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WHAT SHOULD YOU WRITE ABOUT?
Deciding what to write may feel like a daunting, scary task for many of us. This could be writing a school paper, a speech, a script, a novel, and so forth.
However, it never dawned on me just how hard this can be for people who don’t like to write. I personally enjoy writing–hence this blog–but I was speaking to my younger sister and learned that writing is not her forte. (But she can play combat video games, attend med school courses, make new friends with ease–unlike me.)
This had me thinking–why does writing come easily for me? What do I do that makes it easy, and how can I teach it to people, like my sister and coworkers, who struggle with writing?
5 TIPS TO YOU DECIDE WHAT TO WRITE:
- Generate ideas of interest
Always, always, always write about what interests you. Don’t choose topics that bore you, as this will bore your reader as well. And then the writing feels like a chore rather than a fun activity.
One thing I enjoyed about high school English–yes, I’m a nerd–was the flexibility and freedom to choose topics based on the lesson we were learning. Say it was “Writing a persuasive letter”–the topics were open-ended.
For example: If you’re into the Harry Potter series by J. K. Rowling, write a letter to your audience about why they should read the books, if they haven’t already done so; if you’re into painting, write about the effects of creating art and how this could benefit your readers; if you’re into Pokemon cards, convince your readers why they should choose these decks over other card games (Sorry, Magic.)
If you’re not into the examples I just listed, come up with your own based on what you like.
- Gid rid of not-so-interesting topics
As much as we say we like EVERYTHING when it comes to a certain topic, that’s just not true. That’s like saying “I like all the Harrry Potter books.” Really, my personal favorite is …Azkaban, and …Phoenix was hard for me to read–because Harry was angry and hormonal all the time. This means I can eliminate books 1-2 and 4-6 (or is it 4-7?) and just write about book 3.
So instead of writing about everything, break it down into the more interesting–if not more specific–topics of interest.
- Conduct research
The term research can mean so many things, from investigating, to experimenting, to exploring. However, before you start conducting a science lab or putting together a youtube tutorial, think EASY and FREE.
One way to start your research is by reading about your topic of interest. You can go the nearest public library or search up articles online (like this one!).
If reading is not your best friend, since reading and writing go hand-in-hand, watch videos or listen to podcasts. The world of technology has made it so much easier to place information in our hands through our smartphones (granted you have one) and TV. You can watch YouTube on said topic, or borrow videos from your local library. Same goes with podcasts and so forth.
I personally enjoy watching YouTube videos and using Google, so those would be my go-toes to get my research started.
- Ask for help
If all else fails, ask for help. This could be a friend, family member, your teacher, etc.
Personally, I have a hard time asking for kelp. Thanks to my parents. (Insert sarcasm) However, when I’m struggling–that’s when I need to reach out to others most. They don’t know I need help unless I tell or ask them. And it’s my friends whom I can lean on.
Consider who you can ask for support from. (Who is a part of your trusted support group?) And get the help you need.
- Have someone else write for you (You didn’t hear it from me 😛)
Ever wonder why there are ghost writers? Because the folks who need a written project done either don’t have the time, or they don’t have the skills–which you’re probably in the same boat.
I suggest you ask a friend or family member who enjoys writing. And if you have the money, hire someone to do it for you. You could try fiverr, for instance. (Or me! 😛) Just make sure you have an idea for what you want to write about, discuss this with your writer so that the two of you can make notes and sketches together, and be a part of the writing process the WHOLE TIME. This does not mean you get to play video games or binge watch a TV show while they write. No–keep the communication open, whether it be tossing ideas back and forth or helping to edit every part of the writing. Remember–this is YOUR writing; if the writer does a poor job at it, you get the consequences, not them.
I’ve personally helped my younger sister write a few papers in her high school years because she struggled with putting her thoughts down on paper, as well as formatting her papers. We discussed what topic she had in mind, what her thesis is, and made bulletin points of the evidences needed to back up her thesis. I wrote up her papers, she submitted them, and received A’s. (Yay for me!)
And, although this not a person, you can get AI generated writing ideas using Writesonic. Or grab my FREE Writing Prompts today.
CONCLUSION:
The takeaway here is: if you’re struggling to write, don’t fret and don’t go it alone. And DON’T not do the assignment. (Do the work.) Instead, use these five tips to get you started, and good luck!