Tips to becoming (a Good) Writer

I want to dedicate today's time to answering one of the questions colleagues on both social media and in my community frequently pose to me: how can one become a good writer?
Most times I would dodge the question and switch the discuss to other things. That's because I wouldn't want to assume authoritative or expatriate knowledge of the art of writing. I tell myself I am still struggling to know the art.
But guess what, I would be a  fool to think that a true writer is someone who must have mastered a subject or a topic of discussion. After reading a passage from Furey Robert J.'s "So I'm Not Perfect"(1986) where he did mention about a time in life when he encountered psychologist Dr. Rollo May in a public lecture in St.  Louis, just like Dr. Furey, my writer's block crumbled. After his lecture, Dr. Rollo took his time to entertain  questions from the audience. One question from a young man about anxiety would however have Dr. Rollo pause for a short while before he could deliberate on it. He finished the deliberation with an unexpected declaration (well perhaps unexpected declaration to many begining writers like myself) that there were certain aspects of the issue that still puzzled him. The young man protested, "But you wrote a book about this!"....Dr. Rollo would relax for longer while this time before he could finally argue that: "A man does not write a book when he knows something. He writes a book when he is struggling with something" (Furey, 1986 p. xi).

It's so I would take to introduce us to today's topic of discussion proper. For this, I would like to contextualize everything I say here with my experience as an amateur writer.

1. The Voracious Reader

It was after my narrow escape to pass promotional examinations to class eleven that I realized I was lagging behind. I would ask myself where did it go wrong. One day I sought a counseling from my high school English Literature teacher who advised me to start reading any book I could lay hand(s) on, but especially Literature books. He said literature books will help heal not just my ineptness in the art of reading and understanding, but also help introduce me to characters I can relate to in whatever circumstance(s) I find myself. Thereon I started buying books from street vendors. I could buy and read books that did not pertain my school curriculum (not abandoning the school syllabus). I would end up falling in love with Poetry.
For several reasons, I would advise any would-want-to-be writer to start with Poetry. Apart from its aesthetic and puzzling nature, poetry will teach you write short but meaningful sentences-- that's a good way to start writing.
Reading voraciously will make you start questioning the many things you used to know; provoke you to search for knowledge; and surely humble you to become teachable. You will start realizing you dobnot know everythings; you were/are not right all the time; and most importantly, it will provoke you to start writing down important points. Notice the order of things: realization, humility, and a sense of purpose.
I guess Dr. Rollo was telling us similar things: we don't write because we know. We write because we are struggling to know things. The struggle is marked by search of knowledge: read, travel, and focus on the small things that happen around you.

2. If you can read a passage, you surely could write a sentence

Another important step in starting a hobby (or say a career) in writing is the practicality of the art.
It was around 2010 when I started using Facebook. It was new to me, and I guess to many Sierra Leoneans considering the cost of mobile phones and (especially) internet service then in my country. But it was not until 2012 that I started decorating my Facebook wall with opinion pieces. O those were some silly and incoherent write-ups. Anytime Facebook reminds me of them, I would just smilingly choose to press the "hide, don't show" button. Not that I seem them useless, contrary to that, I regard those reminders as  motivation to do better. They expose my mistakes year(s) ago. They show me how far I have come in this. And I take note of the progress and work harder to give my better.
You should start with a sentence a day. Provoke discussions on burning issues by making a short statement (a sentence or two) of your opinion on trending issues. Note: people will attempt to cry you down. They will tell you to go back to school and learn to write. They will basically give you the best advice you need for self motivation. Take note of what they tell you, but don't stop your naive posts. Keep writing and editing your pieces for a better outcome. Gradually you will notice changes. You will see how far you have come. Do not let those criticisms to get at you (negatively). Accept you are never perfect, but you have something to say and a career to build. Also, sometimes no one will read your lines or like your post. Don't let that stop you from writing a sentence or two a day. Someday, somehow your post will make sense to few persons who will start critiquing.

3. Search and Follow up with mentors

Everyone needs mentoring. A mentor is someone you consider examplary, admirable, and exceptionally gifted in any field or career you are interested in; and they could be anyone (other than yourself) with the experience and expertise.
The internet, and to a very larger extent, social Media have made things a lot easier to interact with people you never could have got the chance to see or interact with in your life. Before now, most people could only see or hear and interact with writers through radio discussion or TV programmes, or when the writers are in their region or area to sell their new publications. Today (however) you can be anywhere around the world and connect with any writer or activist from across the world and learn about their moves and skills by simply following them on Facebook or other social media platforms. Some will even gift you their books.
For me, I will not hesitate to say my use of Facebook helped greatly in shaping my writing skills. I follow-up with almost every major news broadcasting institutions/organizations. I search for authors and activists and follow them to learn their skills and moves. I am able to take from them many writing and analytical skills. Facebook is full of good writers and thinkers. You can improve your skills by simply making judicious use of your time on Facebook. Click follow them.
Many of us today do not use our social media platforms to promote our career (dream) nor to learn or transfer knowledge, rather we use it to spur disorder and violence, which is wrong. Use it to build or promote your career and/ or business.

4. Good, better, best, never let it rest until the good is better, and the better is the best.

One bad mistake anyone would make is to assume that they have perfected their skill(s). But worst still are those who would underestimate themselves.
It was some weeks ago I read a piece on intellectual humility shared by a friend. The central lesson is that we should learn to accept that we could not always be correct. You cannot be an all sufficient fountain of knowledge. Nor can you be completely correct on all matters. You should allow for criticism and dissenting views for they will inspire your next piece of writing. Even if your piece is informed by research, it will not capture everything. Hence, let their be room for dissent views on any piece you write. Make your defence when you find them incoherent, but don't drive away your critical followers.
Another thing to also note is, your best is yet to come. Keep exploring. A curious mind is one unique attribute of writers. There is an anonymous (to me) saying that: to fill your cup, you must first empty it. How do you empty your cup? Speak less and listen more. Be curious and learnable. And most importantly, don't rest your pen just yet. Keep writing naively. Someday in the future you shall open to read these words and pieces and smile to yourself for the simple fact that: you have come a long way to this point. A point you always doubted you would ever reach.

And now for a closing statement I say to you that is reading this piece, do not underestimate yourself; and don't allow others low appraisals of you bring you down. Knowledge and intelligence is something we all aquire at different points in life. Some would prove to be intelligent right from their elementary level earning their teachers respect. Others would catch up at a later stage in their educational pursuit. But many of us would have to catch-up later after high school or (even) after university. Meanwhile, no matter the case, just know  that with perseverance we can all develop and become smart.
#Be_A_Curious_Mind

©Amadu Wurie Jalloh
® Students Analysts and Writers Network
®The Emmanuel Ivorgba Foundation