by Keisha Centa Putri
Have you ever felt like you understand English, but get stuck when you have to think and speak, even after trying various methods? Maybe, you should try thinking like a writer. Writers don’t just know a lot of vocabulary. They develop ideas, visualize situations, observe, and express them in a more structured way.
A writer always starts with an idea, no matter how small. They don’t wait for the perfect sentence to begin writing. Instead, they jot down their thoughts in rough form and then start polishing them. You can do the same when learning English. Try writing down a simple scenario or story that comes to mind. This process will help you discover new words and expressions you may not have thought of before.
Beyond that, writers often experiment with word structure. They try various ways to convey the same meaning in sentences, but with different nuances. For example, by using active voice or a different writing style than you’re used to. Try describing it like you would in a poem or describe the objects you see or the feelings you experience by the things associated to them. By trying to emulate this practice, you’re not just memorizing sentence patterns, but truly understanding how English can be used flexibly. You’ll start to be able to adapt sentence patterns with the same meaning, and create any string of words you’d like.
Writing will help improve your ability to visualize in English. Instead of translating into Indonesian, you’ll start forming images and ideas directly in English, then polishing the sentences. This is a step that can help you improve your fluency, because you’re training your brain to think in English directly rather than relying on translation.
Ultimately, thinking like a writer doesn’t mean you have to create complex or lengthy stories. What matters is that you actively develop ideas, visualize them, write them down, and dare to experiment with the language. The more you do this, the more accustomed you’ll become to thinking directly in English to express your thoughts.
Source:
- Teachers Institute. (2025, November 11). Understanding the essence of writing in language learning. Teachers Institute. https://teachers.institute/pedagogy-of-english/essence-writing-language-learning
- Migaku. (2026, March 25). Writing practice language learning: Explore the best way to practice writing. Migaku. https://migaku.com/blog/language-fun/writing-practice-language-learning
- Morrissey, F. A. (n.d.). Write on! – Creative writing as language practice. TeachingEnglish (British Council). https://www.teachingenglish.org.uk/professional-development/teachers/understanding-learners/write-creative-writing-language-practice
