Hand Hobbies: A Resource Guide to Writing Basics
Written by Michele Wheat Last edited: 3/25/2019
Writing might consist much more of typing than actually writing things out by hand these days, but it's still an important part of all of our lives every day. Everyone from executives to students needs to have good writing skills to be able to effectively communicate their ideas and complete daily tasks. But writing doesn't have to be merely a practical skill: Plenty of people write as a hobby as well. No matter why we write, it's important for everyone to be able to write in a clear and understandable way, and just about anyone can improve this skill with a bit of practice.
INSPIRATION Inspiration is the spark that makes you write. For some, it's as simple as the need to remember something by jotting down a note or the need to please their boss by writing something as part of their job. For others, inspiration comes in the form of a creative idea that pushes them to create a work of fiction. No matter what type of writing you're doing, the first step is knowing what to write. For those who write creatively, writer's block can be a frequent obstacle, but finding a few regular sources of inspiration can help you come up with new ideas quickly so you can continue to improve your craft.
Once you have an idea what you want to explore in more depth, the outlining phase begins. What is the ultimate purpose of this writing project? What points expand on or support this idea? The outline you build serves as your project's bones, helping you to organize your ideas. RESEARCH Your work is only as reliable as the sources you get your information from. If you're doing online research, look for .gov, .edu, and even .org sources. The most notable exception to this rule is Wikipedia: However, while you should never cite Wikipedia directly, you can use the links and references at the bottom of a Wikipedia page to find more trustworthy sources. Whenever possible, work backward to find the original source of a quote, image, or idea, and make sure to give credit to other authors and researchers as needed.
Written by Michele Wheat Last edited: 3/25/2019
Writing might consist much more of typing than actually writing things out by hand these days, but it's still an important part of all of our lives every day. Everyone from executives to students needs to have good writing skills to be able to effectively communicate their ideas and complete daily tasks. But writing doesn't have to be merely a practical skill: Plenty of people write as a hobby as well. No matter why we write, it's important for everyone to be able to write in a clear and understandable way, and just about anyone can improve this skill with a bit of practice.
INSPIRATION Inspiration is the spark that makes you write. For some, it's as simple as the need to remember something by jotting down a note or the need to please their boss by writing something as part of their job. For others, inspiration comes in the form of a creative idea that pushes them to create a work of fiction. No matter what type of writing you're doing, the first step is knowing what to write. For those who write creatively, writer's block can be a frequent obstacle, but finding a few regular sources of inspiration can help you come up with new ideas quickly so you can continue to improve your craft.
- 365 Creative Writing Prompts
- Nine Activities to Inspire Your Writing
- Conquering Writer's Block: Strategies for Getting Started
Once you have an idea what you want to explore in more depth, the outlining phase begins. What is the ultimate purpose of this writing project? What points expand on or support this idea? The outline you build serves as your project's bones, helping you to organize your ideas. RESEARCH Your work is only as reliable as the sources you get your information from. If you're doing online research, look for .gov, .edu, and even .org sources. The most notable exception to this rule is Wikipedia: However, while you should never cite Wikipedia directly, you can use the links and references at the bottom of a Wikipedia page to find more trustworthy sources. Whenever possible, work backward to find the original source of a quote, image, or idea, and make sure to give credit to other authors and researchers as needed.
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