There are so many things that you learn throughout your high school and college career about writing effectively, but are they all true? Do they really help you to write effectively? Or are they all just falsities put upon you by ignorant people who think they know everything? All of these questions are appropriate while thinking about your history as a writer, but have no fear. I put together a little guide to hopefully give you advice on how to be more effective in your writing.
1. Don’t be Uniform
One common misconception that teachers tend to teach their students is the importance of uniformity. To be honest, uniformity is the least bit important. Take what that teacher said and put it through one ear and out the other.
According to the online English Club, variety keeps the reader’s focus and interest. They also explain how to create variety in your writing (click here).
You don’t always have to be uniform in your writing. Not every paragraph has to be the same length and your papers don’t always have to be only five paragraphs long. For example, look at this blog post. Does it look the least bit uniform? Not at all. The reason why is because if you keep your essays and writings uniform, then it becomes boring for the reader to read and look at. Uniform is boring. I’m not saying make your writing chaotic, but I’m saying don’t be afraid to change up the length of your sentences, how many sentences are in a paragraph, and the number of paragraphs in your writing.
This ties into my next point:
2. Don’t Always Make Your Writings Five Paragraphs Long
Unlike what most teachers tell you, you are unlimited in your writings. Most teachers say that essays and writings have to be five paragraphs long, when in reality; you don’t have to push yourself to make your piece five paragraphs long if your piece is short and you don’t have to limit yourself to five paragraphs if your piece is a bit longer. Again, having the same amount of paragraphs every time you write a piece is uniform and boring. We want to keep the trader’s attention. It’s ok if you change it up every once in a while. No one is stopping you.
This leads us to my next point:
3. Don’t Always Make Your Paragraphs the Same Amount of Sentences
Another thing that teachers teach is how long each paragraph is. Does this really matter? The answer is no, it doesn’t. I remember learning in elementary and middle school that each paragraph should have five sentences. Well, if we all make our paragraphs the same length, just imagine how boring and uniform that can be.
There’s an easy fix here. Change it up. Make some paragraphs longer than others or cut obnoxiously long paragraphs into several smaller paragraphs. An example of this is again, this blog post. Notice how each paragraph is slightly different from the last. It’s more inviting and interesting this way.
4. Put Yourself in Your Writing
Don’t be afraid to put yourself in your writing. Use examples from your own personal past. It helps keep your writing interesting and the reader interested and wanting to read more. Sometimes, it helps the reader relate to your works.
In a blog entry by Leona R. Wisoker (click here), she explains how to put yourself into your work by making the whole entire blog post into a personal piece. She related it to herself and to the reader.
5. Connect the Reader to the Topic of Your Writing
Don’t forget to connect the reader to the topic on which you are writing. It keeps their interest if you use examples that relate to them. For example, I once did a research project on horses and swayback in horses. I related it to the reader by explaining how swayback in horses was like scoliosis in humans; it is a deformation of the spine. So, relate your writing to the reader.
Chris Nosal writes about five tips on how to connect to your readers in a online article (click here). The five tips he addresses are: 1. You have to be interesting; 2. Paint pictures in their minds; 3. Tell a story; 3. Get them involved in the story; and 5. Build a relationship.
6. Don’t Ramble
Do not, and I mean do not ramble. It is the number one easiest way to get off topic. This is common sense; rambling gets boring, so the reader will become bored and uninterested while reading your piece. They will most likely put down your writing and pick up something else to read. It’s sort of like a parent’s lecture to their kids. They start rambling on and on about just one thing so, the kids become disinterested. Don’t do it. Don’t be the rambler.
7. Write about Topics That Interest You
This is also common sense. You usually would want to write about things that you know the most about and that interest you. The more you show an interest in your work, the more interest your reader will show while reading your work.
8. Make Sure All Grammar and Spelling Are Correct
Last, but certainly not least, grammar and spell check your pieces before you hand them in or put them on the internet. You want to seem as intelligent and knowledgeable as possible, not seem like a bozo of sorts. How are people supposed to take you seriously if you have grammar and spelling errors in your work? So, take the few extra minutes to spell check and grammar check your work.
I hope these tips help you become more of an effective writer and good luck on your endeavors.