Hey all,
I just realized I forgot to post about what helps me write effectively. I have always felt that writing is a personal thing in which each person has their own little quirks and suggestions that helps them translate what they have in their mind to what the say on paper.
In order to do that I have always believed a person must understand what situation allows them to be most creative. For me, I need to spend time showering and contemplate what I want to say. After having this mental outline, I then sit down and just write about the topic. I avoid paying attention to the rules, and nuances that are involved in writing. I write and present my argument. After finishing my argument, I then go back and proofread my work. At that point the conventions of English are brought back into play as I tinker with phrases and word choice.
Once I have a piece that I am confident in, I then print it out and read it with a pen. I use my pen to both proofread and edit my work. Often, many mistakes that I have missed are found and corrected. I also, substitute new words and vocabulary that I am seeking to include in my works. After making these corrections, I click save and go on ESPN.Com
I have also found that the setting that somebody writes in is essential to that works success. Some people can sit in front of a television and write an electric essay while others need the quite of a library. I find myself somewhere in the middle. I need noise and activity to be going on around me in order to match my fast paced writing style however, I get distracted very easily and have noticed that 10 min breaks have an ability to last much longer. As a result, I often listen to music and write my paper on Bascom Hill or in my room. This is decided by what time I sit down to write and the weather outside.
That to me is the most important part of writing. Finding a setting that fosters creativity and productivity. I like writing essays but prefer to do them quickly so I can go out later that night. I believe an essay should be written quickly and thoroughly. Over-proofreading and over thinking can lead to disastrous results and undermine what you are trying to say. A person is better off having a well-written sentence then spending hours trying to find the perfect one. No writing is perfect and often that is what makes a piece of writing so exhilarating. I understand that my work will never be perfect and I seek to capture those imperfections.
People are inherently imperfect beings and a writer must understand that. I have always felt that mistakes are what make works interesting, different and revolutionary. The one suggestion I would like to leave you with is the suggestion of truth. Be true to the voice in your head. Writing is relaying YOUR ideas to the public. Do not spend time trying to say what people want to hear rather focus on saying what you are thinking. If a writer can do that than who is to say a work is poorly done?