How did you learn?

**LeeD** · 07-20-2006, 10:54 PM

How did you develop in to the writer you are today? Did you begin by writing web content, or was it something altogether different?

**jwags** · 07-20-2006, 11:51 PM

I spent five years in college studing journalism and PR then three years writing advertising copy and press releases for a living.

**tntcheats** · 07-21-2006, 12:00 AM

I've been on forums since I was 8, and talking to educated and mature people 3 or 4 times my age probably helped a bit.

Taking Business Communications in college drastically improved my writing ability (to make things simple and easy to read, etc). The only issue is that I don't have the time to have a quick read-through of my posts and emails.

**sitedesigner** · 07-21-2006, 12:00 AM

Started writing love poetry

Then a lot of physicological stuff..... commentaries on stuff.

Then I moved to writing about stuff I love (like the first) except these were web related.

**dianafontanez** · 07-21-2006, 12:10 AM

Been writing for the past 4 years. Recently started writing business articles for the Spanish speaking business market. I write an average of 4 to 5 exclusive 500 - 1,000 words per article per week! All in Spanish -- my English needs work!

My secret? Imagine having a friend in front of you and tell him like it is with a high dose of enthusiasm.

Diana

**lyndoman** · 07-21-2006, 03:33 AM

I have been writing for years, have a couple of film scripts under my belt, plus a novel and numerous short stories. Eight years ago I got into the web and wrote content for my own websites, then a couple of years ago the blogging Tsunami hit and I have been writing mainly factual stuff.

I now help out other bloggers with content, and it is very satisfying to deliver a quality piece and geting paid for it. I actually find it easier writing for others than for my own sites.

**imported_Rezo** · 07-21-2006, 09:13 AM

I am not a writer, but I began from copy/past and editing some senteces in articles lol

**tallen** · 07-21-2006, 01:41 PM

I have always wanted to be a writer (amoung a bazillion other things), webmastering gives me that oppotunity

There is a book called "On Writing Well" that is an awesome easy read -- I recommend it to anyone.

**aaron_nimocks** · 07-21-2006, 01:43 PM

I really never developed into a better writer. What I did instead is stopped trying to fake I knew something about the subject and writing about it and stick to something you actually have an interest/knowledge in.

If that makes sense.

**Fredto** · 07-21-2006, 06:52 PM

I started by reading Lord of the Rings when I was 11.

Never stopped reading or writing since (except when I'm too lazy) ;p

**Allen.H** · 07-21-2006, 06:57 PM

The writer i am today? hmm, not that much of a good writer i'd say. I'm a blogger, been blogging for over a year now, in an industry (non-personal) blog, so that helped me develop my writing skills, but mainly improve my english (which is my 3rd language!).

A.H

**Nocturnal** · 07-21-2006, 07:22 PM

English 22. That and participating on various forums. I learned to clean up my grammar, real fast.

**IsMaR** · 07-21-2006, 07:31 PM

I dont think I'm that great of a writer... English being my 2nd language and everything, but oh well...

**squirrelmaster** · 07-24-2006, 09:56 AM

I started by reading the left behind series when i was around 11, but ever since real young i have had a good sense of communication, though sometimes i misspell thing in emails and forums. Being in english AP for the past two years also helped, as I may be good in writing, but would never consider writing a book or a short story, that is until recently. I have been writing tutorials on computer how-tos, and i really enjoyed it.

**Geiger** · 07-25-2006, 01:33 AM

Still to learning sentence how to form a structured well.

**danifer** · 07-25-2006, 12:43 PM

I have a degree in technical writing, but I think talent and experience are more important. I found my writing really grew when I branched out into other areas of interest and had more interesting subject matter to write about.

Now I'm a licensed Customs broker, an avid roleplayer, a tinker of automobiles, a web developer and a father.

Almost all of my writing belongs to me and most of it goes online to earn a passive income.

**codeism** · 07-25-2006, 02:54 PM

I started out just reading. I found that when I write, I tend to look critically at the writing styles of my favorite authors. This really helps, I think.

Overall, I think that some people try to seperate writing from reading, writing from speaking. No, a great speaker is not always a great writer, but I try to read what I've said out loud.

I also think that "breaking in" does require the ability to continue knocking on the door, so to speak. I'm still writing my "back then" story, but I've learned to cut through what a customer (I prefer customer to client, but I'll use both) says and what they mean. Sometimes when I apply to jobs, I show my samples and make sure to honestly "pitch". It's not just enough to introduce yourself -- tell them why you can do the job and back it up.

I answer the "I don't have samples" by taking a leaf out of the page of other creatives and writing spec-type pieces. When you can prove you can do a press release as a sample, sometimes the customer will believe that you can translate that to the real thing.

Confidence.
Balls.
Confidence. :thumbup:

**Tran** · 07-25-2006, 03:28 PM

Learned how to speak/write in English haah that would be a big step in the learning process :x

**Atomm** · 07-25-2006, 07:09 PM

I do not consider myself a very good writer. I play it by ear. If it sounds good, I go with it.

Someone on here said I was a good storyteller. I never thought about it, but I can usually tell a good story especially when I can make a connection to something else in my life.

**007** · 07-25-2006, 07:56 PM

I used to read a lot of really long novels. Haven't had time lately but there are a few more that I purchased this month that I plan to read soon.

I usually only read stuff that is at least 400 pages long. I don't like feeling cheated!