Friday, March 21, 2014

What writing really is all about? How to do it?

A cousin had once told me that he can never ever write. This is his response after advising him to just write. Turn on your computer, open your Microsoft Word, and write what comes to your mind, I told him.

He asked for my writing advice, knowing I've been blogging for years, despite me being a dilettante in the English language. He wanted to write but he doesn't want to do it.

He is a registered nurse and NCLEX passer, but just can't passed the IELTS or International English Language Testing System. The exam is one of a series of Nursing exams, and the only test needed to become completely eligible for work in English-speaking countries like the United States.



Writing is not about intellectual capacity. It is about courage and discipline. If you don’t have these two, then I guess you just have to get some seeds and go gardening. If you’re not really interested about writing, then you can never ever write.

Never Fear Writing


My cousin, I’m afraid, doesn't have the courage and discipline to write. He said he tried but he just didn't like what he had written. So, it is better not to do it anymore. It's pride and embarrassment that stops him from writing. It's the fear of committing mistakes that make him not to do it like the grammar, the sentence construction, and the paragraph transition. What worse is that he has his own opinions about it. He presents his own principles like argumentative paragraphs, conclusions, tenses, etc..

It's Okay to Commit Mistakes, Accept Criticisms


There is nothing wrong about presenting opinions in writing. The problem is the nerves to believe in certain rules despite the fact that he doesn't want to do it and haven’t even taken one step further.

One can never learn if he/she doesn't commit mistakes. One can never write if he/she doesn't want his written work to be criticized. Famous writers underwent dozens and dozens of rejections before their work has to be accepted by editors and publishers. Even college students have to allow themselves to be corrected by their English teachers if they really want to learn. That is why there are writers whose works became bestsellers and students who get high grades in English, or Writing for that matter.

I don’t believe that my cousin can’t write. He finished two bachelor’s degree courses and it is impossible that he can’t create a decent sentence or a finished composition. He just doesn't want to do it, that’s all.

Let Fingers Do the Talking


Even let’s say, he has no plans of pursuing a writing career, writing is something that you have to engage yourself when a certain circumstance requires you to do so. In my cousin’s case about IELTS, I believe he has to indulge himself in writing even for a short span of time. I guarantee him that he is going to learn a lot of things and that the he can utilize this knowledge to become successful someday.

Writing is not easy that is why it needs courage and discipline. You can never write a good application letter, a high school book report, a letter of condolence, an annual business report, if you don’t have these two. It all just takes one blank page and let your fingers do the talking.

To my cousin and to all lazy bloggers and amateur writers: write with all your might and you will be surprised with the wonders of writing.

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