The dream of any writer is to someday win the coveted Pulitzer Prize. It is the world’s most prized award for authors after all. But it doesn’t come on a silver platter. You have to create the caliber of stories that stick in minds of millions for generations to come. You also have to stand out from the pack because it is what distinguishes even two agencies based on which can answer a question of who can write my research paper and that which cannot match expectations. Other times, it could be revealing through writing, what is hidden in plain sight.
Writing your way to Pulitzer
Anyone who has won a Pulitzer is undoubtedly a writing star and always has a story to tell. This is where writers excel by crafting what surpasses expectations.
Learning from winning authors
The million dollar question in the mind of every writer focused on the Pulitzer Prize is; how did they do it? The point here is that as an upcoming writer there is always something to learn from Pulitzer winners, whether on fiction or factual writing.
Recent information available on Pulitzer.org for 2017 winners covers finalists for the coveted prize. The Underground Railroad, a fiction story authored by Colson Whitehead made it to the top.
10 – Trust your editor
According to Bret Stephens, who is also an op-ed writer with New York Times and Pulitzer Prize winner, your editor’s say is always right. Belabouring to change that will only make things worse.
09 – Hit the nail on the head
Bret also points out that writers should avoid beating about the bush. If a reader stops reading your piece, failing to directly go to the point is to blame. This very much applies to college papers online because you need nothing but one devoid of fluff, according to ThesisHelpers – the best dissertation writing service.
08 – Practice makes perfect
Jeniffer Edgan, the author of A Visit from the Goon Squad, a novel that has won a Pulitzer, advises in her book titled ‘Why We Write, ‘that everything needs practice for it to be perfected and writing is no exception. It is all about making it a habit even if it fifteen minutes every day.
07 – Read and Read more
Jeniffer stresses on the need to read at the level at which you want your composition to reach. Generally, reading extensively furnishes your brain with the right ideas, the how and the why.
06 – Short Sentences are powerful
On her website, Jane Friedman advises the need to keep your prize on the Pulitzer with short sentences. They tend to keep reader’s attention as opposed to long ones which can lose favor among snappy readers.
05 – Your voice matters
This is basically about how lyrical your composition is according to Jane Friedman. The sounding of your words carries more weight than meanings. A confident voice and avoidance of passive one is one thing that Bret Stephens emphasizes on.
04 – Facts matter
This is especially for non-fiction writers. It is important to always double-check. Bret cautions against using Wikipedia as the only source links.
03 – Avoid clichés
This is outdated and most of the times, they serve to waster readers’ time. They add no value to a piece of writing.
02 – Go with what works
Gilbert King is another Pulitzer winner and one of the things he encourages is that despite having everything drafted down on flip cards and indexed, at the end of the day, how you want to develop a story is what matters. It may just be through simple visualization of it.
01 – FTalk about it with those who care
It could be friends or family members but at the end of the day, you will feel a lot more obligated to produce a masterpiece to match their expectations. According to Gilbert King, it is what yields a masterpiece at the end.
In conclusion, learning to write what would hook any reader isn’t something to look at from a complicated angle. Tips from experts and award-winning authors blended with your own creative muse would be the magic wand you are looking for.