Writing Is An Art Everyone has something to say. Whether it is an opinion or scientific fact, the desire to communicate seems imprinted on the human being. The writing process is logical and personal. If you do not know your subject or have not experienced it, then the out come will be false. If you are to be clear in your style, first be clear in your thoughts. Know your subject intimately. Even in research if you use one source how can you know the subject. I often say if you want a Bachelor Degree read 20 books on your subject; if you want a Masters Degree read 40 books on your subject; and if you want a Ph.D. read 100 books on the subject. You will have a personal knowledge that far exceeds college and university professors who purport to know the subject.
In developing a style of writing, start by have something original to say. Say what is in your mind, say it from the heart, and say it with passion. Your mind will keep you focused, your heart will keep you dedicated, and your passion will set others thoughts on fire. Literature is a living art. Your writing style should come alive demanding the readers attention.
No one style fits all. Experiment with new styles. Be comfortable. Be true to your self. Let your instincts lead you to the issues. Identify the base issue. In the issue, you will find the solution. Why else would someone want to read what you have written, unless you have a unique way of solving the issue that the reader is seeking to have answered.
Drive home exactly what you mean as effectively and efficiently as possible. True maxim, avoid excess. Mark Twain said it best, "Substitute “damn” every time you’re inclined to write “very;” your editor will delete it and the writing will be just as it should be." Editing is part of writing. As one of my writing professors Robert Carr said," Write, rewrite, rewrite, rewrite, rewrite, rewrite, rewrite, rewrite, rewrite, rewrite, and rewrite. After 10 rewrites you will have written what you intended to say."
Style is not and can never be extraneous ornamentation. Writing is not a Christmas tree. Exceptionally fine writing has no ornaments or beautiful words just for the glitter and show. Master this secret and you have a clue of what style is. Who said that writing would be easy. A writer trains just like a professional athlete, every day.
Writing must be personal and the essence of diction is the manner in which you express in words your personal point of view in an intelligible, articulate way that your audience will treasure. Diction is a part of style but perhaps not the most important part. Coleridge stressed that "what comes from the heart, goes to the heart." Writing is the essence of being. Being there in the moment and bring your audience in to look over your should vicariously is what your audience expects from you, the writer. When the audience experiences the moment, that's style. So the first and last secret of style is thinking with your heart and with your brain. Writing is a series of small drip by drip impressions into the mind of our audience. Clarity, the writer must have, otherwise failure. Your truth as a writer is your style. Goethe says, "We should endeavor to use words that correspond as closely as possible with what we feel, see, think, imagine, experience, and reason. It is an endeavor we cannot evade and must daily renew."
Style is the ability of the writer to touch with ease the emotions of the audience with words.
Research From:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Free_writing
http://www.pickthebrain.com/blog/art-of-writing/
http://fellowships.ssrc.org/art_of_writing_proposals/
http://www.triond.com/?rf=89&lp=111
http://www.bartleby.com/190/12.html
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