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Cerena J. Somerstein
Instructor: Jeff Sturges
English 101
27 October 2004
Research Paper
Blank Paper:
A Step by Step Guide to Achieve Good Writing
Hemingway, when asked what was the most frightening thing he ever encountered,
answered: “A blank sheet of paper.” What did Hemingway mean when he said that? Many others
would agree with Hemingway’s statement because they have a fear of writing; they don’t truly
understand what steps need to be taken in order to write, much less to write splendidly. There are
plenty of books on this subject, yet many writers cannot fully grasp all the rules of the written
English language. Although formal or informal writing is necessary for most individuals on a
day to day basis, it is astonishing how many people do not have the slightest notion of how to
achieve good writing. The secret to achieving a well written, publishable piece of work lies in the
techniques of format, grammar, literary devices, and aesthetic appeal. If all of these basic steps
are done properly, the writer should be able to paint a visual picture to which the reader can
relate.
“Writing that is directed at no one in particular usually fails.” (Memering et al. 11) Isn’t this
very true? If a writer begins to write with no intention of directing his/her words to at least one
specific person, for what is he/she writing? Even if he/she were writing strictly for
himself/herself, in perhaps a journal, that would be better than to direct it at no one at all.
Knowing who the audience is helps the writer know how to proceed and have some
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understanding of what his/her audience would approve or disapprove. This does not mean that
the writer will please his/her audience completely, but at least he/she will know they honestly
tried to accommodate the general public as best as he/she could. After all, good writing is only as
good as the reader makes it; therefore, the writer needs to have an efficient, well structured plan
if the writer wants to succeed with the task at hand.
Good writing is planned writing. When anyone sits down and attempts to write something
that person usually has a general idea of what he or she would like to state. In some cases, this is
not so and outlines may be needed. If writers have an outline, they should roughly know how to
get to the desired destination: the conclusion. Many times when people are reading they can
easily point out that the work is very unorganized and scattered. As a writer it would be quite
simple to avoid this common mistake by pre-writing, or as some would call it, making an outline.
A lot of times writers may find that their finished written document might not mirror their outline
exactly, but they will surely notice that it has helped them get from point “A” to point “B” with
fewer obstacles. As noted by Maureen Crane Wartski, writers “rarely have a clear and complete
vision of what [their] story will become,” when they begin the writing process. (20-21) Many
times reading material can be very educational and entertaining, but the author’s lack of
organization will make it rather difficult to interpret the paper correctly. An important detail of
the outline is presenting an obvious and clear thesis statement.
A thesis statement has to be an interesting summary of what the paper will offer the reader.
As the thesis statement usually appears in the beginning of a document the author has to make
sure it is an attention catching statement, quote, or anecdote. “The opening is the most important
segment of the work, not because it may contain extraordinary literary deployment, but because
if we lose on [sic] readers here, we’ll never get them back”. (35) This statement by William
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Noble is true. If we don’t attain and keep the readers attention in the very beginning, then
chances are they will not read the rest of the document. Readers should be able to glance at any
written information, easily pick out which sentence was intended to be the thesis statement, and
from there decide if he or she is remotely interested in that subject. It is evident that a thesis
statement is the focus of the introduction. If the thesis statement is not interesting, educational, or
funny in some way, chances are that the reader will be distracted, and the paper will go unread.
A reader may also be easily distracted if the writing lacks enough information to keep
him/her happily engaged in the thinking process. Content is something many readers may take
for granted because they overlook all of the research that went into creating that paper. It may
seem obvious that enough well developed information needs to be included in your document,
but it is not always that simple. Writers need to make sure before they actually begin writing that
they have enough pertinent information to fill the allotted space. “Writing comes more easily if
[writer’s] have something to say,” pertaining to that particular topic. (Quotegarden.com) When
Sholem Asch said this he was attempting to point out to writers that it is much easier to write
when the content is something that intrigues the writer himself/herself. The reader must have a
feeling that the body of writing has examined all aspects of the topic and has left nothing unsaid.
If the writer wants his/her audience to understand the information completely, there should not
only be enough thought provoking information, but there must also be well placed punctuation
throughout the piece of writing.
What is the point in punctuation? “Punctuation marks are to the reader what highway signs
are to the driver.” (McDavid et al. 326) Can you imagine what it would be like to drive down a
busy highway without any of the familiar road signs? Many also wonder why they must place a
period here, and a comma there, but can you imagine how certain documents would read if
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punctuation marks were not in place? When most people come across a period or comma they
will subconsciously take a brief pause in their reading. If this is the case, and there are misplaced
punctuation marks, then the reader will pause when the writer did not intend him/her to, which
can cause the writing to take a different meaning than what was intended. It seems that Mark
Twain shared my opinion on this when he said, “The right word may be effective, but no word
was ever as effective as a rightly timed pause. (Mirriam-Goldberg 48)
Like punctuation, spelling is a critical aspect of good writing for a number of obvious
reasons. If a writer disregards how many words he/she may or may not have misspelled in
his/her writing, then it might seem as if the writer doesn’t care about the outcome. At that point
the reader will probably lose interest or respect for the writer and whatever it is that they are
reading. In some instances the writer will deliberately misspell words to create a different effect.
