TEN WRITING TIPS FOR STUDENTS IN ENG 221 - WRITING FICTION
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WRITE EVERY DAY: As with any skill, practice makes perfect.
JOIN CSN’S CREATIVE WRITING CLUB: What better way to become a skilled writer than to surround yourself with others who have a similar passion?
BE A WORD NERD: The more words you learn, the bigger your repertoire for your own writing, so don’t be afraid to use the dictionary or thesaurus as a great resource.
READ MORE: A writer can only be as good as the best books he’s read. The more you read, the more skilled authors you have as your role model.
AVOID CLICHÉ/OVER USED WORDS: Figure out which words you overuse that start to lose their meaning; instead, challenge yourself to come up with some fantastic, phenomenal, extraordinary replacement words/phrases.
DESCRIBE THE MUNDANE: Find things in your everyday life, and describe them down to the smallest detail. Learn to pay attention to detail and your writing will improve.
ASK FOR FEEDBACK: Many authors have a hard time taking criticism for their work, but even the most famous authors have editors who help make their writing better.
TAKE RISKS/DON’T CENSOR YOURSELF: Don’t be afraid to experiment with a new genre, setting, or type of character. You never know what might happen!
FIND A MENTOR: Ask seasoned writers for tips and motivations to help you on your journey.
DON’T GIVE UP: Becoming a famous author won’t happen overnight. The most successful authors work at it for years, and never quit.