On Writing: My Thoughts and Experiences in the World of Prose
I would call myself a writer.
But Charles Dickens and Agatha Christie and Laura Hillenbrand are also writers (to name a few of my favorites), and somehow, I don’t feel like I can really put myself in the same category as them. But the fact remains: I write things, and that makes me a writer.
What really fascinates me is the broadness of the term “writer” and all the vastly different types of “writing” that exist. From mysteries to fantasy to memoirs to lifestyle pieces to longform journalism, the content and style of these various kinds of writing could not be more different. As a young, not-yet-seasoned, but somewhat experienced, writer, I would like to outline my writing process and thoughts on a few of these styles.
For those just beginning to write, I hope this piece can give you some helpful suggestions and tips that I had to learn the hard way, through blood, sweat, and tears—and lots of trial and error. For more seasoned writers, you can get a glimpse into a fellow creator’s process. And for myself re-reading this sometime far in the future, you will probably laugh at the naivety, but I hope you will smile at the progress you’ve made.
Blog/Lifestyle Writing
I figured I would start with this since it’s what I’m doing right now. This type of writing is characterized by very casual language that focuses on personal thoughts, creative expression and relatable content. It is often short in form with a word range from 500-1000.
Blogs are a unique blend of nonfiction, advice, opinion, and creativity. It is typically lighthearted and helpful in nature but can also focus on deeper subjects. What I like most about this style is the openness and freedom. I can write about literally whatever my heart desires.
However, that is also probably my least favorite part: sometimes my idea reservoir is dry and I struggle to come up with new, creative pieces. Here are some tips to make your blog writing the best it can be:
Write what flows.
Don’t force it and have fun with it! Blog writing is a great way to just practice getting words on paper.
Write what you know.
Draw upon personal experience! Those articles will be the most passionate and vibrant.
Write like you’re having a conversation with a friend.
This is not the time to sound like you’re writing a scholarly treatise. You can use slang, casual phrasing, and even contractions.
Newspaper Writing
Journalism is definitely the category I have the most experience in. I’m an editor at my college newspaper and have probably written hundreds of articles. There’s a lot that goes into writing an article for a newspaper: contacting sources (at least 3 for each article), setting up interviews, conducting interviews (how you conduct an interview can make or break an article), transcribing the interview, then writing the article.
In the newspaper world, accuracy is paramount. Even one small mistake can end a journalist’s career. Here are some tips to write powerful, truthful journalistic articles.
Never insert your own opinion.
Many people have nearly lost faith in journalists because so many of them mix facts with opinion. Frankly, I think it’s disgraceful. Never spin the facts for any reason.
Ask open-ended questions in the interview.
Questions such as “what did you think of…” that allow people to express how they feel about the subject often illicit the most powerful quotes.
Find an angle.
This is paramount. Instead of throwing a bunch of disjointed facts onto a page, find a theme that connects it all together and focus the facts around that to create a unified storyline.
Magazine Writing
I love magazine writing because it’s a blend of journalistic and lifestyle writing. I freelance for a magazine in a small town and usually write features for them that highlight local businesses and the people who run them.
I get to tell people’s stories after interviewing them like I do for newspaper articles, but I get to add more creativity and heart to the writing. Here’s what I’ve learned about this type of writing so far:
Really try to connect with the subject.
Interviews for a feature usually are longer than interviews for a hard news story. Focus on finding what makes the subject tick—their inspiration, background, etc. This will make the article much more meaningful.
Stick to the facts, but be creative.
Again, never say anything untrue, but really focus on the richness of the story and the art of writing.
Choose good sources.
Interviewing good sources is always important for any article, but in feature articles having another source who can speak about the subject really takes the article to the next level.
Fiction Writing
When people think of writing, they normally think of fiction. Stephen King, Mark Twain, and J.K. Rowling are all examples of famous fiction writers. This type of writing is very different from the previous types of writing that have been mentioned, as the storyline is created by the author.
While the stories are not true, they resonate deeply with readers. They are an escape from reality and can be exciting, enthralling, and thought-provoking. I have the least amount of experience in writing this category, but I’ve read my fair share of fiction.
From the reader’s perspective, this is what I think makes for a good fiction piece:
Be original.
Nobody wants to read something that’s already been done. Channel all that inner creativity into something new.
Keep the story moving.
I think a mark of a good fiction writer is being able to strike the perfect balance between description, development, and the progression of the plot. You don’t want readers getting bogged down in details.
Involve deeper themes.
A good story involves not only action and events, but brings in topics common to the human existence. This is what really connects readers to a story.
Nonfiction Writing
Technically, magazine writing, newspaper writing, and lifestyle blog writing are all forms of nonfiction writing. However, here I am talking about full-length nonfiction books. This includes memoirs, biographies, and literary nonfiction. This is the category I aspire to write.
I have only dabbled in longer nonfiction pieces but hope to get more experience soon. From my limited experience and lots of observation, here are the tips I would give at this point in time:
Above all, focus on the storyline.
It is extremely easy to get bogged down in facts with nonfiction writing. While the facts are important, make sure you don’t neglect the overall movement of the story or else readers will lose interest. Weave the facts and details into the plot.
Never guess on the facts.
While it is extremely tempting to make up details to fill out a story, you must resist the urge and commit to the truth. There are various ways to go back and reconstruct the details of a story, such as old photographs and weather forecasts in old newspapers.
View the story through the eyes of the reader.
When telling a story you are already familiar with, it is easy to not include details that are necessary to the reader. Act like you’re telling this story to someone with no knowledge on your subject. Be careful in using too many names and places that readers will get confused and don’t hesitate to remind readers who someone is.
I hope you enjoyed my ramblings on writing. If you’re new, I encourage you to get out there and try your hand at it. If you’re experienced, keep up the good work (and maybe give me some advice!!) For anyone else, I hope this provided some insight into the broad and fascinating world of writing.
Sincerely, Hannah
Photography: Hannah B.