Melanie Lim

October13, 2004
Write right

A 22-year-old fresh graduate has written to ask for tips on how to write. I'm reprinting today an article I wrote for Toastmasters a few years back. This was originally written as a guide for writing speeches but I believe it is also applicable to writing in general.

Envision the story. Before your fingers even touch the keyboard-envision the story you want to tell. A vision allows you to stay focused as you move from one statement to another to build your story. A vision shows you the clear, concrete end. And when you know where you want to go, you can find your way there. If you can think of the last line clearly in your mind, you can start your story from there.

Explore new grounds. Leave the tried and tired to others. Dare to trade trite for uncharted waters. Write about something you've never dared to write about. Explore topics that bring a lump to your throat. Just because you've never written about them doesn't mean you never should. Go unafraid.

Draw from the memories. Everyone likes true-to-life stories. Draw from your own life story. Write about the bold adventures, the fearless expeditions, the heart-stopping moments. If you can't forget them, your audience probably won't either.

Write to someone. You can write without direction. Or you can write with purpose and passion. Direct your writing to an actual person. And your story can take greater significance. Some stories are written with so much passion, they burn into the audience's hearts. The angst flows when it's actually directed to someone.

Keep language simple. The whole purpose of writing is to communicate not to confuse so keep the words and statements, short and simple. Stay away from the heavies-words that weigh like a ton and mile-long statements. Light is not necessarily less powerful.

Sprinkle with humor. Everyone likes to laugh. Everyone needs to laugh. You don't need to be a stand-up comic to be able to sprinkle humor into your writing. Weave something funny into your story. Find something to laugh about even in the most serious situations. Tickle the funny bone before you touch the heart.

Revisit and rewrite. After the first draft, revisit the words, statements and paragraphs. And rewrite till there's no other way to write it. A better way, a better word, a better idea will come up with each visit. The most unforgettable speeches are those seemingly written with effortless elegance but actually written with painstaking perseverance.

An unforgettable speech is a marriage of purpose and passion, an alliance of courage and creativity, a union of fact and fiction. The challenge of writing remains writing with style and significance.

(e-mail: sunstarcebucolumnist@yahoo.com)