Writing is hard. I've re-started this blog six times now. SIX. I'm getting paid to write fiction for the next two years. In theory, that says I'm an at least serviceable writer, and yet here I sit, failing over and over again to get an opening paragraph to sound the way I want it to. If you're Joe Engineering Freshman who HATES writing, I can only imaging how daunting putting fingers to keyboard must be. As of now, I feel under qualified to offer suggestions on fighting the fear. It haunts me constantly. I do know, though, when I've produced writing that makes the fear seem at least temporarily misplaced. These are the three most vital concepts/components I try to keep in mind while composing fiction/academic writing, and what I look for while obsessively re-reading my own work.

1. SENSE OF VOICE

It's a tried and true one, but it really is vital that it sounds like YOU wrote this paper. Don't just regurgitate information. Tell it to me. Make me believe that information is being imparted to me by a thoroughly fascinating, knowledgeable, confident individual. You matter. You're interesting(most of you). Let your readers know as much.

2. CLARITY

Do not fill your writing with bullshit. You have a point to make. Make it, without doing so at the expense of that voice we just talked about, but don't over do it. You should have a thesis that you're sticking to and doggedly proving to your readers with each passing paragraph. Be explicit, be aggressive.

3. ENTERTAINMENT

Voice and clarity won't make much of an impact on your reader if they fall asleep halfway through your paper. Like I said, I'm a fiction writer, and it's possible that I over-emphasize this point, but seriously, don't be boring. No audience likes boring writing. If you handle the first two concepts, then number three here should really take care of itself.

If you nail the above concepts, all the time, you can write anything. I find that a pervasive sense of terror that you'll fail in life if you CAN'T execute them helps focus tremendously.

-Golsan Out

First bloggage, just making sure all's in order.