Need basic tools and ways to practice and polish my writing skills
What are the ways to practice and improve basic writing, like content and creative writing? I am not planning to write or learn to write fictional stories.
By creative writing, I mean the essentials of writing anything is to first be creative. Any good writer is witty, eloquent and creative. Though my grammar is excellent technically, I can write on the topics of my interest. But I lack the key writing skills. I need to learn and practice my creative writing skills, which I think is the key to writing well. I want to be able to write a blog where I can write on anything without having to spend time over it.
Furthermore, I am reading The Elements of Style by Strunk, Perfect English Grammar: The Indispensable Guide to Excellent Writing and Speaking, and another book on grammar. I am using the Language tool extension for basic correction.
Can you please give me some basic sources to practice my writing skills? Such as some great YouTube channel, or a website which gives exercises or provides something to learn by copying.
I hope this question is specific enough for the rules, and it will be beneficial for many readers as well who are just beginning their literary journey.
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Practice makes perfect, but remember: Blind spots always exist. You can share your writing with either your friends or your readers. Get their feedback on your writing, and don't be afraid to be criticized. Open your mind to all the comments and turn them into opportunities for growth.
Occasionally, you might find it beneficial to take a break from writing and read the writing of others. Study how they communicate thoughts or depict a situation. Mark some well-written sentences and paragraphs. I often use bookmark managers online, such as Raindrop and Markup, to organize my favorite sentences.
Last but not least, the more knowledge you gain, the better you can write. Try to broaden your horizon. Avoid confining yourself to a narrow field.
Conclusion:
- Write more.
- Read more.
- Embrace criticism.
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Grammar is to writing as driving a nail is to architecture. Yes, you need the nails to be driven in straight, but it is not what architecture is about.
A good writer is, first of all, a good observer. They have a full picture of the thing or event they are trying to describe.
Secondly, they have a good sense of what to say and what not to say to convey what they have seen to the reader. Often this is about choosing the right details to focus on. A perfect detail can paint the whole of a scene in the reader's mind. A perfect detail can bring out the essential point of a piece. A perfect detail can move the reader to profound emotion.
What you see, and what you choose to describe out of what you see, are the essence of compelling writing. Figuring out this stuff is what makes a better writer.
People will rightly tell you that you need to read to become a better writer. But your need to read with a particular kind of attention if it is going to help. And this is what you should be paying attention to. What does the writer choose to say, what detail do the choose to focus on, and what is the effect of their doing so. Learn that, and you will be a better writer.
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I agree with Lundin.
My English isn’t very good; that's why I mostly write in my own language. And, I rarely write in English just to improve my English mistakes all the time I do.
I started reading a book one year ago of writing (I won't like to mention specific year). I had read The Miracle Morning. It was the first book I have ever read outside of academic subject. Later, when I became an atheist, I started reading lots of books. I am mentioning some of them (you won't find all of them since they were in my native language, not in English). I had read prottyaborton (recession) and Alo (light) (the name may be incorrect cause I can't remember it properly). I had read some more. And then, I started reading lots of holy books. I joined Quora that time. And started reading articles and answers on Quora.
When I thought I have some knowledge then I started writing answers on Quora. Then SO and now on Codidact. I chose bn.quora.com since I was "English illiterate" but I have written 5-6 answers in English Quora.
Before reading any single book, I was trying to write an article (not actually an article - you can call it a book). I had just written 20 pages. Later I got nothing to write. Then I realized my knowledge is limited so I should read rather than write. After reading books, I had beautifully written a book. That's why I always say reading isn't hard but writing is. If your knowledge is limited than you can't write a proper "thing". You can gain knowledge by writing also. I told one of my friends that I usually write to learn rather than to become famous.
You may have knowledge about topic A, you may even have read 100 books on that topic. But when you start writing you will see how much knowledge you actually have about that.
I personally don’t recommend anyone to watch YT videos. I know there's thousands of guides about writing on YT but I just say,"they are sh**".
I got some work so I have to move now; that's why I couldn't complete the answer. But I hope this information is helpful.
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