For example, if you wanted to quote someone who was speaking slang, then it would be
appropriate to misspell a word or two. Only under those circumstances would it be beneficial for
a writer to misspell a word.
Although spelling is highly important, grammar is the very foundation upon which a
relationship between the writer and reader is based. Most people have some basic knowledge of
English grammar, so this should be the middle ground for writers to connect with their readers.
At the same time grammar is also a part of good writing with which many writers seem to have a
problem. Although writers often disregard the rules, they are extremely necessary because they
set standards and expectations with which everyone should be able to connect. Rules regarding
grammar are constantly changing, but they are nevertheless highly important. “Your audience
decides when you’ve broken a rule. There won’t be any point trying to sort out big mistakes from
little ones: all mistakes are big.” (85) This is an extremely valid point that Pinckert makes to
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explain that no matter the size or the quantity of mistakes in a written document, a mistake is still
a mistake. Due to the high standard to which grammar is held, it is important that a writer be
meticulous when grammar rules are concerned. Grammar, much like sentence structure, is an
extremely tricky detail when attempting to write.
There is nothing more distracting when a person is reading than run-on sentences and
sentence fragments. Sentence structure is a vital aspect of good writing, and thankfully the rules
about this surface error are plain and simple. Either these rules are followed, or they are not.
There is no such sentence that is “kind of a run-on” or “kind of a fragment.” In everyday speech
a run-on or sentence fragment would be able to go undetected, but in written English this is not
the case. During a conversation with another individual, if a person needs further expansion on a
particular topic, then he/she may make a needed gesture or signal indicating that he/she doesn’t
quite understand something. Where writing is concerned, authors do not have the advantage of
immediate feedback, so it is highly important to make sure your writing does not include either
one of those distracting mistakes commonly made in the written English language. (McDavid et
al. 18) Making those mistakes repeatedly would not be wise.
In life in general, there is nothing more annoying and exhausting than being told something
repeatedly. This thought is no different when discussing writing. Repetition, in some rare cases,
is necessary, but most readers would agree that it is redundant and insults the intelligence of the
audience. The reader may feel as if the writer is being condescending and will immediately lose
respect for the writer and his work. Unless an author has been informed otherwise, he or she
should write on the assumption that the audience is as educated as himself/herself. If a writer
fails to do this, he/she may unknowingly lose his/her readers because the audience will feel
insulted. Good writing should not consist of anything repetitious.
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A metaphor is a halfway mark where almost anyone can meet; it makes a reader feel as if
they are in familiar territory even if they are embarking on a completely new idea. Aristotle once
said, “To employ metaphors happily and effectively was the greatest skill in writing, and, to do
so it was necessary to have an eye for resemblances.” (Donald et al. 178) Many would agree with
the great philosopher and believe that these wonderful play on words are a necessity in good
writing, for they paint a picture and make the most common person, place or thing come alive
with familiarity. Metaphors are always helpful to your writing because they are imaginative
comparisons that make your reader visualize your topic from a different perspective. Metaphors
are not an actual comparison, so your audience could interpret it in a number of ways, which
would eliminate the possibility of many disliking your writing. A metaphor is the best way to
illustrate an idea or a transition.
A smooth transition should tell a story all by itself. A transition by definition means, “A
passing from one condition to another.” (Agnes) This is probably one of the most difficult skills
to master because it requires elegance. Elegance will help you easily glide from one topic to
another without confusing or losing the reader’s attention. When anyone is trying to write they
need to keep in mind that the reader does not have a copy of the original outline, so the author
must provide one for them. (Donald et. al 54) That is where smooth transitions come into play,
and that is why they are so very necessary. If transitions are done correctly, the reader should
have some idea about what is to come next. These divisions should be clear and precise, but yet
the reader should never be fully aware that any change has even occurred. Most times this occurs
when authors write with only one intention: to express themselves clearly.
Robert Gunning said it best when he simply stated, “Write to express, not impress!” (177179) This renowned author had a wonderful concept that completely summed up good writing
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with five easy words. Mr. Gunning was aware that simplicity was an art that few had mastered.
Many people who attempt to write make the common mistake of trying to impress readers with
their choice of fancy words, and in actuality, may push the reader away from his/her work.
Jacques Barzon agreed with Gunning when he wrote, “Prefer the short word to the long; the
concrete to the abstract; and the familiar to the unfamiliar.” (13) If all writers wrote with just the
intention of expressing herself/himself, then most things would get directly to the point, and
would be astonishingly easy to read. Although this would be a refreshing skill for all to learn,
“some still try to impress with borrowed thoughts from others.” (Gunning 177-179) All authors
should write as listeners or readers so that they have a complete understanding of how their
writing appears to the naked eye. Words should never be forced, and should seem natural.
