I have a love/hate relationship with writing, to be honest. Some people love writing because they’re given the power to express what they want, how they want to say it. Others might not care for it so much because it’s such an abstract concept. What is right and what is wrong to write about? Other people probably find comfort in more concrete concepts such as math or science. Whatever is set in stone, already is.

There will be times where, as soon as your fingertips touch the keyboard, words will flow from your mind effortlessly. But, writing can still be a pain sometimes. There will definitely be times when you sit and stare at a blank page for hours, unsure of where to even start. We’ve all definitely been there before. It isn’t easy to think of stuff right off the bat, and that’s alright.

There are also other times where if you keep a journal like me, it’ll be much easier to pour your thoughts onto there rather than a public outlet. That’s alright too.

My best advice for other people who want to become better at writing is to practice. Sit and have a day where you can just have a stream of consciousness going on, where you can just write whatever comes to your mind. In addition, starting off with a stream of consciousness is great for getting ideas flowing in general. Remember this next time you have an essay to write because it has saved me multiple times.

Another bit of advice I would offer is that you shouldn’t be too critical of your writing during the process itself. If you focus on minor flaws and mistakes, you’ll never get your piece done. You'll be too focused on fixing the errors rather than creating new material.

Like I’ve mentioned before, writing isn’t for everyone. But if you’re really interested in becoming a better writer: practice, revise, be patient, and most importantly, don’t be too hard on yourself.