Articles

Top Ten Secrets for Great Writing

What the pros know that educators don't

By Julie Bogart

1. Wait! Don't require a child under ten to turn in writing assignments. Use copywork, narration and very little dictation to begin to train your young writer. Jot down their great ideas and thoughts as they share them with you.

2. Don't require writing every day. You read that right. Even professional writers don't generate new writing every day. The daily journal should be limited to the inspired, self-motivated writer. For the reluctant writer, save your writing assignments for those rich, about-to-burst-with-expression moments. There is no law that requires you to have a daily writing sample from your student.

3. Separate creativity from revision. Always begin by encouraging your child to freely write down everything he can think of pertaining to his subject without regard to spelling, punctuation or grammar. Set the timer for ten minutes and say "Go!" Write without stopping until the bell rings. Do not revise the same day. And you, mom, are not allowed to read this writing until your child has read it aloud to you first. (Freewriting Exercise)

4. Employ "machete mechanics." For quick fixes, give your child a list of things to look for. Here is the list: end marks, caps, and commas. If your child is able to use quotation marks well, require these too. 95% of all mistakes will be eliminated if your child is in the habit of looking for these. The rest can be addressed by an editor (if he ever goes on to be paid!).

5. Revision with vision. Three things separate the men from the boys in great writing. The "won't let me go" opening, the appeal to my senses, and dynamic detail.

For the opening: Start in the middle. That's right. Go directly to the most exciting, provocative or cliff-hanging moment or point and spell it out in vivid detail. Whether you are writing about a fantastic gymnastics meet or why you support the pro-life position, grab the reader's attention with what is called the 'hook.'
Appeal to my known experiences through the five senses. Don't overlook the little guys—smell and taste. Get in there and mess with my mind and body. (Keen Observation Exercise)
Give me detail or give me death. I cannot bear words on a page that blather on in vague generalities. Draw from all aspects of life when writing. Perhaps a popular song helps to make your point. Maybe your last ski trip reminds you of the theme in your poem. Metaphor and simile are terms that generate reams of worksheet pages. Forget 'em. Instead, use your experiences to explain or describe the ones that are less familiar to your reader. Sometimes you will use the word 'like' and sometimes you won't. It's that simple. Really.

6. Go word-shopping. P*E*N is an acronym that stands for Precision, Economy and Novelty. Be precise—aqua, not blue. Be concise—use, not utilize. Be novel—pulsating, not moving.

7. Less is more and more is more. Say what you need to say in as few words as possible. And require fewer finished products. That's the less part. More revisions will result in a more satisfying piece. Don't wreck the fun part of writing by eliminating the middle of the process…messing with your work.

8. Show, don't tell. Use stories and anecdotes to make your points. Personal experiences are often the most powerful and are very difficult to argue against. Interviews and biographical quotes also empower an argument. Show me one event, situation, experience that reveals your point rather than speaking about the topic in general.

9. If you are bored reading it, your child was bored writing it. So quit admiring work that bores you. Don't be afraid to encourage your son's nutty sense of humor or your daughter's penchant for drama. Make the most of these. If a paper can make a reader laugh or pause, that paper will automatically stand out.

10. Experiences and passions drive writing. What if the assignment calls for a topic the writer doesn't care about? Good question. Start with a part that you can really sink your teeth into. With time, reading and ruminating, any writer can find something that inspires. Choose an angle that draws you: relationships, people, facts, processes, themes.

Spend time talking first. Talk. Then talk some more. Then talk some more. Talk, talk, talk. Writing on a boring topic starts too soon (in a hope to get it done). Instead, read and talk, talk and read until you can really care about some aspect of the topic. Then grab some paper and go! Write while the interest is hot.