Words should flow from the heart through the pen. For many, writing is a form of self
expression, so one should expect that a large amount of literary works will be emotional,
inspirational, or depressing. Emotion, either positive or negative, must be evident in whatever the
reader chooses to read. A famous woman by the name of Eleanor Roosevelt was known for
elaborating on her thoughts on this very issue. She believed it was most important not to write a
story, but to tell your story. She once stated, “No writing has any real value which is not the
expression of genuine thought and feeling.” (Mirriam-Goldberg 101) There are many different
types of emotions that reading can provoke in an individual because there are so many different
types of writing that are considered to be good. It is crucial for an author to touch the reader on a
personal level, so that the reader will feel as if the author were speaking directly to them. Writing
is simply an extension of the thinking process, and it should flow naturally from beginning to
end.
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An ending in any type of literary work is an author’s last chance to touch the reader on a
personal level, and make an outstanding impression. Many would agree that a first impression is
very important, but the last impression is most likely what the reader will remember. An ending
or conclusion should be a summary of what the reader previously read, but at the same time it
“should be the climax of your paper.” (Memering et al. 208) A conclusion is the point of your
paper; it is exactly why you are writing. Every writer starts writing to get to the conclusion.
Authors should never feel compelled to add new data or raise another question at the end because
conclusions should only contain information relevant to the preceding material. If writers do not
adhere to this common rule, then it would not give your readers a sense of wholeness. After all, a
sense of wholeness for the reader is a feeling that every author is trying to fulfill. They want to
fill the reader with thought provoking information, and make them feel as if they are now a
smarter individual who has a total understanding of that particular subject.
Some people may be able to simply sit down and miraculously write an exquisite,
publishable piece of written work on any topic, but that is not the norm. For most people it is not
that simple, and in fact, writing is usually a task that people would rather not attempt. The
notoriously funny actor, Steve Martin, had this to say about writing, “I think I did pretty well
considering I started out with nothing but a bunch of blank paper.” (Mirriam-Goldberg 8) This is
very true because to know that a writer started out with nothing and finally has a completed
document is an accomplishment of which he/she should be proud; but, this should not be the
final step. Writers should constantly be striving to improve their skills in all aspects of writing,
for it is a never-ending cycle. All aspects are extremely important. Although one aspect is not
necessarily more important than the other, it is required that all rules be followed in order to
produce a product that will be heartfelt, informative, or just plain entertaining. Perhaps the most
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important rule has nothing to do with the basic fundamentals of the English language. According
to acclaimed author Anne Rice, good writing has much more to do with self-worth because
confidence will always show through in the writer’s work. Rice writes of her life experiences as
a writer, “Stick with it no matter who says what. Believe in yourself. If you determine you are a
writer, walk through the world as a writer. Claim that. People will try to tear you down. Ignore
them. It takes courage.” (66) In that encouraging statement she advises that good writing takes
practice because all these tedious rules are not always simple to remember, but by remembering
all these rules they help the writer produce a work of art. There are many challenges along the
way including punctuation, spelling, grammar, and more but then there is the art and beauty that
lies in the finished product. It is occurring to many people, on a daily basis, that blank white
paper can take them on a wonderful journey through the English language.
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Works Cited
Agnes, Michael, Ed. Webster's New World Dictionary and Thesaurus. 2nd ed.
Cleveland: Hungry Minds, 2002.
Asch, Sholem. Quotegarden. 25 Oct. 2004. 27 Oct. 2004.
<http://quotegarden.com/writing.html>
Barzon, Jacques. Simple & Direct: A Rhetoric for Writers. New York: Harper &
Row, 1975.
Donald, Robert B., Betty Richmond Morrow, Lillian Griffith Wargetz, and
Kathleen Werner. Writing Clear Essays. 2nd ed. Englewood Cliffs:
Prentice-Hall, 1992.
Gunning, Robert. The Technique of Clear Writing. 2nd ed. New York: McGrawHill Book Company, 1968.
Hemingway, Ernest. Quotegarden. 25 Oct. 2004. 27 Oct. 2004.
<http://quotegarden.com/writing.html>
McDavid, Virginia, and Thomas J. Creswell. TODAY'S ENGLISH: Keys to Basic
Writing. New York: Harper & Row, 1983.
Memering, Dean, and Frank O'Hare. THE WRITER'S WORK: Guide to effective
composition. Englewood Cliffs: Prentice-Hall, 1980.
Mirriam-Goldberg, Caryn. A Guide for Teens: WRITE WHERE YOU ARE. Ed.
Elizabeth Verdick and Darsi Dreyer. Minneapolis: Free Spirit, 1999.
Noble, William. Conflict, Action & Suspense. Cincinnati: Writer’s Digest
Books, 1994.
Pinckert, Robert C. THE TRUTH ABOUT ENGLISH: How to Write, Speak, and Think
with the Language. Englewood Cliffs: Prentice-Hall, 1981.
Rice, Anne. "How I Write." The Writer Feb. 2001: 66.
Wartski, Maureen Crane. "A Writer's Journey." The Writer Nov. 2000: 20-21.