Christine Winters loves technology. Whether it is a computer innovation or the latest gadget to make any kitchen better she will report the story behind it. Her hardest-hitting articles, though, involve the constant assault social websites are making on public privacy.
I have lost count of the number of times I have heard people tell me that they wished they could do what I can do. Well here’s a little known secret, anyone can do what I can do.
If you can organize your thoughts in a rational manner, and if you are able to write or type in your native language, then you have what it takes to be a writer.
What does it mean to be a good writer?
If you want to be a good writer, then the first thing you need to decide what that means to you.
Different people will measure success in different ways. For some, being a great writer might mean seeing a book go on the bestseller list. Others might be happy writing popular fiction or children’s books. Still others are happy if they can get their work published anywhere.
Everyone has different levels of success, some writers are satisfied when they write something and it gets the point. Some live for that light of comprehension dawning across the reader’s face.
Other writers are happy when their work can lift and inspire people.
It’s amazing what a quick few lines can do to cheer up a sad person. Everyone wants their work to move someone.
Don’t Give Up!
The next important thing to remember is don’t give up!
You would be surprised how many people will try their hand at writing, only to give up when their first few efforts failed them in some way. A lot of people will say they can’t put things into words. I say it’s as simple as writing down your thoughts, and feelings. If you’re telling me what you think, and a lot of people will use those very words, then you could very well be writing down what you think. Sometimes it’s just that easy.
Not everyone is going to put out Shakespeare every time they write.
Sometimes your work will be rejected, even if you think you’ve crafted a masterpiece. The trick is to turn those rejections into a tool, instead of looking at them like a liability. I personally read every one, I want to know exactly why my work was turned away. Sometimes it’s something simple like spelling or punctuation. Those things are easily corrected with most spell-check programs.
Then I go back and sometimes I rewrite the affected article, other times I just file the information away for future reference. Whatever you do with them is up to you, the most important thing is not to let them bother you. There isn’t a writer in the world, living or dead, that wasn’t told at one time or another they sucked.
Get Into A Writing Routine
My last tip to you is get into a writing routine.
This isn’t as campy as it sounds. I do the same thing every day in order to start my writing day. First a cup of coffee, then the dog goes outside and runs around like a fool in the park. Then it’s back upstairs for another cup of coffee and some good music.
I find that listening to music before trying to write anything helps relax me, and that makes writing easier because I am not concentrating on myself anymore. In fact I listen to it while I am working, but that may not work for everyone.
These are all suggestions, take what works for you and good luck.
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"You’re such a smart boy!" were his first accolades heard. So, it’s no wonder that this phrase became the title of his business, Smart Boy Designs.
Read more about Christian
{ 26 comments… read them below or add one }
Excellent tips, Christine. I have what I need, the tool just needs to be kept sharp by consistent and deliberate practice.
yeah joe, just like everything else, your writing gets better with practice.
Graham Lutz recently posted..The Best Time to Start a Blog
You must push the road blocks to the side and make a good judgment call on how you will grow as a writer..it just takes time and consistence.
“Black Seo Guy “Signing Off”
TrafficColeman recently posted..Don’t Buy Flip This Website
I like the idea of getting into a writing routine. I need to get better at this. I will type ideas in the note section of my iphone but I really need to sit down and actually write, by the time I come back to my ideas I can’t even remember where I was going with that idea. Ha! Great tips on writing. Thanks for sharing!
Meg recently posted..When nothing else matters.
Twitter: smartboydesigns
July 8, 2011 at 10:34 am
I’ve been getting into a better writing routine lately, and it’s helping in many ways. Content for blogs, better writing and more. I’m going to be writing a small bit on the project soon – and hopefully it will help with identifying your writing plans.
For me I can’t seem to write my thoughts down well in an iPhone or computer device. That’s why I must ALWAYS have my notebook with me. I love the feeling of pen to paper – and I’m convinced it helps me think better.
Meg, i truly feel your pain
Ah, yes, this has bugged me forever. I remember another blogger talking about how his blog post ideas have a half life of about 24 hours. 50% the motivation is gone in one day, and by the second day the motivation is down to 25% – hardly worth pursuing anymore. I’ve found that to be true as well.
To fix this, I now write immediately when I get an idea. Everything else is dropped and I go hammer out a first draft. The work ends up being so much better, and you don’t end up with a pile of half formulated ideas

Andrew Olson recently posted..10 Lessons You Can Learn From Nature
That’s so true. Most times, I have an idea and if I don’t write it in the moment I end up losing my focus.
Even if I write a crappy first draft I almost always find a way to turn it into a readable post.
Lesson: better to write crappy first drafts than not to write great ideas.

