Jared Morningstar
To anyone who wants to become a better writer, I have three pieces of advice:
1. Read a lot of good stuff.
2. Don’t be afraid to write a lot of “bad” stuff.
3. Share everything
1. It’s essential that inspiring writers study the works of great authors and poets. Studying the works of others, specifically the works of the very talented, helps to not only provide ideas for pieces, but also how to deliver those ideas effectively.
2. Every year in my classroom, I have students who find themselves in a state of writer’s block. More often that not, this occurs after they start to learn what great writing is, and they get frustrated that they are not able to produce material that is as good as they want it to be. To counter that, I encourage students to stop being afraid to write “bad” stuff and to save every scrap of it. Not only can a lot of good ideas and lines be found for later use in “bad” drafts, but it is essential to keep practicing writing if they want to improve their skills, just as musicians and athletes must continue to practice their craft.
3. I have never had someone become a great writer in class who did not share frequently in our workshop sessions. Feedback from peers is essential. Not only do they provide advice on how to improve a piece, but they also can provide ideas for direction. Without that feedback, writers may get better, but they will improve at a much slower rate. I tell my students that success is all about trusting each other and buying into the workshop system. Those who do usually end up shining, or growing at the very least, when all is said and done. Simply put: the more sharing you do, the more feedback you get, the faster you grow.
1. Read a lot of good stuff.
2. Don’t be afraid to write a lot of “bad” stuff.
3. Share everything
1. It’s essential that inspiring writers study the works of great authors and poets. Studying the works of others, specifically the works of the very talented, helps to not only provide ideas for pieces, but also how to deliver those ideas effectively.
2. Every year in my classroom, I have students who find themselves in a state of writer’s block. More often that not, this occurs after they start to learn what great writing is, and they get frustrated that they are not able to produce material that is as good as they want it to be. To counter that, I encourage students to stop being afraid to write “bad” stuff and to save every scrap of it. Not only can a lot of good ideas and lines be found for later use in “bad” drafts, but it is essential to keep practicing writing if they want to improve their skills, just as musicians and athletes must continue to practice their craft.
3. I have never had someone become a great writer in class who did not share frequently in our workshop sessions. Feedback from peers is essential. Not only do they provide advice on how to improve a piece, but they also can provide ideas for direction. Without that feedback, writers may get better, but they will improve at a much slower rate. I tell my students that success is all about trusting each other and buying into the workshop system. Those who do usually end up shining, or growing at the very least, when all is said and done. Simply put: the more sharing you do, the more feedback you get, the faster you grow.
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