Online Writing Lab
Common Writing Myths
There are many myths people believe when it comes to writing. Some of these myths are harmless, while others can keep a writer from reaching his/her full potential. Here are a few of the most common myths involving writing:
- Good writers are born that way: Like
any other skill in life, it is true that some people are naturally
better writers than others. However, good writers, even
those who write professionally, have worked hard to become
better at the craft. The truth is that any writer, at
any level, can become a better writer by learning what good
writing consists of and spending time at practicing the craft. No
one is born with a natural understanding of grammar, punctuation,
or proper mechanics. All writers must learn the same
basics in order to improve.
- Only professional writers need to know how to write: Nearly
every job requires some form of writing. Especially in
today’s business world, where emails and other forms
of written communication are quite common, knowing how to write
well is an important skill that all workers need to learn. The
better a particular person writes, the more job opportunities
that person will have.
- Unless a person is a good
writer, he or she shouldn’t
write at all: The act of writing makes a person
better at it, so if only “good” writers were
able to write, no one would ever become good enough to do
so. All writers with all levels of skill can become
better by writing frequently.
- Writers wait for inspiration to write: If
all writers waited for inspiration to strike before beginning
to write, nothing would ever be written, and we would live
in a less creative world. Creativity generally flows
only when working, and successful writers attempt to chase
down creativity through the act of writing rather than waiting
for it to naturally appear.
- Writing is always hard: Writing can certainly be hard, but most people confuse something that is time consuming with something that is hard. Like anything else, writing can be made easier through practice and patience, by using the proper mechanics and techniques, and by acquiring a proper understanding of grammar and punctuation.