Hugo Martins recently posted..Life As I See It (You Should Too)
I like that you have this perspective. I believe I share it with you. Being a great writer (or anything) just requires one to actually do it. Thats all. Its crazy how simple that is.
If we keep saying it long enough, (hopefully) more people will get it.
David | Almost Bohemian recently posted..It’s Good to Get High
I think reading other good writers helps a lot too. Just like you will find a role model that you look up to and try to emulate, you can pull things that you love from others writers and add those techniques to your writing, with your idiosyncrasies.
Graham Lutz recently posted..The Best Time to Start a Blog
If you put pen to paper (or rather fingers to keyboard?) you are writer. You may not be good and people may not enjoy reading you work but you are a writer per se.
I started writing just to get my thoughts out of my head and understand myself and the world better, only then I started to publish some of my writings. It depends on what your goals are (mine never was to be publish and still isn’t) I just like to write, if I can help people doing so, great!
I am not a native writer. I am not English, I am Portuguese. I started learning English about 5 years ago. To better write and understand the language I do fairly simple things: I watch movies without subtitles, making it harder for me to understand some things but helping me in improving my hearing and talking capacity; I read a lot in English (in Portuguese too but…), with a dictionary by my side so I can search for words I don’t know, and that really really helps me improving everything. Vocabulary, writing ability and understanding of the language – everything gets better; also I write a lot in English.
In my case it is odd because I have to constantly write in too different languages and be able to decently convey my message, it is funny!
Cheers!
Hugo Martins recently posted..I’m Wired Out of Social Ability
Twitter: smartboydesigns
July 8, 2011 at 9:43 pm
I love hearing about your thoughts on writing Hugo! It’s certainly wonderful to see how well you’re writing in English although it’s not your native language.
What’s great about your situation is that you love what you do. You love to write. And that translates into a passion that others can and will feel in your writing. When it’s forced – it’s also felt by others.
Thank you for stopping by! I really appreciated. Heading over to your blog now.
Thank you for the kind words Christian. You surely noticed that I wrote ‘too’ instead of ‘two’ in the last paragraph – when I write fast I miss those typos.
Cheers!
P.S: Thanks for going to my blog

Hugo Martins recently posted..I’m Wired Out of Social Ability
Twitter: smartboydesigns
July 9, 2011 at 7:06 am
No worries. I noticed, but it most certainly didn’t bother me.
And you’re welcome. I plan on stopping by your blog more often!
that was such an inspiring post
thank you christian and keep it up
Twitter: smartboydesigns
July 9, 2011 at 7:06 am
I will Farouk. Thank you for stopping by. I most certainly appreciate your support!
I definitely agree with this post. It may sound cliche’ but practice makes perfect. I find its also nice to get in a habit of reading a lot of work from others. Doing this and writing practicing will help you build your own unique writing style.
MarsCelestral recently posted..Fear of the Unknown
Twitter: smartboydesigns
July 11, 2011 at 10:18 am
I think reading other blogs, as you mention, has really helped me the most in trying to become a better writer. You see the different ways other people write – and it becomes a lot easier to understand how you can improve.
Great advice, I totally agree that anyone can become a great writer. I think the two most important lessons for anyone wanting to improve their writing are:
1) Read More. I’ve definitely noticed that in my own life, the more I read, the more I get in tune with what good writing is supposed to look like and my writing improves.
2) Start a Journal. A place to record your non-published thoughts. I have a journal dating back to 2008 with over 225,000 words. But that has easily led to much better results when I go to write an article.
Andrew Olson recently posted..Using Time Perspectives
Twitter: smartboydesigns
July 11, 2011 at 10:19 am
Love the journaling idea. I journal a lot. I have a few different journals that I like to keep. I have a journal I use in the morning to record my dreams from the previous night (my dream journal) and then I have my journal I write down thoughts, feelings and a few sentences about what I did from that day. I also have my notebook I carry around for poem, blog post and book ideas. It’s fun to keep them all around and keep writing as much as I can!
Twitter: vitalyvt
July 11, 2011 at 12:30 pm
Agreed! awesome post Christian. It’s good to have certain writing habits down.
Vitaly Tennant recently posted..Google Plus Invite Giveaway
To me… the dawn of the internet and birth of the blog was the greatest gift. I now can write as much as I want, free (as long as I have a computer and internet connection) and it can touch anyone in the world who wants to read it. Its a revolution. Not having to sell to book agents, magazine editors etc. If you are passionate about something, go for it. The world is waiting.
Laurinda Shaver recently posted..I’m too tired to go to bed
Twitter: smartboydesigns
July 12, 2011 at 11:56 am
This is an awesome blog post idea if anyone is willing and ready to write it….That seems to be pretty much your blog theme anyways Laurinda!
ahhh… must diversify!!
maybe I have been very introspective lately. Trying to push myself forward, but i really need to focus on writing outside of me. Thanx for the keen perspective.
Laurinda Shaver recently posted..I’m too tired to go to bed
It is very important when you write to follow your thoughts, rather than trying to write in a certain way and bend yourself to a reality that only exists in your imagination
Being yourself and being natural when you write ads great value to any article or post.
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Twitter: smartboydesigns
July 21, 2011 at 1:04 pm
Great thought. Write within yourself. Not what other people want to hear, but write to what you are able – and can firmly imagine. Love it!