J.D. Salinger

This week's writing tips come from American writer Jerome David Salinger, best known for his 1951 novel The Catcher in the Rye.

Reading is one of the most useful and effective tools a writer can have. It gives the writer's intellect and spirit the freedom to think in new ways.

Reading is a common way for authors to test their critical thinking skills. Additionally, the more you read, the larger your vocabulary becomes and the more accurately and effectively you can communicate concepts to others.

Organization, direction, and structure are as crucial as creativity and ideas. Take, for example, J.D. Salinger's filing system. He kept a file system with a red dot for 'in progress' and a green dot for 'needs editing.'

Creating a simple structure for your writing before you begin will save you a lot of time and keep your material from becoming too long.

What J.D Salinger would do after he finished a book would be to ask himself these three questions:

1. What have I received from this?
2. What have I given to someone?
3. What troubles and difficulties may I have caused?

Your hard work will pay off. Your work will eventually be published, and your dedication to writing will improve over time. Be grateful for where you are at the moment. Wherever you are, if you’re reading this, you are already in a better situation than hundreds of millions of individuals right now. Be patient, and all good things will come your way.