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Even if you do not have access to your computer, there are ways to write by hand. Any method is good; writing by hand is simply what you know.
Some people enjoy pen and paper. They feel it’s more natural. If you think about it, every letter we receive is written by hand. Most emails can be sent via keyboard but most of us still use handwriting once in a while.
Handwriting requires ample practice, however. For that reason, I don’t recommend it unless you really need to (and then only sometimes).
I say “when possible” because computers have made being able to email words easy. Although typing letters out by hand is faster, having access to a word processor allows for easier future editing, spelling errors, and general confusion.
Letters should be handwritten except where necessary, though – especially when sending someone who will read them anyway. A typed letter or email takes time to process with no guarantee an audience will actually see or read it.
For similar reasons, neither type documents nor print off any papers written online. Save these drafts as Google Docs or Microsoft Word files instead.
Color can add life to any piece of text. It’s even more effective when used as a writing tool. For example, color the bars at the bottom of your page or the pages in the middle of your book.
Colored words are also very helpful because they make what you are saying more obvious. When someone reads something, their eyes need help to process what they are reading.
With colored words, it is easier to identify ideas that relate to each other. Color helps people understand and read content that may be longer or conceptually difficult.
This is probably one of the most important things that you can do when it comes to writing papers. A lot of people think that formatting your paper is too complicated, but actually getting yourself organized goes a long way toward making your job easier.
The first thing that you should do is choose a template. There are many different types of templates, so find at least two that look interesting to you and go from there.
There are some preprinted forms you can use, or you can create your own. Yours will depend on what type of document you write (e.’ story files, blog posts, letters, etc.). But no matter which kind of form you decide on, make sure it is consistent and clear.
Also, organize all of your pages by putting page numbers next to each title, then adding other marks such as “[1-3],” “4-6,” or “7-9.” This makes it much simpler to edit later. Then, only change what needs changing while still keeping your original text intact.
Finally, try using an online writer’s block tool. They are easy to use and free. They help you keep track of deadlines and give you feedback on how well you are doing.
This helps you focus on completing tasks instead of spending hours trying to figure out what to write about.
When choosing a font (type of style), it is best to choose one that is readable. If you have some color knowledge, there are many websites which can help you pick a font colour.
Most word processors allow you to save different fonts and use them accordingly. There are also several free open source fonts that you can use.
However, my suggestion would be to avoid any with handwriting-looking characters as much as possible. Strongly consider paying someone else to write your name if you want it written professionally.
It’s hard enough trying to read something when you know how to spell it, let alone try to figure out what all those strange letters mean. Typography plays a very important part in communication, so learn it well.
There are multiple ways to type things up. By knowing these methods, you will come off as more professional. The most common way is using Arial or Helvetica.
These are pretty standard across almost every computer and smartphone. Don’t feel like you need to go too crazy because everyone uses them.
That being said, each person has their preferred font/style. Knowing this about your potential readers will help you appear more authoritative and trustworthy.
Knowledge is power and the better you understand how words affect the reader, the better writer you will be.
As mentioned above, one of the biggest mistakes that beginning writers make is to write as quickly as they can without thinking about what they are writing.
It’s like having a toddler in the house with access to a knife. You want them to be able to use knife safely, but you also don’t want them playing near a knife unless they know how to cook.
You need to edit even more frequently. Once you get used to editing later, it becomes easier to put your thoughts down on paper, but until you learn to pay better attention to the way you write, an hour of editing should never be missed.
Most errors at this stage come from missing words or terms, not grammar. However, it seems silly to miss those times when someone might use a word or term differently than intended.
That’s why editing takes place during brainstorming sessions, which force you to think on both logical and creative levels.
One of the most important ways to improve your writing is by reading. Reading is one of the essential skills you will need to master as a writer, and it’s something you can do at any time and anywhere.
Reading helps you expand your knowledge base and improves your understanding of what people are talking about when they use big words that you don’t know.
By reading more, you will be able to understand questions and comments that have been running through your head all day long. Plus, by reading things that resonate with you, you learn concepts and rules about writing that others might not encounter until later in life.
There are so many reasons why reading is an indispensable skill for writers, from fun to useful. By reading stories that require you to put yourself in someone else’s shoes, you develop the ability to empathize with characters.
This isn’t just helpful for writers working within the literary genre; it is a necessary tool for anyone who creates narratives. Without empathy, you won’t be able to bring your character to life or feel their pain.
The best way to increase your sensitivity to other peoples’ emotions is to read articles and books that focus on emotional intelligence and interpersonal relationships. This gives you insight into how others think and feels which helps you in real life too.
It’s easy to get distracted in the writing process by other factors like research, trying new ways of writing, or even getting outside help with editing. But without a good editor, what you write today can be saved for tomorrow.
If you don’t have an editor, learn to edit yourself before you publish your work. People are much better at reading and identifying mistakes than we are.
The more time and money you spend fixing others’ errors versus taking steps to ensure your own, the higher likelihood there is that you will pass along another person’s error when you could have caught it.
Don’t become too dependent on others (especially strangers) to catch all of your mistakes. One way to avoid this is to know your readers, understand their world view, and recognize where they fit into the hierarchy of who catches bugs.
You also need to keep working so you gain experience and build confidence, as this helps people trust you which makes life easier for whoever you're designing your content for.
Once you have your tools, be willing to spend time learning how to use them. There are many tutorials online that will help you learn fast.
However, it is important to remember that writing is personal and should be done within yourself. Nobody else can write your story for you.
It’s like having a guide in you that tells you what to do and where to go. Your job is to listen to that voice and try to follow where it leads you.
What I just said may seem really scary, but don’t worry, there are ways to get out of this. Most writers find that being creative with their stories goes hand-in-hand with using writing tools.
Let yourself experiment and see what works for you. ‘Til next time, watch me move like a writer!
It’s impossible to write a good draft of any substantial length without an outline.
You can, but it will be rough. Plus, you run the risk of losing your way while writing your outline. It happens!
An outline is a guide that helps you find your own flow when writing. Since we are human, we make mistakes- don’t worry about making too many errors, just try to get into a rhythm.
That said, having an outline makes sense in terms of efficiency and time savings.
It allows you to craft your story or novel more efficiently by setting specific tasks and deadlines for yourself.
A great way to organize this process is using several different systems. These can help you save time as well as allow you to focus on the task at hand rather than being overwhelmed with everything else.
Some people prefer to plan out their stories before they start writing to avoid writer’s block. Some projects require a lot of research and gathering information so it becomes hard to keep up with them once they begin.
These things may seem like no big deal but now I recommend that you do them every day. By committing enough times to do these things, they become habits which means they take less effort each time you do them.
