the way it should. As James Michener said, “I am not a good writer, but I am an excellent rewriter.”
3) Practice makes perfect
Cliché but true. No writer started off being excellent at his craft. And as with just about everything else, the more your write, the better you will become. With more practice, expressing those thoughts and ideas can be clear and transparent like glass.
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