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6 crumpled pieces of paper with one lit up like a lightbulb

When a professor announces a new assignment and tells the class that you will all have to pick a topic to write about, you might feel lost and wish they had simply given you a list to choose from. In academic settings, we’re used to structured assignments where we are told what to do, so when it’s left up to us to decide, we will often have questions like:

Chalkboard drawing of a textbook with a dollar sign over it

If you’ve ever been a student in your life, then you know the horrors of having to shell out several hundred dollars for one textbook that you’ll probably use once or twice and then never need again. While textbooks are usually handed out for free in high school, given that it expected of you to treat them well and return them at the end of the semester, this is somehow not a practice commonly used at university.

In my previous three blog posts, I talked a lot about the benefits of reading and writing, as well as some of the different forms of reading and writing that are often overlooked. However, I think it is also important to talk about some of the barriers to reading and writing.

Most of us, and especially those of us who engage in creative writing, have experienced this thought before. Oftentimes when looking back at something we’ve written, we are either ashamed or embarrassed by the quality of our work. It’s a similar sensation to hearing your voice on a recording; do I really sound like that? Did I really write that? There are countless times where I have written something then later crumpled it up and tossed it in the trash. I’m sure many people are familiar with this feeling. But why do we feel it, and what can we do about it?

Image of Ned Stark from the TV show "Game of Thrones" which reads: "Brace Yourselves. Constructive Criticism is Coming"

Knowing you did something wrong is tough. Being called out on it can be even harsher. As students, however, feedback is something you often get. While we usually gloss over the positive feedback, when we face negative feedback we can become pretty defensive. And that’s natural. Your writing is something special that you created and thus when you receive criticism, it can seem like an attack on you. However, while some of this criticism can come across as demeaning or confidence shattering, there are usually helpful things to be taken from the notes your marker has left for you.

When people think of writing, they often immediately think of novels or of that report that they have been meaning to write. However, writing can be so much more than that.

With the help of visuals, comics can express so much that words often cannot. For example, take a look at the panel below.

Spongebob struggling to think of something to write

The best way to get better at anything is through lots (and lots) of practice. If you want to improve your writing, write more! Many successful authors advocate daily writing, but how can you get into the habit of writing every day?

A picture of a paper octopus coming out of a book, clutching a paper ship

Descriptive writing is what can help an author flesh out the world they are creating in their books and transport readers into fictional spaces. Some authors take a rather flowery approach to this, while others give only the necessary details. Regardless, most of the famous authors adamantly believe in the concept of “showing, not telling”.

My favourite thing about reading and writing is the ability to get lost into a different world. Sometimes life can get overwhelming with all the things that we have to do. It is often hard to set aside time for reading or writing, but it can be really important to do so.

When I say reading or writing, I don’t mean reading your textbook or writing your school paper. I mean writing a poem, fiction story, or blog post. I mean reading that novel you have been meaning to read, or that comic book that your friends keep mentioning.

It’s no coincidence that the best writers we know are also avid readers. When we read, we unconsciously pick up on the vocabulary, phrasing, structure, and flow in what’s being read. When we read lots, we’re essentially learning a wide repertoire of writing techniques which we internalize and later use in our own writing. So, an obvious logical step towards improving one’s writing is simply to read more.

Filter by:

Tips on how to choose an assignment topic

The extinction of textbooks

Succeeding with learning disabilities

"I hate everything I write"

The art of taking negative feedback

Comics: turning to other forms of literature

Building habits to be a better writer pt. 2: write daily

Show, don't tell

Reading and writing as an escape

Building habits to be a better writer: read daily

University of Waterloo | Writing and Communication Centre

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