Writing IS about grammar, sure, but it takes a medley of other elements as well that play an equally important role here. Of course, bad grammar can be an instant indicator of a bad writer, but it is not all that you need to excel at this craft. It also takes:
- A slice of strategy
- A pinch of your personality
- A handful of human psychology
- A dollop of English language
It is a common misconception that as long as you know your English and grammar, you’re off to a good start as a writer. But, many fail to understand that if that were the case, everyone could be a writer. Many people can write, but not many are good writers. It doesn’t just take a laptop, a leading thought, and a good grasp of grammar. For you to consistently churn out powerful, emotive, and interesting reads, you need to throw in all of the above ingredients, of course, in the right proportions. Here’s a glimpse at the recipe!
A Slice of Strategy
PURPOSE ⇢ The reason why you’re writing, the problem you’re attempting to solve, and the one or many end goals you’re trying to achieve—inspire, entertain, explain, or persuade. Without a purpose, your content will lead to a hundred messages with a directionless approach.
FLOW ⇢ Under that one main purpose of your content piece is a set of sub-ideas that are communicated throughout. Now, your aim of conveying them well can fail if the order of these sub-ideas is not right. The right order is subjective. However, it is up to your judgement, knowledge, and strategic thinking to decide the order of these ideas and accordingly set the flow that is not only in sync but also leads up to the prime purpose.
TONALITY ⇢ The voice that you’re adopting for your piece is not something that you randomly choose. Whether you take a friendly voice, a conversational tonality, a formal voice, or a guiding tonality, you must ensure that it is the same voice/tone your audience speaks in and will relate to.
A Pinch of Your Personality
WRITING STYLE ⇢ Ten different writers will write one article on the same topic differently. Besides their strategic approach with the tone and flow, the overall writing style will be different as well. That distinguishing factor is your unique writing style. It’s what makes all the difference!
INDIVIDUALISM ⇢ Almost hand in hand with strategy, when we speak of individualism in writing, we not only refer to your writing style but also your overall individual approach to it. That includes the way you perceive the subject, your opinions, your thoughts, your innate principles, and your values.
A Handful of Human Psychology
KNOWING YOUR AUDIENCE ⇢ You can’t write to attend to a particular purpose if you don’t know who you are writing for. Say, even if you know the purpose of your content is to educate, you must be aware of what kind of people you are trying to educate. What is their background? What kind of knowledge do they possess and lack? What do they do in their free time? Do they have the time and energy to consume your content?
READABILITY ⇢ When you study your audience and put yourself in their shoes, you also understand and narrow down to a certain style and format of your content piece. This is when you make sure that it is readable for that exact section of the crowd by tweaking the length of the content, each sentence, and every para as per them. Moreover, the kind of font and the way you present your content also play a massive role here.
EFFECTIVE STORYTELLING ⇢ Not every kind of reader is reeled in by creative storytelling. While some are blown away by the innovative styles of articulation, some are drawn in by extreme simplicity. While storytelling is a part of every writing strategy, the style of storytelling is what is dependent on the people you are writing for.
A Dollop of English Language
Well, this one goes without saying! A stronghold on the English language and grammar is what will keep your boat sailing in the industry. Of course, the definition of “correct” English is still different for all, depending on their inclination towards US and UK English, and the many creative liberties we are allowed to take today. As a writer, a little detour from the standards is widely acceptable, all while still adhering to the basics.
Thoughts?