All forms of communication are important but the virtual world we now all inhabit has turned the spotlight on the written word as the key form of getting your message across. However, this is easier said than done for some as, for whatever reason, they can’t or won’t write.

Pianists practice at the piano. Tennis players practice at the net. Athletes practice at the track. They all recognise that skills need to be developed and honed if they are to be maintained.

When we write we are simply translating our thoughts into a more tangible format. Those ideas that float in and out of our minds are captured and recorded. It really is as simple as that. The difficulty comes in discerning which thoughts to capture and which to ignore. If your mind is anything like mine, you will possibly not even be aware of many of ideas that flit around your head.

What is good writing? All answers to this would be subjective and therefore varied. It is probably easier to say what is bad writing. For me, any writing that can be read easily, that is unambiguous and that imparts something interesting or essential, is good.

I know a number of writers who are so keen to start the writing process they skip the planning and preparation stage which, almost without exception, makes their job much harder in the long run. Having said that, it is important to get on with the process of writing and not get so bogged down in the thinking, research and planning that the piece never quite makes it on to paper.

Writing styles vary, which is considered to be a good thing by readers. There’s the matter of personal writing style combined with the style most appropriate for the piece being written. These two variables alone combine to produce a rich diversity in the written word.

I have personal preferences about what I read. I am sure you do too. I delight in being made to stop and think. I don’t want to puzzle over the meaning of a too long sentence or a 4 syllable word. I want to read words that challenge my preconceived ideas. I want to be entertained. I want to merge with the words and experience them.

It saddens me when I come across web content in particular which is there for the sake of being there. It provides nothing. No interest, no entertainment and certainly no value. It leaves me feeling cheated and breaks trust with the author.

Once the planning and writing has taken place, the writer’s job is still not complete. Clear and concise written pieces are not the result of the author simply writing. There is at least one other stage in the process. Outstanding pieces of written work are the result of tough, unsentimental editing.

Some confuse editing with proofreading when in reality they are two different processes. A proof reader looks for errors. An editor looks for opportunities to improve the text by shortening sentences, removing adverbs and adjectives and removing ambiguities. Editing is the process which turns a manuscript into a masterpiece.

As a lifelong reader and writer I so want to see others enjoy writing. At the very least I would like to remove the fear so many seem to hold about the process of writing. My wish for you is that you find some inspiration here that encourages you to pick up your pen once again. Write for the sheer fun of it. Write simply because you can.