From “Girl Against the Blank Page”—
...Do you enjoy the written word? Do you desire to improve your writing skills and have the ability to write something meaningful? I would like to, firstly, share a simple extra-curricular way you can improve your own writing, and, secondly, give some practical ideas of ways to put your writing to use.
Write your daily page
It’s like exercising a muscle. The person who wants to gain strength exercises daily. In the same way, we improve our writing through daily practice. While it is crucial to understand the basics of good grammar and writing mechanics, there is no curriculum that can replace simply going through the writing process on a regular basis. Several years ago I made an effort to write one page of something each day. My writing skills improved as I strengthened my literary muscles through daily exercise.
In addition to improving my writing quality, the daily page began to shape the way I thought about the world around me. A particularly beautiful day would become a descriptive sentence in my head; a new skill would begin to arrange itself into clear, understandable instructions; and a person’s unique characteristics would be tucked away in my mind for future incorporation into a book character. Another direct result of the daily page improved my ability to write realistically: I learned to make the most ordinary things sparkle. I remember a day when I couldn’t think of anything particularly interesting about which to write. As I stared at what was in front of me, I saw a blank sheet of lined paper on a table, and two hands, the right one holding a pencil. Boring and mundane yellow pencil? Perhaps, but with a dose of semi-dramatic description and poetic language, it became a most interesting topic¬¬. The ability to convincingly and enjoyably reproduce the normal world was invaluable as I created engaging family warmth and humor in both books I have written.
You, too, can enjoy the fruits of writing a daily page. Sit down and begin since there’s nothing special required: just a blank sheet of lined paper, your hands, a pencil, and a topic idea. Topics can be found everywhere: in nature, in the kitchen, in the encyclopedia, on the road, at church, or in the cute toddler in your lap. Consider these six areas of important quality writing.
Descriptions- practice the art of making your readers picture and feel exactly what you want to communicate, using vivid, concrete words.
Narratives- briefly relate a story from your own life. Try to make even the most ordinary, mundane event captivating.
Characters- think of a fictional character, and write a vivid description of him. Try to describe what your five senses might perceive about him, as well as the fascinating dimension of his personality.
Instructions- experiment with describing a process. No matter the type of written communication that interests you, the ability to clearly explain the steps to achieving a goal will be a useful skill.
Persuasions- work to correctly and clearly present logical arguments in writing. The Lord may give you opportunities to write in defense of the Faith or lead others to follow Him and His word.
Letters- improve your letter-writing. The friendly letter can bless others and glorify the Lord, as well as enable long-distance friendships. Also cultivate the skill of writing clear and effective business letters.
Use your daily page
Put some of your fruitful, daily writing practice to good use! Publish a family newspaper, include your writing with a friendly letter, use a narrative as a journal entry, teach a younger sibling through an instructive piece, start a blog, share with others your instructions for a craft or skill, save a narrative of God’s goodness for future generations to remember.
From “Girl Against the Blank Page: a Young Author's (Hopefully) Helpful Journey" coming soon! Subscribe to our feed to receive an announcement when this book is released.
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