The truth is that most writers out there are not actually very good at their job. It is not that difficult to find a writing job these days and a person can end up writing for years and still not being very good. Roger Wolfson often highlights the fact that the best writers always stand out of the crowd but how does that happen? Here are some characteristics that often appear and can be discussed.
Editing Is A Part Of The job
The good writers realize how important editing is and they know that is a good thing. Many writers have huge egos that quickly become visible when an editor asks for a modification. They become defensive and will simply not accept any advice. Even rudeness is often seen.
When looking at the best writers out there, the exact opposite of what people expect is reality. They oftentimes accept criticism and want to hear it. They know that this can help them to improve writing. Obviously, when the writer does not agree with something, he/she does stand ground. However, the initial idea is to stay open to suggestions.
Good Writers Keep Reading
The best writers out there understand the fact that they need to be up-to-date with everything. They have to evolve and they need to be connected with readers. This is practically impossible without constantly reading.
What is interesting is that the best writers do not shy away from reading writing advice from other writers. They understand that different perspectives can be very beneficial for their writing.
Good Writers Break Rules
Respecting English grammar rules is mandatory in academic writing and at school, but it is not a necessity when looking at very good writing. The English teacher always says that sentences should not be started with words like “but” or “and”. This rule does not exist in great writing and is oftentimes broken by writers.
What is important to mention is that the best writers out there do not know the rules. Nobody can break rules without knowing them and understanding why they exist.
Great Writers Do Not Wait For Inspiration
Writer’s block is real and it can hit anyone but in most cases, it is just a simple lack of inspiration that can easily be avoided by simply writing. It can be counter-intuitive but the best writers out there just keep writing, even if it is not about the topic that they initially started.
Freewriting is very effective at bringing in the inspiration that a writer lacks. This practically means that the writer sets a time to write and during that time, he/she only writes. When this is done as an exercise, it helps to get inspired without even realizing it as the mind is no longer blocked by the idea that nothing good comes to mind.
Avoiding Introductions
Last but not least, there is not always a need to have an introduction. This is especially the case when referring to writing published online. People know what to expect and just want to read the article. Introductions are important in some cases but they can be fully avoided in many others.