Common Writing Advice To Avoid

Writing is about conveying your message to the reader in the best way possible. You should know how to write a blog if you're running a company blog, creating site content, or even tweeting. Furthermore, various writing sites, such as assignmentmavens have assisted many students in accomplishing their tasks.

Popular writing advice may not work for you, just as popular blogging, social networking, and freelance advice don't always work. There are a couple of common writing bits of advice that are not applicable in some scenarios; the following are some of them.

A Good Writer Writes Everyday

Regular writing may be beneficial, especially if you enjoy it. But for various reasons, not everyone can achieve it. Not everyone has the same life or amount of time to practice their skills. Our writing time is also affected by our varying energy levels and daily commitments. This is why writing regularly might not be good advice, especially for beginners. Introducing new habits and routines is always tricky and requires patience and dedication. Instead of giving this advice, if you tell someone to just maintain a journal, it will not seem like a chore. You can keep a journal and write in it whenever you feel like it.

Show the Whole Scenario Rather Than Telling

The phrase "the moon in a shining glass" is a typical example of how to show rather than describe. Writing is a window into the author's mind; however, sometimes, showing alone will not be helpful. For example, when writing a research paper, you cannot show your techniques regarding data collection but you can write the methodology.

Write What You Accurately Understand

We want to write authentically and accurately. This concept can be limiting if you never allow yourself to step outside of your comfort zone. Also, you can investigate anything you don't know because it's not compulsory to write what you only know. Ultimately, what will make you a more empathetic and better writer is going beyond what you already know. If you keep writing about stuff that interests you, eventually, there will be nothing to write about. Additionally, it will make your writing tedious, resulting in diminishing interest from the readers.

Writing with an Outline is Compulsory

While most people would agree that an outline is generally a good idea, it's not necessary. This advice is often applied to new writers or students who don't have their thoughts in one place. An outline allows them to prioritize information and structure them appropriately. For advanced or skilled writers, outlines are not applicable. They know precisely how to structure their thoughts into words. You might need outlines initially, but as you become experienced, they will only be a waste of time.

Avoid Adverbs in Your Sentences

Since each speech component has a purpose and should only be used when necessary, this writing advice is wrong. You can use adverbs effectively in English sentences. Although not everyone likes them, no one can deny their importance or impact. A well-placed adverb can impact the meaning and context of your writing. You are right not to use adverbs excessively but telling someone not to use them is lousy advice. An adverb is often a clumsy way to emphasize something else. However, they sometimes succeed. You should not be afraid to use an adverb if it sounds great and enhances the statement to your liking.

Don't Use Long Sentences When Short Sentences Works

This is one of the typical pieces of advice you will find on the internet. Although valid to some extent but is widely impractical. This is down to context and sometimes the purpose of the writing. For example, using short sentences while writing essays and blogs is good, but doing so in research papers and dissertations is confusing for the readers. If you break down sentences in complex papers, they will not deliver the complete meaning. Therefore, you must first identify the purpose of your writing and then figure out whether to use short or long sentences.  

Complex Sentences and Words

You indeed want people to be able to read and understand your writing. But that doesn't mean you should stick to short, straightforward sentences. Sometimes a longer word sounds better or perhaps conveys an idea more effectively. Therefore, it's not mandatory to pick only a simple term.

Of course, consider the age range for whom you are writing. A book for children should not contain fancy language. However, when writing for older readers, use the English language to its fullest extent. A reader will look up a word you use if they don't understand it. They will learn something from it when they come across a new term.

You will find a lot of advice related to writing; however, only a few of them serve the purpose. The only thing you must be concerned about when writing is tone and sentence structure. If you can do that perfectly, you will have an easy time conveying your message. Additionally, working on your vocabulary is an excellent way to improve your writing skills. All in all, writing is not as hard as some people make it to be, it just requires practice and a bit of self-confidence.