How to improve my writings skills?

[johnlock]

I am just gonna say I am not English native writer and I am seeking for a few advices which will improve my writings skills.

I know there are plenty of people like my so, everyone has somehow started and these I am sure you can type some really useful tips.

 

[johnlock]

Well, I know that this site is dedicated to an adult stories but I have started recently a new blog which is not related directly to adult stories, but its an adult site too.

(maybe there are sites which you have used to improve the skills, whatever any tips are welcome)

 

[johnlock]

 

[Ldy_Sea]

THis best way to improve your writing is too...WRITE!! And write some more. Then when you're done. Write more.

 

[johnlock]

THis best way to improve your writing is too...WRITE!! And write some more. Then when you're done. Write more.

Thanks... that is what I am doing.... well I am trying doing.

But what else I should do?

Am I suppose to take pattern from other sites?

Like I said any advice could be very valid.

 

[Ldy_Sea]

Writing is like playing an instrument or sport. The only way to get better is to practice. Have professionals read your stories to offer improvments. Not family or friends, they won't give you honest feedback, they are emotionally involved. Go to writing groups, take a creative writing class/workshop.

But unless you write everyday, you cannot call yourself a writer.

 

[johnlock]

Writing is like playing an instrument or sport. The only way to get better is to practice. Have professionals read your stories to offer improvments. Not family or friends, they won't give you honest feedback, they are emotionally involved. Go to writing groups, take a creative writing class/workshop.

But unless you write everyday, you cannot call yourself a writer.

Ok.

But any other advices?

Like I said I am not native English speaker so I am still in need to improve the language as well as my writing abilities.

What do you recommend?

More reading as well?

I assume you are the native American so of course you never had similar problems... so that is why I direct this questions especially to people like me.

 

[Ldy_Sea]

I was born speaking English, yes. My grandfather was not. He learned byu going to movie theaters and watching movies in English. He would not read the subtitles. That's how he learned English.

FOr you my recomendation is to write in English and to use dictionaries and thesauruses to make sure you are using words correctly. Once a story or part of one is finished you can find many volunteer editors on here who will help correct any grammatical errors you make as well as suggest improvements to your writing.

I know here in the US there are groups of aspiring authors who get together and share stories and make suggestions to improve each others writing. They have them for several languages. Maybe you can find one in English where you live. Check your local library, or university.

Reading does help, but you could read every book in the world about soccer, (Football as non americans call it) and still not be a good player. The only way to improve is to write.

Create a blog, join Roleplays on here. Ask questions in wirteing forums. But most importantly write. Write in your native langauge then have someone fluent in English translate it, and then read it so you can see how English and your language share differences and similarities.

 

[johnlock]

Thanks....

Any other advices?

 

[Ldy_Sea]

Not right now. Hope this helps.

 

[BertrandRussell]

...
Any other advices?

Study formal grammar: learn what the basic parts of speech are ( nouns, verbs, adjectives, etc ), and learn basic sentence structure ( noun-verb-object, etc ).

 

[Iceprincess12]

I think reading is a great resource to learn how to write. You need to know how words read together versus being spoken. If you read different authors, especially ones who have a recurring character, you will recognize a cadence to the stories. Find an author that you admire in terms of writing style and find the cadence of his/her work. To develop your own, follow what others above have said-write, write and write some more. Try a short story, focusing on one area you want to work on, for example setting the mood, then rewrite it, incorporate the mood changes and add character development, so on, until your short story becomes a fleshed out story. It may seem tedious but instead of writing and trying to do it all at once, you are focusing on 1 part at a time. It helps you to not become overwhelmed and is methodical. Finally, find some good editors for corrections and some friends to read it for enjoyment value.

Good luck!

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

I find it helpful to fill notebooks with extraordinary examples of perfect writing I stumble across. Abe Lincoln, H.L.Mencken, Shakespeare, and Raymond Chandler were the best wordsmiths for clear, concise, coherent, and cohesive prose.

The other thing is: Many great scientists said IF YOU CANT SAY WHAT YOU KNOW IN A SHORT PARAGRAPH YOU DONT KNOW WHAT YOURE TALKING ABOUT.

Example: Borderline Personality Disorder is hard to diagnose for most psychotherapists, because its a wild bouquet of symptoms. Books about it fill whole libraries. So I thought about it for a long while and boiled it down to this.

