How To Add Flair To Your Writing

Want To Write Fantastically?

Writing is a fun hobby for some, and a confusing challenge for others. It involves a refinement of thoughts into tangible ideas that readers can readily dive into with ease. More often than not, the unique ideas provided by a writer's individual outlook on the world around them, can allow the reader to finish their reading knowing more than what they started with. That begs the question: How can a writer provide allure for a reader's attention? 

There are many methods of writing that can add a certain element of style to your words. These methods can make your writing more appealing and relatable to your particular audience, especially since every perspective regarding the matter tends to be shifted in some form or another.

Show, Don't Tell

Many writers believe that simply stating the intents and motivations behind their subjects in writing can be more to-the-point and enjoyable to the reader, but slowing down and describing the scene of interest can be far more beneficial! Instead of explaining the intents and motivations of a character, paint a picture of their actions which will lead up to their motives. Sure, an author can tell the audience what drives their subject and thus sets them apart from the rest of those in the writing, but directing a scene of that same individuality starring the subject would be far more intriguing and personal to the reader.

Use Metaphors

Metaphors are comparisons between two things, that wouldn't normally be considered so similar. There are two types of metaphors: direct and indirect. Direct metaphors describe an exact image of two rather unlike things as pictured by the author, and indirect metaphors are carefully described implications of things that can be easily imagined by the minds of the reader. When writers use metaphors, they tie a line between their subject and the image that they create with their words. It is a legible thought bubble which is drawn up from a well of memories shared by most people. Metaphors help you expand on descriptions and make ideas more grand than you would originally believe upon first look. 

Though, writers should be careful when using metaphors. There are plenty of opportunities for mistakes to be made, especially in the pursuit of originality. Combining idioms, mixing up implications of alternate ideas, and trying overused metaphors are common missteps in writing.

Be Brief and Natural

"Read over your compositions and when you meet a passage which you think is particularly fine, strike it out."  -- Samuel Johnson

Samuel Johnson is a renowned writer from the 1700's, who knew even back in that time of discovering new methods of art and thinking, that the writing community would have its own troubles as a whole. In the quote, he spoke of the writing which mocked that of the free writers, who wrote with no halt in their flow of creation. There would of course be writers who strived for more, some form of deviation from the path of all others and attempt to become greater than their peers. This led to a writing which was inherently fancy, larger than life and meaningless in the context that they were used in. Readers could not understand the writers works, and words that didn't match up to the sentences which led up to them.

Samuel Johnson himself was one who advocated the use of free writing, to accept the flow of one's own writing and not cease their natural flow with attempts to use words they don't fully understand or phrases they do not know how to use. Aspiring writers should know that in any situation, furthering yourself from your own writing personality and natural charm will only take away from the element that makes your writing so enjoyable and legible to the audience. Use only what you know, and if you do not know enough, take the time to learn. 

Things to Avoid

Of course, with there being effective advice on how to improve your writing, there are also pitfalls to avoid when reading back, or during the process of your writing in the first place. Being able to stop yourself from making these subtle mistakes in your writing is an improvement in of itself, so here's a short acknowledgement and explanation for each:

• "Primer Style"

The primer style is often a mistake of trying to place too many separate points about a singular idea into a single passage. It usually looks like how an elementary schooler would write, listing off thoughts which all add up to a central point to it all. Though, with primer style there is no list, simply sentences that would look better if they were rid of their repetition and rearranged into the main clauses that combine the major ideas. 

• "Passive Voice"

Passive voice is a sluggish and intangible mishap, often unseen by the naked eye. It is a use of language that is overall detached from the writing, going so far as to describe a subject and its associated verbs. The writer will describe an action that the subject receives, but never includes the subjects which complete the action in process, nor allows for a connection between two subjects of possible attention and intrigue for the audience. Thus, the readers are left begging for more information! However, very rarely in a fashion which is desirable to the author. A good method of preventing this impersonal style of writing is to try and include a "by" after the verbs used for the subject. For example, "Our biology teacher is always given help by the class pet, Marissa." Always try and include the one who takes action if you have the mind to include the action in the first place.

• Wordiness

Wordiness is the most common mishap in writing, especially given its popularity to writers who desire to expand on the character reach of their pieces. While it is nice to finally reach that character limit on the nine page paper you had to write, wordiness can only take away quality from the overall writing while also making the piece more confusing for those that read it. Some ideas can be understood more with less words and phrases, better read without the writer attempting to exponentialize their own ideas in their writing, as though they were elaborating throughout an entire thought process of trying to figure out which words meant exactly what they were trying to say. Sorry, but this would-be method of improvised improvement does not work. It is better to just focus on a single verb which seems to find itself reiterated over and over again in the passage, and focusing the strongest verb onto the main idea. After finding that focused verb, using elaborate words and phrases to express that necessary idea being formed is easier than you might think. 

Those were some easy ways to improve on your writing, and avoid the ways in which most writers tend to injure their own readability. Just remember, you don't have to believe that your writing is absolutely amazing for it to be actually be at a high quality. Samuel Johnson surely agrees. Simply know what you would like to say, and go with the flow.