How To Write in English
I’ve figured out that many people is too afraid on writing something in english. Most of the answer is that writing in english, not as a mother-tongue language, is difficult. They feels that they are not english-y enough to write something in this language. Come to think of it, I was like that once and somehow I found someway to encourage me to start writing in english. This entry will show my experience, along with some tips, on writing in English. My english may not be perfect so please bear with me :)
Writing in English is a life long experience for me. I was taught the language on my early childhood. If I’m not mistaken, I learned english at the age of 10 at an english course place near my house. It’s not a very good course place but at least I learned some pretty basic things about english. I didn’t learn the grammar or the sentence structure, I learned vocabulary alot.
Indeed after that I went on to another course program such as ELTI (I don’t know if they’re still open) and EF. But to be honest, the one that really gives me the foundation on forming sentences in English is the TV show and a book. You see, I don’t care if my sentence is past present, or future perfect, or past perfect or whatever the bull-shit is. I just need the sentences to ’sound’ right.
You see, if you wanted to write in english (or any other language) and you started by thinking, “Oh hm… which grammar should I choose… would it be future perfect?” you will write nothing. This also goes with speaking in english. The moment you started to think about the structure of your sentences, at that very moment the spark in your brain to actually write something dead.
I read this stuff in Quantum Learning book along time ago (in a matter of fact, it became some kind of ‘bible’ for students at my college back then along with 7 Habbits of Highly Effective People), that in order to keep writing (creatively that is) the one thing you only need is just to keep writing everything that popped out of your head.
So as I’ve said before the moment you think about grammar, or spelling-error, or your writing structure, at that very moment your creativity is dead and you forever cannot write anything in english or in any other language. It’s the very basic principle on writing, which is to keep writing no matter what — and edit it later if necessary.
To write something in english doesn’t mean that you have to have double degrees on creative writing AND english literature, all you need is a passion to write and a good interest on how to communicate your message clearly to the person you intended to. Happy writing :)
Here are some “don’t do” from me:
And by the end of the day, when your writing is finished, you might feel that it’s not as good as you had hoped before. You might think that it sucks and you feel that no one will understand what you are trying to tell them through your writings. Worry not, many people on this world will gladly to help you if, and only if, they have a chance to read what you are writing about.
And to get other people read what you are trying to write about (in english that is), you must have a publishing platform to do the job correctly and also an editor to edit the mischief you’ve done on your writing. It might sounds very expensive on having a publishing platform and paying an editor and stuffs. On the contrary, it’s FREE!
You can blog in substitute of your own publishing platform, and come to think of it, blog IS a publishing platform. Plus, you’ll get the best editor from around the world to ‘fix’ your writing if you let them read your writings and ask them to fix it for you. Sometimes, the best in life is free :)
ozziie… cintailah bahasa indonesia… please *padahal mah males nejermahin*