Writing Tips

- First of all, read a lot _ books, magazines, newspapers, whichever you prefer. Besides entertaining, reading is a means of obtaining knowledge, expand vocabulary, observe and assimilate the correct use of the language.

- Never imitate anyone. Create your own style. While writing, your style will emerge and develop spontaneously.

- If imitation is not advisable, plagiarism is forbidden.

- There is a difference between imitating and feeling inspired by someone. Read your favorite authors and let their work serve as encouragement.

- When you write concentrate yourself more in the contents than in the form, expressing your feelings and ideas spontaneously. Make the necessary corrections after that, when you are reviewing your text.

- Make a constant effort to always improve the grammar rules, keep updated and review what you forgot. Any time you have doubts while writing, don’t hesitate to consult a reliable source for research, whether are grammar rules or dictionaries.

- Always take a note pad and a pen with you, or a tablet. Inspiration to write can appear when you least expect it.

- Use an adequate language for the kind of reader you want to reach _ children, adults, executives, etc.

- Avoid repeating words, especially in the same paragraph or in the closest paragraphs, but also throughout the text. Many times a word, such as “however”, end up becoming a bad habit without the writer realizing it and it appears everywhere, becoming tiresome.

- Equilibrate the use of “he” and “she”, alternating them with the characters’ names, and also substituting them by the object pronouns when possible. Always make clear to the reader who is talking or acting in the text.

- Use simple language, without too much elaborated words, so it flows naturally, and the reader won’t feel compelled to consult the dictionary, because he/she will end up interrupting the reading of the text permanently.

- Avoid too many footnotes. The reader will be tired of interrupting the text all the time.

- Talking about Grammar, keep in mind the importance of the correct punctuation. Remember how a single coma can alter the whole meaning of a sentence.

- Don’t use sentences that are too long. Be clear and direct, or else, the reader can feel discouraged by a sentence that seems to never end.

- Be clear and direct, doesn’t mean to be dry. Most readers like descriptions of characters and sceneries, which stimulate their imagination, or the use of case examples to illustrate texts. Just don’t exaggerate in the adjectives not to be tiresome or fussy.

- Avoid repeating descriptions through the text. If, for example, you’ve already mentioned that the main character has blue eyes in the beginning of the text, repeat this detail only once or twice until the end, in case the reader has forgotten it.

- If your style is more concise and less descriptive, respect it. There are readers who prefer to leave scenery and characters to their own imagination.

- In dialogues, avoid unnecessary information that will only make you repeat the name of a character when it’s already clear that he/she is the one speaking, such as: “Hello”,said Mary.

- Always review your texts.