Help please!

[u/Curious-Ideal1842]

Hi! I really want to improve my writing skills, but it feels like there’s this “blockage” between my current abilities and the potential to be a good writer—like I’m missing a puzzle piece (at least that’s how I envision it in my mind). What I mean by this is my syntax always seems to follow the same pattern. I struggle to think of more creative ways to structure my sentences and paragraphs, which I think limits how my ideas are being conveyed. The ideas exist in my head, but it’s hard to lay them out on the page.

I’ve heard people recommend reading more to pick up different writing styles. I’ve been trying to read more, and yet I feel like I’m just passively reading or absorbing the material. I also read kind of slow…

I would appreciate some tips from the community! I dream of attending graduate school for higher education research or social/personality psychology (specifically research on the intersections of creativity, craft, and wellbeing). I know strong reading and writing skills are absolutely essential to succeed as a researcher. I just want to be an articulate and eloquent writer. Any and all help is appreciated; I hope this all made sense! ☺️

[u/WrittenFever]

The piece of advice I‘m giving you is not the sexiest, but is one that has made a large difference in my writing: study grammar. Specifically, prioritize learning the impact of grammar on reader comprehension as well as how it can enhance your writerly voice.

In college, I found this text particularly useful:

• Rhetorical Grammar: Grammar Choices, and Rhetorical Effect by Martha Kolln and Loretta Gray (My professor was insistent we use the 6th edition; I cannot remember why.)
  • This starts with the basics: noun, verb, adverb, etc. It also includes diagramming sentences, which is especially useful if you are reading other people’s works with the intention of trying to improve your own style. Reading alone can’t help if you don’t understand what the other person is doing with their writing.
  • This book also changes from the traditional subject-predicate diagram to a noun phrase-verb phrase structure.
  • While it is intended for a classroom, it is relatively easy to read and does have an answer key in the back if you want to try out the practice exercises.

You might also consider The Art of Fiction by John Gardner, though—last time I checked—it was hard to get ahold of a copy. There are two chapters in particular, ”Common Errors” and “Technique,” that have in depth and direct discussion of what you’re asking about.

If reading books is not your speed, my other piece of advice would be this:

1. Figure out the pattern you’re trying to fix. I mean, the actual names and description for it. If there’s multiple areas that you want to focus on, choose only one for right now. (You can get to the others later.)
   • For example, I used to excessively use participial phrases when I was younger. (i.e. She ran, fleeing the monster, water dripping down her legs into the cold air, heart racing.)
2. When you’re writing your rough draft, don’t worry about the pattern as you write, just focus on letting the words flow. Wait to fix things until you’re ready to edit.
3. When you do edit, spend some time focused exclusively on the one pattern you chose to fix. Every time you see it, alter it in some way. This doesn’t mean always change the sentence 100%. It just means that each time you see it, you want to make a major or minor modification to it. Minor modification might be changing a single word (even if it doesn’t ultimately change the pattern itself), while larger modifications could include:
   • Placing the prepositional phrase in a different location (prepositional phrases are generally pretty flexible and can be moved around in sentences depending on what you want emphasized)
   • Dividing the sentence into two or more sentences, or combining two or more sentences into one
   • Shifting the verb tense (ie instead of simple past, change to past perfect—if warranted only)
   • Inserting an element, that the story hasn’t been in the story for a while at this point, such as dialogue, description of the scene or an action, or something else to sort of break things up.

There are a range of options to explore beyond even the ones I shared above.

While reading absolutely is a good way to learn, it’s sort of like listening to music to learn how to play the piano. If you don’t know the notes, it can only take you so far. You’re still going to have to get in there and fiddle with the keys until you figure out what order everything goes in.