1. Read many books
Before you write anything, you have to read. You can find out how to write if you see how others write. Read books related to your major, or what you are interested in. If you are a news reporter, read many articles; and if you major in science, read science journals. This helps you get an idea of how the structure of writing is formed, and also helps you receive profound information and knowledge on the subject. Also, because works of literature are writings that have been approved by many people for a long time, you can learn a lot from reading literary pieces.
2. Listen carefully
You can learn important expressions by listening to others. Particularly, from famous speeches, you can learn unique expressions and use them in your writing. There is a saying, ?isten before speaking. Try to listen to others and note newly stated expressions.
3. Practice speaking to others
Koreans are afraid of speaking to foreigners. But, there is no reason to be shy. A foreign language is, as the term says, strange to us. We cannot be perfect. People should not try to become 100 percent correct in the grammar or the expressions they use. First, try, then edit. Do not worry about making mistakes. Just write it!
4. Know the contents
If you do not have any contents to write, you cannot write anything. Reading brings you general knowledge that prepares you to write. However, do not just read and forget about it, but remember it. Try to make it yours. Know it well enough so that you can fully explain it to others. If you know what to write, writing is easy.
5. Save materials
If you come across expressions or facts you have never seen, but seems worth keeping in mind, you should save them in a scrapbook. For quite a long time, I read many newspapers everyday, and when I found some new, interesting articles, I saved them. If I get a chance, I try to save my articles as well, in chronological order. This way, I can see my improvement and also my weak points.
Lastly, Lee Kyung-hee recommended ?lements of Style by Strunk and White, a book about writing, for college students studying how to write in English. The book contains basic methods of writing, and Lee said she refers to the book whenever she has some questions. As she ended the interview, she emphasized again, ? think the best way to be a good writer is to work hard at it. Keep practicing!
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