What is the secret of good writing?

India
March 11, 2010 1:54am CST
Hello friends, I've often wondered what might be the secret of good writing. Is it the command over language? Or, is it the perfect choice of words? There are approximately 1,000 words in English that one must know in order to have an intelligent conversation. But when it comes to writing will those words suffice? I often grope for the right kinda word while writing something serious. But I firmly believe that the most important thing you need in order to write something worthy is frankness. You have to be intimate with your readers. You have to make it simple and precise. There is no need to complicate a subject matter as it is, in my notion a bad form of writing. The beauty of writing good compositions lies in simplicity and candidness. The most sincere form of writing is also the most admired. What is your secret of writing? What do you do in order to express yourself effectively? God bless you all
2 people like this
15 responses
• United States
13 Mar 10
I agree. But you also Need to write what you know.To be candid , is good but you need to know I Really know your subject.
2 people like this
@zed_k4 (17589)
• Singapore
20 Mar 10
Really know the subject..that's so right.. I couldn't agree more..
1 person likes this
• India
13 Mar 10
Hello Sarah, Yes, I completely agree. Thanks for adding this point. You just can't write anything good until you have an expertise in the subject matter. Thanks so much for responding once again in my discussion. God bless you
1 person likes this
• India
6 Apr 10
me too
1 person likes this
• Bangladesh
17 Mar 10
Well my friend, If you want to produce quality writing, you'll have to choose the appropriate word along with simplicity, frankness and clarity of your views as if they are deriving straight from your heart. People do admire this type of writing no matter what the topic may be. I've been mylotting since 2/3 months and never joined any internet community before other than myLot. I've noticed that my simplicity, frankness and directness of my remarks are liked by most. Moreover, opting the precise word is a must to convey the exact meaning of a discussion. May Allah bless you.
• Bangladesh
23 Mar 10
Hey bro, Thank you very much for your true perception about good writing. I hope you'll flourish through your web-writings. May Allah bless you.
• India
6 Apr 10
1 person likes this
• India
23 Mar 10
Simplicity and directness have always been preferred. Not all people can sportingly take criticism though. Writing can be an effective means to simplify an apparently abstract idea. Frankness is a key to good writing. The more intimate you are to your readers, the more relaxed and comfortable they will be while reading your piece. Thanks so much for responding dear. God bless you
1 person likes this
@zed_k4 (17589)
• Singapore
20 Mar 10
I have observed from many that their writings are sincere and definitely from the heart. They are also mostly well-rounded and well knowledgeable, so I hope to go to that direction. I won't call myself a writer, but I just write whatever pleases me and makes me think too. Sometimes, I'm not able to recollect my thoughts so I put it through a writing form. Thinking of opening up my blog once more, missing it much. Great topic here, getbiswa.
@zed_k4 (17589)
• Singapore
24 Mar 10
You are so welcome.. that's a very nice avatar you have there. Cute too.. I couldn't agree more. Even in myLot, it's considered like a mini form of writing, just that we have it more laid-back and relax, and don't need to concentrate on too perfect grammar and all that, LOL. I sometimes come on here, when I used to blog last time.. and finding that being in myLot helps me to overcome my writer's block too.
• India
23 Mar 10
Thanks zed, I knew that there are not many discussions on writing. I wanted to know what others think about creative compositions. I have opinion similar to yours. If one is not enjoying what one is writing, the writing will definitely fail to appeal to the common reader. Even sense of humor counts. There are certain tricks that if exposed in words will sound coarse and mechanical. The similar feeling you have when you see the springs and internal mechanism of a wonderful car. The beauty is generally on the surface. Understanding of those internal mechanism is sometimes acquired to make a style of one's own. Thanks so much for your response God bless you
1 person likes this
@jaiho2009 (39142)
• Philippines
11 Mar 10
hello dear Biswa, No one is born a writer,but has the talent as a gift. Writing comes from the heart and that the mind conceived. There is no secret for a good writing,but the passion of the writer is enough to describe what the subject is all about. A writer can enter even the most deepest part of our emotion by their simplest form of words. It can melt even the hardest rock hearted warrior in a single phrase. It can mesmerized a wicked heart and turn a murderer into a lover with one sentence. A good writer need not to use complicated words,but define each word from it's true essence,with love and emotion.
1 person likes this
@jaiho2009 (39142)
• Philippines
12 Mar 10
hello dear... you changed your avatar again...it's so cuteeeee na
1 person likes this
• India
12 Mar 10
Thaaaaaaaaaanks!
• India
12 Mar 10
Hello, I completely agree with you. Good writing, like a good conversation, comes from the heart. A good composition is never complicated though it may have every right to be so. It rather simplifies the subject matter that once appeared to be complex. Thanks so much for dropping by God bless you
@sunkernjs (219)
• Philippines
12 Mar 10
Good writing comes from a desire to touch life not to inspire. It must be willing not because of undue force. Think of the goodness of God and the beauty of his creations. It's not how well you understand English or how deep is your vocabulary. Good writing simply means expressing what you heart desires.
1 person likes this
• India
12 Mar 10
Hello, I completely agree. I do agree with you on that. To write good compositions especially fictions, you have to be good yourself. A good writing comes from heart. The more transparent your thought is the more transparent the writing would be. Thanks for your contribution here God bless you
12 Mar 10
Taking the time to think about the ideas makes good writing. Link them in your mind over thought and once the ideas are clear to you then just transfer them to the paper or the computer, whichever is of your choosing. I'm not the best writer but when I have a good idea I brainstorm ways to transform it so that all my ideas become one flowing work.
