SHAKING THE TREE ... #9
SHAKING THE TREE #9: Escape the writing herd
When you re-read something you’ve written, do you cringe?
I used to.
My writing used to suck.
No doubt a handful of people think it still does.
I sounded drab.
Listless.
Lifeless.
Dull.
I’d drone on and on, write thousands of words, most of which said nothing.
Things went on like this for years.
Then one day, I realized I needed to ditch the herd.
The writing herd is writing that sounds like a flock of sheep: the same old moaning about the same old stuff. The same old voices droning on about little of importance.
Herd writing is bland and dull. It’s awash with sameness. It lacks personality and presence. It’s boring.
Why is it all these things and more? because herd writing is easy!
It takes work to stand out as a writer. It takes work and effort and thought and time. Writing as an original voice requires guts, open honesty, and acceptance—both of your own limitations and inadequacies, and of your personal shortcomings, failings and ignorance as a creative.
Copying other writers is easy. Establishing your own voice is hard work.
Ditching the herd meant accepting that I didn’t know what I was doing and that I didn’t know who I was writing for, or quite why anyone would give a toss about my opinions.
Man, this was a tough lesson.
I’d invested so much time and effort into my writing. How could it be so lifeless?
Once I came around to the idea that it was time to retool, I knuckled down, I worked out who I was writing for and why my voice mattered (by basically setting myself up as an example of what NOT to do!), I deleted everything on my website, and I started again from scratch.
There’s nothing quite like a blank slate to focus the mind! And sometimes, it takes a bold decision to get yourself on the right track.
Herd writing wanders aimlessly along, offering nothing of value to no one in particular, while sounding like everything and nothing.
If your writing is the literary equivalent of watching paint dry, you’re writing for the herd. Here are a few ways to free your writing so you can escape the herd:
Read widely and deeply. The more you read, the more you'll be exposed to different writing styles and techniques. This will help you develop your own unique voice as a writer.
Write often. The more you write, the better you'll get at it. Make time to write every day, even if it's just for a few minutes.
Be willing to experiment. Try different writing styles and techniques until you find what works best for you.
Embrace failure. Everyone makes mistakes when they write. Look at me: i’ve been screwing things up for years. And yet, each mistake, when seen as a learning opportunity, helps me improve. The important thing about mistakes is to learn from them and to keep writing.
Seek feedback. Ask friends, family, or fellow writers to read your work and give you feedback. This can help you identify areas where you can improve.
Keep going. Writing is hard work, but it's also incredibly rewarding. Don't give up on your dreams of becoming a writer. I’ve come close to quitting on several occasions. The temptation is real. The trick is to rise above the lows.
Use strong verbs. Verbs are the workhorses of your sentences. Choose verbs that are active and vivid.
Vary your sentence structure. Avoid ruts. Sentences of varying lengths and structures keep your readers on their toes. Think of your writing as a river. They start out as rain before trickling and cascading down mountainsides. They flow and trickle; they gurgle, pool, meander, and flood. Rivers can drift lazily through fields and valleys and they can thunder majestically over boulders and falls. Your writing should do the same things because all of this keeps your readers focused and engaged. Shorter sentences are easier to read and digest. They’re punchier. Pithier. Sometimes, one word sentences speak volumes. Seriously.
Proofread your work carefully. Typos and grammatical errors can make your writing look unprofessional. I will struggle with this ’til the day I die.
Find your unique voice. What makes you different from other writers? What are your passions? What are your unique insights? Find a way to weave these ideas into your writing. Once you know your voice, you can use it to your advantage to create writing that’s both original and engaging.
Be bold. Don't be afraid to take risks in your writing. Try new things. Experiment with different styles and techniques. The more you experiment, the more likely you are to find your own unique voice.
Be yourself. Don't try to be someone you're not. Your readers will be able to tell if you're being fake. Just be yourself and let your personality shine through in your writing.
Be specific. Don't be afraid to get into the details. The more specific your writing is, the more vivid it will be for your readers.
Show, don't tell. Don't just tell your readers what happened. Show them. Use vivid descriptions and sensory details to bring your writing to life.
It's important to remember that writing is a skill that takes time and practice to develop.
No one gets it right first time, so don't get discouraged if your writing doesn't stand out or if it doesn’t sound right right away (if you see what I mean). Just keep writing and practicing, and eventually you'll find your own unique voice and style.
As for me, I’m still finding my way. I know few people are seeing my articles and I’m OK with that. The process of becoming known isn’t a sprint to an immediate finish line. I’m thankful if one person reads my stuff.
As always, thanks for reading.
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P.S. Next time on Shaking the Tree … How to become more creative.