10 Unusual Writing Tips for Students
Essays, reviews, letters, reports — students practice writing all these things throughout the course. But what are some unusual techniques to help students develop writing skills beyond the traditional tips? How to make sure they don’t think, “Gosh, I still have to write my paper, and I hate these assignments”? We’ve prepared for you a list of unusual writing tips for students that will help improve your skills and develop creative thinking.
Soundtrack
You probably have some favorite songs. Find their instrumental versions, close your eyes, and imagine what movies they could be the soundtracks to. Take one song a day and describe on paper an episode of a movie you made up that the tune would be perfect for. You can describe the atmosphere, the setting, and even the dialogue of the characters. The tempo and rhythm of the music will inspire you to develop the story accordingly. However, you should not use music with lyrics — it will only distract you. Classical and neo-classical music can also work.
Dear diary
Google some ridiculous picture on the Internet or pick any on BuzzFeed. You need to describe the incidents of your day in the style of a personal diary, taking into account the picture you have in front of you. The text should explain the events from the picture as if it really has happened to you. Such an assignment will awaken the writer even in those students who have previously tried to stretch one sentence into several lines by writing it in large handwriting.
Habit
Write 1,500 words six days a week. Athletes exercise their muscles every day. You, too, need to train your brain and develop your writing skills. Keeping a personal journal or writing an essay every day on a given topic can help you do that. There are lots of resources on the Internet with random topics every day. You can also look for suggested first sentences of stories and finish them in a personal way.
Handwrite
In the modern world, gadgets have replaced not only real communication with virtual communication but also writing by hand with keyboards. More and more often, we resort to the keyboard to express our thoughts. Writing by hand activates thinking processes, improves memory, relieves stress, and helps us choose words more carefully. It’s incredibly easy to delete an entire paragraph that you’re typing fluently on the keyboard in just two clicks. Writing on paper is different. We’re more careful with our word choices and, as a result, we write better.
Read, analyze, learn
There are basic movements in any dance you learn as soon as you come to the first class. Dancers watch performances and recordings of their fellow dancers on the floor. The same goes for writing. If you’re having trouble with certain types of writing or certain topics, you should try reading the work of your predecessors. First, it will help you look at their style and learn something new. Second, you can get inspired.
Don’t be afraid of the Artificial Intelligence
In the 21st century, it’s a real crime not to use the technological solutions we’ve been given. Apps and services like Grammarly and Hemingway Editor can help you analyze your work and see your weaknesses, which are worth developing.
Set a timer
When you don’t feel like writing, set a timer for one hour, sit down, and write until the timer goes off. If after an hour you’re just as sick of writing, you’re free for an hour. But usually, by the time the timer goes off, you’re so engaged in your work, so enjoying it, that you can’t stop. Alternating between thoughtful work and mindless laundry or cleaning gives you the breaks you need for new thoughts and insights. If you can’t think of a story to continue, go for a run or a walk. A good idea will come.
Don’t get hung up on words
When you’re working on the first draft of an essay or report, don’t sit over each word for 10 minutes looking for the perfect one. Highlight or underline a simple synonym for that word, and come back to it during editing. A dictionary and thesaurus will help you.
Write about something you don’t know about
When we set ourselves a difficult task, we start looking for solutions. Try to find a topic that you know absolutely nothing about and write an essay. This will make you do more detailed and better research. What’s more, you’ll have an opinion on things you’ve never thought about.
Highlight, copy, and paste
No, I don’t advise you to use plagiarism. But these three simple steps will help you make a good analysis of your topic and, at the same time, make an outline for your future work. While you’re researching, open a blank sheet of paper and copy down the main points that give you ideas. Next to the copy, write your comments and reflections. It will cut the time you usually spend on separate types of work — first researching and then outlining.
