Thursday, 13 June 2013

How to DEVELOP YOUR WRITING SKILLS


Writing is one of the oldest craft. It has survived several era of human development and has made it into the computer age. It started as signs invented by man for communication among a small group of people or a community. As time went on, men developed signs to represent the various sounds produced as words are fabricated/verbalized in a particular language. Those signs evolved into what is known as alphabet today.

Writing has proven to be a better alternative to verbal communication over the years. Some of the advantages of writing are;

1.       Wider coverage. Written communiqué get to more audience than verbal communication. Today, we have with our thoughts, ideas and teachings of legends who are long dead and buried. So much of what they said in person has been lost to memory and extinction. But several of the thoughts they put into writings has survived from generation to generation. If you care to know, the fastest way to travel abroad is to write a book. Books get to places their authors never dreamed of and will never get to.

2.       Refined message. Putting your thought and ideas into writing allow you the opportunity to fine-tune the content of your message. It provides you space to define and focus your communiqué to ensure that your intent is achieved in the audience. You are able to cut off the unnecessary and thus make your message and straight to the point.

3.       Best view:  Putting a subject in writing gives you a better view of the subject. You get to understand it better and are better positioned to relate with others on the same subject.

I can go on and on, but you’ll only come to agree with me when you give ‘writing’ a try. Even God endorses writing. He specifically instructs some of His servants in the Bible to explore writing as their medium of communicating His message. He knows best. And for Him to have instructed thus, it is same to infer that there is nothing better.

Sheridan Blau et al (1995): The Writers Craft, McDougal Littell Inc., U.S.A; has the following to say about the reason you should write:

1.       To discover. Writing can help you discover what you think and feel.

2.       To remember. Writing a journal about what you’ve seen, heard, tasted, touched, smelled, thought, and felt can capture these experiences on paper, which readily refresh your memories when the need arises.

3.       To explore and invent. When you write, you can create your own world.

4.       To plan and prepare. Putting your ideas on paper can help you plan what you’ll do next.

5.       To learn. Writing your reactions to issues, books, TV programmes etc. can help you tune in to what you’re thinking and feeling.

Mr. Jesusanya O.S. -Prince Heirs’ College

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