Helpful Writing Tips

by Brendan Smith
Weirs Times Editor

A friend of mine recently commended me for being able to come up with a new column every week. He claimed that he would never be able to do it.
I disagree.
You see, writing a weekly (sometimes weakly) column is not as hard as it might appear. All it takes is an understanding of a simple formula. I believe that most anyone, using these easy steps, can create a column every week, or even more often in they prefer.
So, at the peril of creating other columnists to compete with me and possibly endanger my own livelihood, but at the same time being unselfish in my desire to see others succeed at their dreams, I reveal here my writing secrets.
First, and this might be the most important step in a successful writing career, you need something to write about. What we in the business call an “idea”. Without a clear idea your column will just be a mish-mash of random nouns and adjectives that are put together to form sentences that will have no coherent meaning to the reader and they will most likely stop reading after a paragraph or two.
Right now, some of you may be scratching your heads and thinking: “Brendan, where exactly do I get these ideas?”
Great question.
Ideas for columns can be found most anywhere, you just need to pay attention as they can appear from places you least expect.
For example, say you are struggling to come up with an idea for a column and out of the blue a friend comes up to you and compliments you on being able to write a column every week and claims that he would never be able to do it himself. Instead of just using his words to satisfy your ego, you stop and think and realize that it might make a good column telling others how simple it is to write a column.
See how easy this is already?
Now, once you have an idea, it is important that you write it down so as not to forget. It really doesn’t matter where you write it. It doesn’t have to be a fancy notebook or some kind of leather bound journal you have been carrying around with you in case you come up with an idea. Anything handy will do.
Napkins, back of business cards and even the palm of your hand are acceptable alternatives as well as crumbled up receipts from the convenience store. (Always remember to say “yes” when asked if you would like a receipt, even when just buying a cup of coffee. It may come in handy. Also make sure to transfer any ideas written on your palm to another source ASAP, especially in these days of obsessive handwashing.)
You don’t have to be too detailed in note taking, just a few words to help jog your memory later.
The most important part of jotting down notes is to make sure to check the pockets of your pants before doing a load of wash as this is a great way to lose these ideas forever. (Also make sure you don’t give away the business card you wrote that great idea on as you will have given away a perfectly good idea to someone who might steal it.)
See, I told you this was pretty easy.
The third step is considered by most columnists the hardest – writing the column itself. You have the idea, you wrote it down and even checked your pants pockets before doing your wash. Now what do you do with it?
An important piece of this puzzle of writing is which tool do you use to do the actual work of putting your words together. Some writers still use old typewriters, but I prefer a laptop, especially one that has a wireless Internet connection which is a valuable tool for writing.
It is perfect for when you are stuck on certain details and you need to look up some important information so you can get right back to your writing without interrupting your flow.
Having an Internet connection is also crucial when facing writer’s block since it gives you a way to rapidly connect to a social media site where you can spend mindless hours finding out what your friend’s pet did as well as laughing at stupid memes that do nothing to help your writing progress, or the progress of anything of real value for that matter.
This may seem counterproductive to some, but in reality it helps you to procrastinate from writing long enough until you find yourself facing an inevitable deadline and then you really have to buckle up and get the darned thing written because you are out of time.
It works for me every time.
I certainly hope this has helped and dispels the myth that not just anyone can write a weekly column.
If you follow this easy advice, you too can find yourself in the unenviable position of trying to figure out what to write every week and then figuring out a way to actually write it.
Good luck!!