Writing Techniques

It is a long process when it comes to writing for me. I have learned throughout the years many new techniques to improve my writing. Though it may still not be perfect, my writing is a lot better than it used to be. I have learned many ways to improve by going to tutors, through my English professors, and through reading to people.

            The first thing I do is make an outline of the information I think I may use. I come up with what I am going to write about, and then think up main points under the topic. I try to come up with at least two things to write about underneath each main point. I then put everything together into an essay.

            As I am writing I try to cover the assignment demanded of me. I do not organize anything too much until after I have everything in words on paper in essay form. Once everything is on paper, I do my cut and paste or throw away, which is why I write more than needed because I know everything, will not stay the way it is. I look at everything I have and throw away what does not fall under the main point or topic. Sometimes I write something under a different main point that should be somewhere else, so I take it out and put it where it belongs. There have been times where I could also make another main point with a sub point that did not belong. I learned this technique from an English teacher who used to make us cut, with scissors, our essay up in sentences, and put the sentences together in different ways to see how they fit together.

            When everything is written, I do not look at my essay until later in the day or sometimes the next day. I do this because I see what I have written a lot different than when I initially wrote it. As in most of my English classes I revise my first draft and now have a second draft.

            After I have written my revised essay, I read it to someone I know will give me an honest opinion of what they think about it. They usually give me pointers on how I could better my paper, or they tell me they like it. I make whatever revisions needed.

            In an essay written by Linda Flower, called “Writing for an Audience”, many techniques are described. One is to “Analyze your Audience”. Flower talks about the knowledge of the writer and their attitude about what they are writing. She gives many questions of what the reader should know and to be prescriptive because you cannot assume the reader knows what you are talking about. Also our attitude toward the topic may be different of the readers. We have to keep this in mind as to not lose a reader’s interest and to not offend the reader.

            Some people may be naturals at writing. They sit down and put words on paper and it works. I have to go through a process like many people also have to do. You may not think what is written is perfect in the end, but putting the effort into it and using a few techniques, may make it better than you thought it would be.