Quite often writers, especially teen writers, receive feedback that their writing is messy and choppy. This leads to several problems including confusion and a lack of interest for the reader. This can be annoying and disheartening for a writer, who is having a difficult time expressing themself clearly on paper. I gathered my 5 most important tips to make your writing better and smoother.
Organize the structure of the piece before writing
A key component of smooth writing is organizing your thoughts and ideas before starting. When writing it is helpful to jot down any ideas regarding the structure of your writing piece, before beginning. Write down notes surrounding the arguments, climax, and examples, you plan to include. This is crucial because it prevents you from forgetting information halfway through the writing process and helps maintain a "flow" throughout your writing. Of course, once you have noted the structure, you can always go back and tidy up the formation, so it flows seamlessly.
Use transition words
Transition words are extremely important when connecting unique ideas in your writing. Transition words help guide readers through your writing in a logical way. Some examples of transition words are: additionally, therefore, however, and finally. These words link ideas together and help readers bridge from different ideas.
Avoid repetition
Constant repetition in your writing can cause readers to lose track of the main point or lose interest in your work. Instead, it is important to vary the words you use to describe objects, switch the first words of your sentences and manage the number of pronouns being used.
Avoid run-on sentences
Run-on sentences should always be avoided because they confuse readers and often bulge with unnecessary information. Instead of rambling and having many run-on sentences, you should look over each sentence to make sure it has a purpose and adds value to your piece. It may also be helpful to set a target word count for each sentence.
Maintain consistent details
Although it is important to avoid a surplus amount of repetition, it is equally important to have consistent details running throughout your story. When writing there should be certain details that are consistent with the setting or characters throughout the story. This is essential for smooth writing because consistent imagery and language help portray a picture for your readers and help your writing flow.
It is important to learn how to write with grace and flow, so your writing is simple to flow and read. This is why I hope these tips help!
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