Henry Gee about writing

It is only fitting that a blog used to practice writing should start with an entry about the process of writing, so here it is.

The inspiration for this blog came from a number of sources, the first of which was an article by Henry Gee in the Guardian, entitled “In Your Own Write: The ten rules for excellent writing”. Mr. Gee is a blogger, writer and senior editor at the science weekly Nature. The article, which was part of the public relations campaign for the Welcome Trust/Guardian/Observer science writing competition, was published a little over a year ago, and is worth reading.

Topping the list is "Rule 1: Write Every Day."

"That's why my first rule for writers is that, as an aspiring writer, you should write every day. Talent of any kind, whether it's playing football or the piano, improves with practice, and writing is no exception. It doesn't matter what it is, or how short ... It can be a status update on your favourite social network; a stanza on how miserable it is to wait in the rain ... (for the bus); a shopping list; a diary entry. Anything. This is why having a blog is good. You can write short items about anything, and, if you are going to do it properly, you will update it regularly. There is no pithier testament to unwillingness to write than an untended blog."

Here is a similar quote, from Dr. Ben Goldacre's email auto-response:

"If you want to get into writing, the only advice I can offer is “write!”, on a blog, in a local mag, a student paper, anywhere and everywhere that will have you, practice, feedback, and repeat." 

This is sound advice, but only part of the story. In my opinion, to be a good writer, start with a lot of reading.  Find a writer or an area that you enjoy and give it a go. To improve your writing, imitate the style and technique of your favorite writers. Your personal style will come through soon enough.

Reading is a lot less demanding than writing. It can be done piecemeal, and is much more fun than putting a daily quota of 1000 words (or 100, for that matter) to print. Reading has many benefits - it elevates comprehension, raises general intelligence, contributes to knowledge and language skills, is enlightening and occasionally inspiring. Reading broadens the mind, and widens the horizon. Its effects linger whether you become a writer or not.

If you find reading boring and tedious, you are probably not destined to be a writer, so spare yourself a lot of agony by finding a hobby you enjoy better. if you do find it rewarding, reading would lead you to things you can be passionate about, and write about with pleasure.

So my First Rule is "read a lot, regularly" - web pages, news, essays, zines, electronic and print books, anything and everything you can find (for free).

Yet while reading is a necessary part of writing, it is not on its own sufficient. Reading refines your grammar and enriches your vocabulary - which you will give you a good start. But practice - lots of it - is the secret to writing. And if regular writing does not make you a better writer, it will at least make you a more proficient one.

If you visit this blog often, you'll be able to see if it gets better with time and practice - assuming it does not become my "pithy testament to unwillingness to write".