The great American author Henry David Thoreau once said, “Write while the heat is in you. The writer who postpones the recording of his thoughts uses an iron which has cooled to burn a hole with. He cannot inflame the minds of his audience.” Good writing is something that can be achieved if one remembers the following: intrigue the reader, organize the material, and follow the rules of correctness.
First, good writing will intrigue the reader. It will start with an attention-getter or hook, which may be a startling fact, an interesting quotation, or a descriptive example. The quotation at the beginning of this essay is a good example. The writer should also use plenty of details throughout the text to support ideas.
The second important point about good writing is that it must be organized. The writer should state her main point in the first paragraph, divide her topic into three parts, and use clear transitions between paragraphs. The conclusion should repeat the main point and show the reader exactly what she is trying to say.
Finally, good writing has to follow all the rules of grammar, spelling, and punctuation. If the writer misspells words or uses commas in the wrong places, the reader will not respect the writer. Editing and proofreading the writing are important to make sure the writer does not leave a negative impression.
In conclusion, good writing is difficult but can be attained if the writer intrigues the reader, organizes the writing, and follows the rules of correctness. If writers keep these three points in mind, they still may find writing challenging, but their writing will have a lasting impact.