怎样成为一名更出色的作家？

原作者：
来源How to Become A Better Writer
译者eva200905120114

So you love the written word and are an avid reader. You know the basics about writing but want help giving your prose just that extra bit of polish? Here are a few tips to help you hone your craft.

你热爱文字，喜欢阅读。你知道写作的基本要素，但是想把你的文章再润色一下？以下是几点建议：

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1.

Read or re-read THE ELEMENTS OF STYLE by Strunk & White. It is practically the Holy Grail of English grammar. Sure, it may seem a little stodgy at times, but the basics never lose their cool.

阅读或重读斯特朗克与怀特的《文体要素》一书。实际上，这本书是英语语法的圣杯。当然，它有时或许会有些枯燥，但是基本要素永远都很重要。

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2.

Every writer loves to read, that's a given. But are you reading a wide span of material? Sure, you can go from reading plays to novels to short stories to poetry to non-fiction. But I'm talking about taking your reading to another level. People tend to gravitate to people and ideas in which they already agree. So, for example, if you're a "liberal," why not read a few issues of a "conservative" magazine or newspaper and vice-versa? The point isn't to get you to agree with an opposing viewpoint, but to look at it from another point of view. And differing points of view will add depth to your knowledge base, and thus, your characters.

众所周知，每个作家都热爱阅读。但你是在阅读大量的资料吗？当然，你可以从阅读戏剧开始，再读小说，再读短篇故事，然后读诗，最后读非小说类文学作品。但是我谈论的是怎样使你的阅读到达另一个高度。人总是倾向于接受他们已经接受的人，同意已经同意的观点。例如，如果你是自由主义者，何不读一些传统杂志或报纸上的主题？反之亦然。重点不是让你去接受相反的观点，而是从另一个角度看问题。不同的视角可以增加你知识库和性格的深度。

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3.

Allow yourself to write a crappy first draft. It's the secret of every writer. Just get the thoughts on the page without criticizing yourself. Editing will come later. Many people are so worried about failing that they never try something. How easy would it be to write if you KNEW your first draft would stink? It takes the pressure off so that you can have more fun putting words on the page.

允许自己写一份蹩脚的初稿。这是每位作家的秘诀。不用批判自己，只要将思想写在纸上就好。然后再去修改。许多人都担心在从未尝试过的方面失败。如果你知道你的初稿将发出恶臭，写作将成为多么简单的事情。减小压力，将文字落在纸上，你会从中获得更多的乐趣。

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4.

Writing is re-writing. No one writes a perfect first draft. Once the thoughts are on the page in a semblance of structure, now is the time to introduce your critical mind. Edit for clarity, repetition, spelling and grammar. Misspelled words are a huge red flag, and yet with computer spell-checks, they are the easiest mistakes to correct. So what does a piece littered with misspellings tell a reader? Probably that the author was lazy, or at least, rushed. Do you want to read a lazy author's material? It's like a great meal, yet drinking out of plastic cups. Presentation is as important as content.

写作就是改写。没人能写作一篇完美的初稿。将思想以句子框架落在纸上以后，就到你启动理性思维的时候了。修改歧义，重复，拼写和语法。拼错单词，是文章的要害，但使用电脑拼写检查，这是需要修改的最简单的问题。一张带满拼写错误的废纸，能告诉读者什么呢？可能是作者太懒了，或至少是为了赶时间。你想读一个懒作家的作品吗？就像是一顿大餐，却用塑料杯子喝饮料。外表跟内容同样重要。

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5.

If you have the time, let your piece of writing sit still. Don't look at it for a few days, if possible. That way when you return to it, you'll approach it with a fresh eye.

如果有时间，可能的话，把稿子放上几天别看。等你回头再看，会有一个全新的视觉。

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6.

Occasionally read your material out loud. Good writing has its own rhythm. Sentences vary, the cadence isn't too long, nor too short. If you're bored reading your material out loud, then how are your readers expected to feel?

偶尔大声读读内容。一篇好的作品有它自己的韵律。句子要有变化，韵律不宜过长，也不宜过短。如果你都烦大声读你的作品，那你又期待你的读者有何感觉呢？

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7.

Keep a pad of paper near your bed. I often get ideas, even if it's just a turn of a phrase, when I'm about to go to sleep. I always think I'll remember the idea in the morning, but alas, I hardly do. I force myself out of my comfortable slumber and jot down the ideas and I'm usually grateful I did in the morning.

在床头放一沓纸。我经常在睡前突发灵感，即便是几个词组。通常我都觉得早上我还会记得那些思绪，可...唉，从来都没记住过。我强迫自己从舒服的被窝里爬出来，记下那些思想，早上醒来我通常满怀庆幸。

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8.

Be yourself and have fun. (This may not, however, apply to some writing styles, e.g. corporate or technical writing.) When writing, you are metaphorically putting yourself on the page - your style, your humor. When people read your piece, there should be a sense of "you." How can you be "you" if you're not having any fun or mimicking someone else's style?

做你自己，享受其中的乐趣。（然而，这或许会不适合一些文体，如公司或科技写作。）写作的时候，你就假想把你自己描绘在纸上---你的风格，你的幽默。人们读你的作品，能感觉到你的气息。如果你不享受任何乐趣或一味地模仿别人，那你怎么成为文字里的你。

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9.

Get feedback. Even professional writers get feedback from editors or other professional writers. If the professionals - people who are paid to write - get feedback, why not you?

寻求反馈。即使专业作家也向编辑或其他专业作家征求意见。如果连专业作家，那些获得稿酬的人，都寻求反馈，你为什么就不能呢？

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Maybe your goal isn't to become a "professional" writer. Maybe you just want to hone your skills. Fine. No matter what the desire, start thinking of yourself as a writer. The more seriousness you bring to the craft of writing, the more you'll intend to get better and uphold the phrase, "Yes, I am a writer.”

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或许你的目标不是成为一名专业作家。或许你只是想磨练你的技巧。可以。不管是出于什么样的目的，开始把自己设想为一名作家。你对待你的写作技艺越严谨，你进步也就越大，支持这句话：“是的，我是作家。”

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