How to improve writing skills?

You are not comfortable with writing, anguished by the blank page, you are weary to write reports, letters, homework ...Fortunately, progress is possible at any level education or employability. Author and journalist in my life a success, Michele Longour publishes a practical guide for those who want to improve their writing skills. His first advice.

Some think they are not good at writing. You seem to say that everyone can write well ...

Michele Longour : "Everyone may not have the talent of a writer, but each of us can come to write properly for the needs of student and professional life. After the time of the school where French lessons often seem unnecessary, we quickly realized the need to constantly write e-mails, letters, reports of training, of the minutes of meetings, briefs ... Or you can concrete progress fast enough. I explain in my guide that you can first have some obstacles: being distressed by the blank page, to have no ideas, do not get to be clear ... Some blockages psychological in origin: they were told one day that they were "wrong in writing" and they have lost confidence.

So what to do to unlock?

To progress, we need to start already, that is to say, start by writing more. The reflex typical of that which is not comfortable is to avoid the obstacle while it takes "dive". For example, if you can not start a text, try to write everything that comes to mind, even if it is unrelated to your topic. You write with a pen or a keyboard, you will see that it frees the mind and promotes the arrival of words and sentences as if you opened a tap. You can then return to your subject and start erasing. One way to avoid the obstable is to make the "cut and paste" it secures itself by copying texts or excerpts of a letter found on the Internet or borrowed to someone else. The problem, apart from the aspect of "cheating" is that it prevents them from thinking personally. The text seems correct, but it does not express exactly what you mean for example a lot of job applicants send cover letters copied models, instead of asking what they could say more personal. A lot of students as "copy-paste" extracts from reports of the course. They make a text that is likely to be stereotyped, they may not understand everything: they believe save time but it prevents them from thinking for themselves and eventually they lose an opportunity to advance in writing.

Yet it is difficult to switch from oral to written. What to do when you can not be clear?

The transition to writing implies in fact a passage through the words that can obscure what is meant. We tend to use abstract terms and phrases that hinder understanding heavy. To say something simple, it is long and complicated! Fast enough by the way, we can no longer continue its text, to link ideas or to complete the letter.
To avoid "tripping over the carpet of the words," I often give this small simple: put Do you constantly question: "In this paragraph, or phrase what I mean?".Normally, you find your idea and then you express it orally in a simple "I mean I'm interested in this job." Write your idea and then. There will be time then to refine the style, at least you expressed your central idea. In general if you want to be clear in writing, must always express your central idea and put forward, either in a short text as long as a letter or a report. The reader knows from the outset and what you say. Indeed, we often forget that writing is a communication medium. This is a message to one or more readers, not to write for pleasure or to black paper.

Should we make a plan before writing?

For a long text, it is essential, but even a letter, you can plan a mini-draft in order to follow up your ideas in order. To be clear, the text must be well constructed, ideas or facts enslave them consistently. For this, we must first think about what you mean, and the order in which you will present the things: this is what gives you a plan and not the reverse. All too often, students are forced to cut their lines into two or three parties formally to meet the guidelines of presentation, but the content does not follow.Their text follows a clever numbering, but the ideas expressed or the facts are hollow or confused. Again, we must think before writing! may also have done a very good plan, but let go by writing each party to make digressions and allusions to things said in other parts. The reader has a sense of repetition and fragmentation. To avoid this, I advise not to express one idea per paragraph.

And how to improve the style?

The first effort to lighten it may be because we write so often heavy. We can try to make sentences shorter and simpler construction, avoiding subordinate clauses introduced by "that", "after", etc.. The model "subject-verb-object" is a safe bet. It is better not to use too much either present participles, or verbs in the passive voice. I also draw your attention to the fact that we often use too many abstract nouns, which can be replaced by verbs.Rather than saying "the disappearance of natural habitats is the primary cause of the extinction of many species," we can write that "many species extinct because their natural habitat disappears." It is much easier and enjoyable to read, right? And when you have reduced the style, you can add by diversifying the vocabulary: it is, for example, replace "verbs poor" as "being" , "having" or "mean" by other more specific or proper use of adjectives, adverbs. I give many examples and some exercises in my guide because the only way forward is to practice, but when we took a few folds, one begins to play and discover the pleasure of writing.

And spelling, how to progress?

Of course, there is not enough that your texts are clear and well written. If they are full of faults, while the positive effect is spoiled like a beautiful garment that is stained with spots. We must therefore move in parallel on the spelling, but again do not be discouraged: we can make real progress, albeit a weak point. I'm just giving some ideas: first, each of us often the same mistakes repeatedly. Another look at more of your writings to locate them.Then you can attack you specifically to these points, for example by online exercises on specialized websites. Every time you get your score, which allows to locate your progress. It's more fun and less daunting than conventional dictation. You can even get on some networks of "certifications" that you can indicate on your resume because good writing is a skill sought after today! When you have finished writing a text, also take it a habit to read more time by focusing your attention on different points: once on the consistency and clarity of your text, and once only on the spelling.You will learn to correct yourself and you will gradually fewer mistakes because your eye will drive them to practice. "