1 person likes this
• India
12 Mar 10
Hello, Welcome to myLot. Yes, some time should be taken to organize whatever you are going to write, no matter how good you are and how spontaneous it came. I agree to that. A disorganized material always falls flat to the appeal of seasoned readers. Thanks so much for your response God bless you Happy myLotting
@kalav56 (11464)
• India
11 Mar 10
The secret of good writing lies first in one's real depth of knowledge.SEcondly, there is the skill in presentation, organization and flow of ideas.Brevity and clarity of expression are defintely needed an dhte writer must be able to engage the interst of the reader till the last, in whatever he/she writes.
1 person likes this
• India
11 Mar 10
Hello, I really do agree with you. There is no use in having good command in language if you really don't have anything to say at all. Knowledge is of primary importance. The organization of the entire composition prevents the reader from loosing the focus and stay engrossed in the subject matter. The writer should take amusements in writing only then the reader will also be amused. Sense of humor is necessary. Otherwise, the appeal falls flat. Thanks so much for your contribution dear. God bless you
@sierras236 (2739)
• United States
11 Mar 10
The real absolute secret of good writing is writing stuff that others want to read and talk about.
1 person likes this
• India
12 Mar 10
Hi, I absolutely agree. But you can't force yourself in writing things unless you spontaneous feel it. People would like to talk about many things for the first time. So you can be the cause by introducing the topic first. Novel ideas should be welcomed, though there are possibilities of being in controversy. Thanks so much for your contribution. God bless you
@arunmails (3011)
• India
11 Mar 10
[b]The secret of good writing is using that language in a perfect manner and nothing else... Whatever language it may be, if we use that language perfectly,, then we are the best...[/b]
1 person likes this
• India
11 Mar 10
Hello, Yes, learning the language you are writing in is a must. There are certain protocols in a language that makes it understandable among a group of people. The communication will fail if we don't maintain the fundamental rules. Thanks so much for your response God bless you
@LIENROSE (910)
• Philippines
11 Mar 10
for me, its the passion a writer or the author reflcets on its writings,a good writers are not born but made so as the content, happy mylotting
1 person likes this
• India
11 Mar 10
Hello bro, Yup! Nobody is born as a good writer. Writing is something that you nurture with care, affection and of course, a lot of hard work. After reading good writings for years an ordinary man becomes a good writer himself. Thanks for your response and the first response in this discussion God bless you handsome
• Philippines
11 Mar 10
You can browse on the internet about tutorials on how to write a good article. I have consulted on them before,and i have learned that writing a simple and short one is good.People don't like to read long articles , and they want to get the gist of the topic just by reading the first paragraph of your article. I can't say that I'M good at it now, but at least I'm progressing in my writing abitlity.
1 person likes this
• India
11 Mar 10
Hi, lipstick? I completely agree with you there. As per as writing online is concerned simple and brief writing is greatly admired. People really don't like complicated writings stuffed with bombastic words. These writings are more affected than effective. Thanks so much for this great contribution. God bless you
@besthope44 (12123)
• India
11 Mar 10
Well i believe its how simple your words are and how easily others understand it. And sometimes how attractive it is.. Say it is like reading a poem and singing the poem, it makes difference right. Similarly you can have catchy words to make people accept..example if you give a man fish, he will be happy with a day, but if you teach a man how to catch he will be happy for life, so education is like a man learning to catch fish to save his life. I have used a proverb, but when i read it, i may feel good about it..
1 person likes this
• India
11 Mar 10
Hello, Yeah, when it is lucid it is more comfortable reading it. But as your language skill grows even the weirdest literature will sound simple and pleasant to you. The way you uncomplicate those sentences and then understand and assimilate the meaning the whole experience makes you happy and satisfied. Thats the beauty of literature. Isn't it? Thanks so much for such a wonderful response God bless you
@kat001 (92)
• India
11 Mar 10
Hi, God bless you !:) A writing becomes good if it serves the purpose it is intended for... ;) The purpose is served if the reader could understand what the writer says and the writer is capable of expressing thoughts into words... ;) ;)
• India
11 Mar 10
Hello dear, I got your point. No matter what different thoughts writer incorporates while proving his point they must be coherent and directed to a very definite purpose. Otherwise they become highly unorganized and motivation-less. Thanks so much for dropping by. God bless you
• United States
12 Apr 10
I agree that writing needs to be direct and sincere. I also agree that the most powerful writing is full of passion. I'm not really sure what the best writing is though. For me it needs to have images, to really make me see what it is talking about. It needs to involve me.
• India
12 Apr 10
Hello Alice, Welcome to myLot. Yes, there is no fixed measure of the quality. This is an abstract art. There may be more than one dimension. It is impossible to consider all of it at the same time. Involvement of the reader is the most important criteria, there is no doubt about that. Thanks so much for your participation dear. Happy myLotting. God bless you
@lady1993 (27225)
• Philippines
11 Apr 10
Our mentor says that the secret is just practice, the more you practice the better you become- the more easier writing is to you. The command over language helps too- it doesn't really matter what words you use [how difficult they are] as long as you convey the message to readers- as long as they perfectly understand what you're trying to tell them. Make your writing simple and don't just write to impress.
• India
11 Apr 10
Hi, lady, I couldn't agree more. Writing stuffs just to impress your readers is like an unwelcome imposition upon yourself. One should clear up his mind and let all the integrated ideas flow easily into it. Words should be appropriate not bombastic. Unnecessarily complicating the writing doesn't prove literary excellence at all. Practice writing on your own and following the style of great masters always help. Thanks for your contribution. God bless you