"Did you interview Exasperella Crabtree?"

"Yep."

"Whatchu think?"

"Fifteen minutes after she walked in the office I wanted to stab that bitch threw her heart with my pencil."

 

[johnlock]

Study formal grammar: learn what the basic parts of speech are ( nouns, verbs, adjectives, etc ), and learn basic sentence structure ( noun-verb-object, etc ).

Thanks.

 

[johnlock]

I think reading is a great resource to learn how to write. You need to know how words read together versus being spoken. If you read different authors, especially ones who have a recurring character, you will recognize a cadence to the stories. Find an author that you admire in terms of writing style and find the cadence of his/her work. To develop your own, follow what others above have said-write, write and write some more. Try a short story, focusing on one area you want to work on, for example setting the mood, then rewrite it, incorporate the mood changes and add character development, so on, until your short story becomes a fleshed out story. It may seem tedious but instead of writing and trying to do it all at once, you are focusing on 1 part at a time. It helps you to not become overwhelmed and is methodical. Finally, find some good editors for corrections and some friends to read it for enjoyment value.

Good luck!

Thanks for those great advices.

 

[johnlock]

I find it helpful to fill notebooks with extraordinary examples of perfect writing I stumble across. Abe Lincoln, H.L.Mencken, Shakespeare, and Raymond Chandler were the best wordsmiths for clear, concise, coherent, and cohesive prose.

The other thing is: Many great scientists said IF YOU CANT SAY WHAT YOU KNOW IN A SHORT PARAGRAPH YOU DONT KNOW WHAT YOURE TALKING ABOUT.

Example: Borderline Personality Disorder is hard to diagnose for most psychotherapists, because its a wild bouquet of symptoms. Books about it fill whole libraries. So I thought about it for a long while and boiled it down to this.

"Did you interview Exasperella Crabtree?"

"Yep."

"Whatchu think?"

"Fifteen minutes after she walked in the office I wanted to stab that bitch threw her heart with my pencil."

Thanks...

 

[Ldy_Sea]

Just FYI

I threw a ball...

It went through the window...

Just one of many homohones (Words that sound alike) in the English language.

 

[Iceprincess12]

Just FYI

I threw a ball...

It went through the window...

Just one of many homohones (Words that sound alike) in the English language.

I thought the same thing, but since he put it in quotes I gave him a pass

 

[Ldy_Sea]

I thought the same thing, but since he put it in quotes I gave him a pass

I am not familiar with the quote. That was to inform the OP that there are two different words denotaing different things, that are pronounced the same. So he didn't think Threw ment to penetrate...

 

[Iceprincess12]

I am not familiar with the quote. That was to inform the OP that there are two different words denotaing different things, that are pronounced the same. So he didn't think Threw ment to penetrate...

I don't know the quote either, lol.

Good call, hopefully he is getting some help from this!!

Happy Saturday

 

[johnlock]

Thanks for your inputs.

 

[silverwhisper]

john, if you want to improve your writing skills, it's important to read good writing, too. i suspect you have friends who are readers whose opinions you respect and know your tastes. ask them for suggestions.

also consider posting in the author's hangout subforum, where a lot of lit's writers tend to spend time. they'll probably have a lot more specific suggestions.

that might also be a good place for suggestions of blogs to read, esp for blogs about writing erotica.

if you're looking specifically for grammar and the mechanics of writing in english, i really liked the suggestion of watching films or TV. if you watch movies in english, try turning on the closed captions for english.

ed

 

[Aamazing1]

The best way to improve your writing skills is to read (quality works). Your writing skills will improve immensely.

 

[Combat323]

Be A Copycat.

Find some published work of any kind, but especially fiction if that's what you're trying to improve, and copy passages word-for-word, by hand. If you're struggling with dialogue, copy passages that contain a lot of dialogue. Same with description.

Don't copy anything from this site. Even the Editor's Choice stories are sometimes poorly written. Use published works (books, magazines, etc). You want to use stuff that's been edited.

Do this regularly, and your writing and your understanding of English usage will improve immensely.

 

[desireunbounded]

Just keep writing. Also, write something and put it away for a bit so you don't become attached to it. Then, go back to it as an objective party and rip it apart. Also, there are some great writers on here that are more than happy to help edit and advise. Good luck.