Sometimes, it is funnily
sad. We usually marvel at people who are voluble (able to express themselves in
writing and speaking), and we ask ourselves how we can be like such people or
even better.
Stop the marvelling and
wishing! Help is here! In this article, we shall look at the following:
1. Who is a good
writer?
2. Misconceptions about a
good writer
3. The making of a good
writer
4. Benefits of being a
good writer
Characteristics of a Good
Writer
These characteristics
simply define a good writer:
1. A good writer has a
definite purpose.
2. He/She identifies
his/her audience and writes to suit their needs.
3. He/She is careful in
choosing the most appropriate language to transport his/her message.
4. A good writer has an
appreciable mastery of the language he/she chooses. He/She obeys subject-verb
agreement and tenses. He/She uses idioms/proverbs well. He/She has a rich
vocabulary.
5. To a great extent, a
good writer is easily understood.
6. A good writer writes
for his/her audience, not necessarily for himself/herself.
7. A good writer is
creative.
8. A good writer knows
the KISS rule [Keep It Simple and Short].
Misconceptions about a
Good Writer
The following are not
wholly true about good writers:
1. A good writer studied
Literature (or General Arts) in school.
2. A good writer is one
who has published books or poems.
3. The language of a good
writer is beyond the ordinary. You would need a dictionary to understand the
works of a good writer.
4. A good writer always
makes sense. He doesn't struggle to write.
5. A good writer writes
or can write about a variety of issues, and is always on top of issues.
6. A good writer should
be extemporaneous. He/She should be able to produce good writing at any time,
whether informed about the subject or not.
7. A good writer doesn't
make mistakes. He doesn't need another person to proofread or edit his/her
work.
8. A good writer has an
authority on everything he/she writes. He/She is a repository of knowledge.
Whatever he/she says is true and should be taken hook, line and sinker.
9. A good writer doesn't
need inspiration to write. He/She writes effortlessly.
10. A good writer is
naturally gifted to write; he/she doesn't need training or coaching.
The Making of a Good
Writer
We love to be good
writers, but we don't like to go through the process which will make us one.
Whatever is worth its salt is achieved, not through magic, but through hard
work. The good news is that hard work, even though is not sweet, is rewarding.
Hard work wins.
The same way you would
need ingredients such as tomatoes, onions, carrots, green peppers, salt,
nutmeg, oil, etc. to prepare a delicious vegetable stew, you would need some
ingredients to make the "good writer stew". The following are a few
ingredients:
1. Books
A good writer is a (good)
reader. He/She is a lover of books. Apart from reading enriching your
vocabulary, reading different authors makes you identify and appreciate your
own style better. A writer who doesn't read other writers can only be a local
champion. He/she is limited; he/she is good according to their own standard,
but when the rubber meets the road, he/she will fail.
2. A learning
spirit
A good writer is a
learner, not only of classroom subjects, but of life. A person who does not
learn lacks ideas to write about. He/She loses touch with the world around
him/her. He/She is a living dead. Learning expands your knowledge
base and sharpens your thoughts.
3. Patience
A good writer needs
patience and tact just like a neurosurgeon. He/She shouldn't be in a haste to
publish his/her writings. He/She needs time for the dough in the writing to
rise. He/She is careful to pay attention to grammar, spelling, word usage, etc.
Sometimes, it takes
weeks, months, or even years to publish a single work. Every good writer
understands this. This is the secret: As a writer, revisit the work you have
written weeks or months later, and if you are still impressed with what you
have done, feeling the same fire and zeal, then publish it!
4. Editor/Proofreader
Every good writer needs a
trusted editor or proofreader who would oversee his or her work. Having an
editor doesn't mean you are less good or skilled in writing. Everyone
understands the language of his/her profession. An editor or proofreader will
run laboratory tests on punctuation, grammar, spelling, sentence structure,
capitalisation, paragraphing, etc. Don't take these things for granted. Do well
to pay whoever (even if it is your friend) offers to edit or proofread your
work; it may be the only source of income for the person.
Benefits of Being a Good
Writer
1. Job
Being a good writer creates a job avenue for
you, whether part-time or full-time.
2. Fame
We know the likes of Chinua
Achebe, Wole Soyinka, Kofi Awoonor, Manasseh Azure, et al. because they are
good writers. Being a good writer makes you famous.
3. Voice
Being a good writer gives
you a powerful voice that many people listen. The art of writing provides the
writer a platform to air his or her views.
4. Personal development
Good writers know they must read wide and be
abreast of issues. This obligation contributes to their personal development in
thoughts and actions.
© Eric Nuamah Korankye
(Hamlet)
