5 Writing Habits You Need to Quit Now
5 Writing Habits You Need to Quit to Sharpen Your Skills.
We all have them, we must admit – those ingrained habits that creep into our writing and hold us back from reaching our full potential.Whether you're a seasoned author or just starting your writing journey, identifying and eliminating these bad habits can make a world of difference in the clarity, flow, and impact of your work.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=6253Q9q6mhk
Below are five common writing habits to ditch for a sharper writing style:
1. Neglecting the Power of Pre-Writing
The allure of diving straight into the first sentence can be strong, but skipping the pre-writing phase often leads to a scattered and unfocused final product. Pre-writing is like building a strong foundation for your house.
- Ditch the Habit: No outlining? No problem! There are various pre-writing techniques to explore. Mind mapping (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mind_map) is a great way to visually brainstorm ideas and connections. Bullet journaling (https://bulletjournal.com/) can help you jot down key points and organize your thoughts.
- Embrace the Power: Dedicate even 15 minutes to pre-writing can significantly improve your writing process. A clear outline keeps you on track, ensures you cover all essential points, and helps maintain a logical flow of information.
2. Editing on Autopilot
While the urge to fix typos and tighten grammar as you write might seem productive, it can actually hinder creativity and slow down your progress.
- Ditch the Habit: Resist the temptation to edit while drafting. Treat the first draft as a way to get your ideas flowing freely. Worry about grammar and sentence structure later.
- Embrace the Power: Schedule dedicated editing sessions after you finish your first draft. This allows you to approach the piece with fresh eyes and focus solely on improving clarity, conciseness, and flow. Utilize online grammar checkers like Grammarly (https://www.grammarly.com/) or Hemingway Editor (https://hemingwayapp.com/) for a quick grammar and style analysis.
3. Fear of the Delete Button
Letting go of unnecessary words and phrases can be difficult, but it's crucial for crafting impactful writing.
- Ditch the Habit: Clinging to every word you write can lead to bloated sentences and a diluted message. Don't be afraid to hit the delete button!
- Embrace the Power: Become ruthless with your editing. Look for opportunities to condense sentences, eliminate redundancies, and replace weak verbs with stronger ones. Consider Ernest Hemingway's famous advice: "I've rewritten the first sentence of a paragraph a hundred times."
4. Falling Prey to Passive Voice
The passive voice can make your writing sound weak and indirect.
- Ditch the Habit: Depending too much on the passive voice weakens your writing and makes it sound impersonal.
- Embrace the Power: Rewrite passive voice sentences into the active voice whenever possible. This strengthens your writing and makes it clearer and more engaging for your readers. For example, instead of "The report was written by me," write "I wrote the report."
5. The Thesaurus Trap
While a thesaurus can be a valuable tool, relying on it to constantly replace common words with obscure synonyms can backfire.
- Ditch the Habit: Don't sacrifice clarity for the sake of using fancy words.
- Embrace the Power: Use a thesaurus to find the most precise word to convey your meaning, but prioritize clarity over complexity. Your readers will appreciate straightforward language that they can easily understand.
Bonus Tip: Embrace the Power of Reading
Reading the work of authors you admire exposes you to different writing styles and techniques. Analyzing how other writers use language can significantly enhance your own writing skills.
Here is YouTube video you can watch :
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TRaf4zSuLv0
Remember: Developing strong writing skills takes time and practice. Be patient with yourself, experiment with different techniques, and most importantly, enjoy the process of writing!
