Wordcraft: Seeking Ideas to Write Better

[dctilak]

I've started visiting ChristianWriters.com after more than a year and it feels good to be back to this wonderful site.

I am a young writer and I am keen on developing my writing skills. My current interest is to specialize in article writing (nonfiction). I would like to know what steps writers take to improve their skills. How do you improve your writing? What habits facilitate that objective? What do you think I could do? I'm sure I could learn from some of the experiences and suggestions of other writers.

One step I've taken is to try to improve my grammar but there is a long way to go and I'm not sure how to proceed.

John

[wgjones3]

Hey, I remember you. The first time I saw your nic I thought it said dcTalk. :D

I could recommend a few books if you want. Check your local library, they should be there:

The Elements of Style - Strunk & White (you can probably buy this online at half.com or amazon.com used for a very low price--it's the best grammer/style book out there in my opinion)

Write Right - Jan Venolia

If You're Writing, Let's Talk - Joe Saltzman

On Writing Well - William Zinsser

How to Write - Herbert E. Myers

Those are the books on my reference shelf right next to my computer. Well, the ones that I think aren't primarily concerned with fiction. Forgive me if any of them are, it's been so long since I read them that all the information has pretty much melted into my mind and I can't remember what came from which book. Also, while you're there, check and see if they have a journalism text book. A good one will help you out a lot.

On the web, check out http://www.right-writing.com and be sure to visit the author's website, as he has a series of articles there on writing for magazines. I'm sure there are more sites out there but my mind is blank right now.

Good luck, man, and don't be a stranger. Post anything you come up with in the writer's workshop and hopefully somebody will give you some good advice (though I haven't had much luck with it).

[dctilak]

William, it's great that you still remember me. By the way, I'm a big fan of dc Talk.

Thanks for the suggestions. I will be trying to get some of those books as soon as I can. The website was great. I'm sure to make some more visits there.

John

[wgjones3]

You know, I completely forgot--there's an online version of The Elements of Style at: http://www.bartleby.com/141/

Good luck and don't be a stranger 'round these parts!