by Ted Lee

Created on: June 24, 2009   Last Updated: June 25, 2009

Many people assume that writing must be only an art form, an arcane mysticism wherein we worship the elusive concept of creativity, and that the gift of writing is something that we are either born with or without. This concept, however, is only a romanticized fantasy version of writing, one that discourages many from enjoying the practice of writing while allowing others who do write to feel as if they are somehow chosen, either blessed by the heavens or the lucky recipient of the right combination of genes. This simply is not true.

Writing is communication, simple as that. If you can communicate ideas, you can write. And like any other skill a human being can learn, writing is learnable. Yes, some people are more built mentally for writing than others. But just as how almost anyone can, with a little work and elbow grease, learn the basic principles of algebra or where point out where the continents of the globe are located, anyone can learn the basic principles of written communication and write for fun and profit.

The origin of writing is steeped in practicality. Many writing forms such as cuneiform developed out of a need to keep track of economic transactions - in other words, a need to communicate and preserve information. Today, many refer to only fiction, poetry or literature as writing. But the skill-set of writing encompasses everything, from novels to scientific papers, from memos to emails, from blogging to literature. When a grandfather writes a letter to his grandson, he is writing, and it follows the same concepts and principles as a CEO writing up a company memo and a great novelist writing his latest epic. If you want to find the writer within you, which certainly is within you no matter what people say, then follow these three basic principles.

First, find a teacher. Whether this is in college, high school, or just someone you know who writes well, find a teacher to teach you the basic principles of writing. There are many fine books that teach how a person can write. It is also important to pinpoint what kind of writing you want to do. Are you looking to improve your business communication skills? Perhaps you would like to start writing nonfiction essays to communicate ideas and feelings you have experienced. Are you trying to find ways to improve your blog's writing? Find the book and teacher that is right for you and learn the basic principles of writing from them, such as keeping in mind your audience and the basic rules of grammar.

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