“For me, the act of writing is very difficult and painful, I always have to correct and rewrite several times. Suffice it to say, as an example, that I wrote 1,100 typewritten pages to make a novel, which I took advantage of just over 300.”
The sentence you read above is by Fernando Sabino, one of the best chroniclers of Brazilian literature. In it, Sabino makes explicit all his difficulty in writing and, if it was difficult for him, who stood out as an outstanding writer and journalist, imagine for us mere mortals! The writer's words sound almost like an encouragement to someone who also suffers from a blank sheet and show that it is possible, with some training and dedication, to succeed in the universe of words.
Talking is easy, writing is really hard, isn't it? If in orality we can communicate efficiently, why is it that when it comes to organizing ideas on paper, everything becomes more difficult? This is because writing requires different linguistic skills, ie knowledge about syntax, textual organization, writing techniques, among other elements that enable the message to be delivered in a satisfactory. Knowing these elements is essential for anyone who wants to write more and better, as well as getting rid of the influence of communication oral (many people transfer to paper language addictions typical of orality) and lack of familiarity with the writing.
Writing is a challenge, and staying away from ambiguities, redundancies, cliches, syntax and punctuation errors (just to name a few) should be priority. Mistakes like this can be eliminated if you acquire some simple but super-efficient habits. Want to know what they are? Check out the writing tips that Brasil Escola has prepared for you and have a good read!
Tips to improve writing
1. Choose your favorite book: It can be anyone, as long as it is always at hand. Have you ever heard of the bedside book, the one that is right next to the bed for you to leaf through during your rest? Yes, we want you to have this habit and, at least once a day, to browse its pages. It sounds simple, but reading every day, even if only a few pages, can improve vocabulary and contribute to a better understanding of how the language works;
2. Whenever possible, write: Create opportunities to practice writing, even if it's through emails, notes, fridge reminders, notes, and so on. Of course oral communication is important, but whenever you have the opportunity, get a paper (it can be on the computer, on the tablet, at the smartphone...) and practice writing. You will notice that there are numerous situations in our daily lives that allow this exercise. Give preference to handwriting, as it has been scientifically proven that writing by hand trains the brain's neural networks, facilitates the learning of new languages, among other benefits;
3. When writing, don't forget the reader: This is a mistake many people make: writing without thinking about the intelligibility of the message. Written texts do not have the same resources as oral texts (intonation, pauses, etc.), resources that facilitate the understanding of the message. Therefore, you must be careful and, before sending an email, for example, do the simple exercise of reviewing it, a small habit that can eliminate ambiguities and spelling and syntactic errors that often compromise clarity textual. Always remember: haste is the enemy of perfection;
4. Always take the time to learn what you don't know: As we write, it is normal that some doubts arise, and if you really want to learn to write better, it is essential that you go after the answers, whether consulting a dictionary or searching the internet – what is not worth it is to pretend that everything is fine and take the risk of err. There is nothing that cannot be learned or improved, just a little patience and dedication. Put laziness aside and investigate, question, don't let a linguistic question go unanswered, much less let a mistake become a habit;
5. Avoid using the spell checker: Some people can no longer write without using this device. We know the broker is very useful, but do you check the tips suggested by him or just accept the correction? Another thing: how many times has the spell checker misled you? Have you ever noticed that he doesn't always have suitable suggestions for your text? This is because this is a tool that is not always able to understand our ideas and writing style, and what should help can turn into a real enemy. Take the test, try it, instead of enabling the corrector, enable yourself to look up a dictionary or grammar. In time, you will find that you can learn a lot more like this.
By Luana Castro
Graduated in Letters
Source: Brazil School - https://brasilescola.uol.com.br/redacao/cinco-habitos-para-melhorar-sua-redacao.htm