There is no complete recipe on how to become a better writer. However, today I'll be introducing some of the ways I was personally able to expand my writing, with hope that it may help you viewers as well.

As I've been doing a lot of #tbt's lately, I think it's best to start with my earliest written poetry (around 5th grade).

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                              A Guppy

             Scales running down her spine...

           Gentle push of the freezing water

      Her chipped bowl flashed rainbow glints

             Swims back and forth elegantly

             Smooth water becomes like silk

              She waits below the dank moon

                  Morning stretches its arms

       Escapes proudly away from my slim fingers

Emerald green eyes stare, drilling right through my skull

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I realize this piece does not hold much weight, but it does sound beautiful due to my use of carefully handpicked descriptions and vocabulary. Now don't get me wrong. This does not mean that you always have to embellish your writing with fancy words. In fact, please don't simply jumble together any random words that you found from the thesaurus (especially if you are using the words wrong). I too, am guilty of this sometimes. However, my point is that knowing a wide range of vocabulary is especially useful because it gives you access to playing around with the right words. In writing, EVERY WORD MATTERS. When a writer picks a certain word, there is always a purpose to it, whether it is to set the right mood/tone, rhyme, flow, etc. As you keep writing, you will realize that wording can really change a piece. For example, there is a huge difference between elegant and sophisticated. If I were to switch out the word "elegantly" from my poem above with "sophisticatedly," it would make a huge change. The whole rhythm has changed and in a way... broken. Especially as poetry is more compact, it is so important to make the right word decisions.

This is where reading comes in. I have to admit that I haven't been reading as much due to my busy high school schedule, but I truly was an avid reader as a child. It was my source of entertainment. What I didn't know was that reading had dramatically increased my writing skills, because by scanning page after page, my brain had processed how to use near perfect grammar and sort together phrases and words in a way that was otherwise impossible to teach. I think teaching to write is possible, but to go into depth with writing and forming a relationship with words needs to be self taught. After all, words and ideas come from the inside.

Another thing I love about reading is that by imitating writer's voices and styles, you can find your own. Try exploring every style, and you'll come to see what type of writing you enjoy the most. These days, I fancy more of a colloquial tone...but who knows? I might go for something more serious next month. I'm not sure where I specifically heard this from (possibly TedTalks?), but this speaker was saying how by trying to imitate others, we end up creating our own style. After all, no voice can truly be the same. When I'm at a loss of inspiration, I know that reading different poems or short stories really help bring a new light to my writing.

There are times, however, when you want to avoid filling yourself with too many foreign words. I'm not familiar with her work, but Hilary Martel's quote on writer's block genuinely stuck with me (via. flavorwire): "If you get stuck, get away from your desk. Take a walk, take a bath, go to sleep, make a pie, draw, listen to music, meditate, exercise; whatever you do, don't just stick there scowling at the problem. But don't make telephone calls or got to a part; if you do, other people's words will pour in where you lost words should be. Open a gap for them, create a space. Be patient." I take this advice when I already have a more vivid idea forming inside my head and all I have to do is spill the words out. Don't try to hide from writing, but when you feel it coming, keep it going, or let it come naturally. This reminds me. Someone once told me that if you also ask too many people for advice, you may lose direction because well... everyone has different opinions. Therefore, it is best to only ask around two people to proofread you work.

Wow. There truly are so many attributes that come with writing. To end on a more heavy note, I want to talk about what happens when you start adding more complex themes to your writing. I definitely am no professional writer, and still need to imbed my writing with more substance. This is simply a mini manual on how I am trying to progress. First of all, I think my best stories or writing instances come from true stories or feelings I've actually experienced in my life. Why talk about something that you are completely unaware about, when you can share raw emotion? This way, your writing will contain more power to them. #powerwriting. It's absolutely vital for me to also talk about my favorite piece of writing advice by E.B. White: "There is no average reader and to reach down toward this mythical character is to deny that each of us is on the way up, is ascending... It is my belief that no writer can improve his work until he discards the dulcet notion that the reader is feebleminded, for writing is an act of faith, not of grammar... a writer who questions the capacity of the person at the other end of the line is not a writer at all, merely a schemer." White is basically saying that we as writers have the responsibility to respect our readers and consider them to be of the highest level rather than expecting them to miss out on our hidden details and ideas. If you don't believe they can spot your illusions, why bother adding them at all? Respect your readers, everyone. Last but not least... one of my teachers gave me this advice, but he said that "In good writing, you can feel a weight." If you try reading one of the poems in New Yorker, you can immediately feel that it deserves a second read because there is so much concealed underneath the surface layer of words.

I am still learning so much along the way, and again, this is not the right advice for everyone. For instance, some people must jot down their ideas in a notebook and some people simply have ideas floating in their heads until they find a story to write. Every person is going at their own pace, so don't feel pressured to follow every piece of advice. Follow your own path, and as cheesy as it sounds... only you can know what is the right (or wrong) advice for you.

I can't believe I forgot to mention this... but DRAFTS are also completely essential! I used to abhor writing drafts and found them to be "useless," but as I get older, I see how much they help my writing develop. Even what you think is a "final" piece of writing, could become a draft... For me, old writing is the best way I get inspiration and fresh ideas.

That's it for today's writing advice. Go get it, writers!

P.s. Please share your opinions and findings with me as well, and don't be afraid to email me or ask me any questions that you may have. :) Love, Nicole. xxx.