2 of 22

Write now Article Tools

From highly polished, brilliant writing to mind-numbing sludge, it's all here on Helium. And if the sludge continues to exist, Helium will never be the "go-to" encyclopedic information source its creators apparently would like it to be.

Yes, it's true that many Helium writers have something of value to say and they say it exceedingly well, expressing themselves with clarity and precision. The possibility of stumbling across the literary gems of these gifted writers keeps me returning to Helium - even after I've gone through the dispiriting exercise of rating bad writing far too many times.

The worst writing on Helium is stream-of-consciousness drivel, lacking any discernible structure or cohesion. The writer has a vague idea of what he wants to say but lacks the tools (or the motivation) to put thoughts together coherently. Conventional rules of spelling, grammar and punctuation are tossed out the window. Some of these horrendously bad writers use Helium as a forum to vent, and their articles are little more than verbose exercises in self-indulgence, written without any regard for the hapless reader.

As long as this sludge clogs up Helium, the site will suffer from a lack of credibility. In an ideal world, potential Helium articles that are clearly beyond redemption would simply be rejected, and those with literary merit would be subjected to rigorous copy editing and fact-checking. But because Helium offers no editorial support, the onus is on writers to improve their work; the responsibility for the quality of the site rests on the shoulders of its contributors.

With this in mind, I offer some suggestions to those who are sincerely motivated to improve their writing. First, overcome any delusions you may harbour that writing is an easy process. Most of the writers I know are actually rewriters - they are constantly revising and refining their work to ensure that they are saying precisely what they intend to say in a way their audience will understand. Even for the most experienced writers, a first draft never emerges flawless. Don't expect outstanding results from minimal effort.

Second, learn the fundamentals of spelling, grammar and punctuation. Invest in an up-to-date dictionary that uses the spelling and usage peculiar to your country. For example, as a Canadian, I use the Canadian Oxford Dictionary (2nd edition). A second essential reference book is a grammar guide. Many of these books, such as the "Dummies" series, are highly readable and whimsical, unlike

• 1
• 2
• next page >>

Add your voice

Know something about Raising Helium to the next level: Helium's Writing Standards ?
We want to hear your view. Write now!