The More You Read

Hi, again, Roxy Readers. You know, I’ve been surfing for a long time. In fact, I come from a long line of surfers, and I learned a lot by spending time with them. I watched other surfers on the water, I studied the equipment they chose and the routines they used to care for their boards. I spoke with old-timers and beginners like me. I hung out with other surfers, read surfing magazines, scoured Reddit boards, and joined Facebook groups hoping to learn as much as possible about the sport.

I approach writing in the same manner. To become a more effective writer, I not only write as much as I can, but I also read all the time.  I know you’re thinking, “How can reading A Game of Thrones help me with my research paper?” Crazy, right? But it’s true.  The more you read, the more you learn about different styles of writing.   

Even if you’re not writing fiction, reading a novel can help you pick up cool new words and different sentence structures to use. Reading persuasive magazine articles or newspaper editorials can help you fine tune your argumentative essays, and book reviews can aid in your literary analyses. You can also see what doesn’t work so well. 

Lots of my buddies tell me they don’t really read anymore, but most admit that as children they loved a good book! What happened? Children’s books are simple, they have pictures, and they always have a happy ending. Somehow, as we get older, some of us lose our love of reading. The books are longer, they lose their pictures, and they’re not always happy.

As college students, we have to write, and reading helps our writing skills. If you’re someone who doesn’t like to read books, maybe you just haven’t found the right format. Maybe your go-to choice is a magazine, a graphic novel, or online message boards. Just read! Any type of reading counts and helps, especially this blog Roxy fans. ;-)

Roxy’s Tip: If the waves are flat, go read something! 

Have a Happy Thanksgiving!

See you next time the breeze is cool, the sun is up, and the waves roll into view! ‘Til then, hang ten!

You Decide!

Hello again, Roxy Readers – I’ve been sitting on the shore, watching the constant motion of the waves rolling in and out. It’s what I like to do before I grab my board and hit the water. Like surfers, writers need to decide what method works best for them. Many students believe that introductions must be written first, then body paragraphs, and finally a conclusion. It took a while before I learned it didn’t have to be that way. Wow! You get to decide where to start.

Everyday students tell me they can’t start writing because they have no idea what their introduction is going to be. I tell them, “That’s okay, because you don’t have to write your introduction first!”

It’s better to get something on the page than to just sit there frustrated, right? Writing my introduction last works for me. Having trouble with the intro? Start with the body paragraphs. Remember, you steer the process. You need to write in whatever way makes sense to you. As long as it’s in the correct order when you finish, you’re good. I promise.

The writing process is creative, and the creative process is messy. It doesn’t have to start out pretty; in fact, it probably won’t. Don’t worry about how it looks when you’re drafting, your teacher just wants to see a polished end product. I hope this helps you in your journey to becoming an amazing writer.

Roxy’s Tip: There is no one “right” way to write. Discover what works for you, and then dive into the writing process wherever you’re comfortable.

See you next time the breeze is cool, the sun is up, and the waves roll into view! My next entry is coming soon. 'Til then, hang ten!