“Writing is a skill, not a talent, and this difference is important because a skill can be improved by practice.”

Robert Stacy McCain

Writing is one of the hardest skills to master. To become a better writer, you must practice writing consistently.

It isn't all about talent and being gifted with words. Even if you have a natural aptitude for prose, storytelling, or poetry, you must still hone that talent and practice your craft with discipline.

Below are five tips to improve your writing skills.

Read

Study others.

If you want to write better you need to read more. Reading exposes you to different writing styles that you can incorporate into your own flair.

Think of reading as watching film on others in your sport. With reading, you are able to study the strengths of your peers, what rules they follow, and what rules they creatively break to signify their own style.

Reading also expands your vocabulary as well. More words in your toolbox give you more freedom in your expression. Or put in another way—the more words you know, the more ways you can flow.

Lastly, reading provides you with new information that you can use for new writing topics. If you’ve ever experienced writer’s block or lack of inspiration, take a step back and read a few books and articles. Give your mind new seeds that you can bloom and write upon later.

Join A Writer's Group

Surround yourself with a community that can push you.

Finding a community of other writers like yourself is a great strategy to boost your skills! Create a team that will push you and develop you to your highest potential.

The members of your group do not have to be at the same level of experience or skill. In fact, the more diverse your team’s experience and ability, the better it is for your development. 

The more advanced members of your group will help you by giving you pointers and room for improvement. And the members you’re more advanced than, you will grow by coaching them with your tricks and tips, which is just as rewarding and beneficial.

Also, a writer’s group is also a great networking opportunity to find others who can assist your writing career outside of the actual literary work. If you’re looking to find a publisher, mentor, or editor, a writing group is a great start for your search.

Build a team.

Use Shorter Sentences

Be more concise to make your writing more effective.

One of my core beliefs is that less is more. The very definition of efficiency is achieving the greatest output with the least input as possible.

If you can use less words in your sentence to demonstrate your point, your argument increases its efficacy. As Thomas Jefferson said, “The most valuable of all talents is that of never using two words when one will do.”

Most bad writing is simply too much writing in many cases. A person is either using too many filler words or adverbs to complete their sentence. Or they may have a sentence that is filled with weak words that don’t communicate the full meaning of their experience.

For example, I want you to compare these two sentences below and tell me which one you think is more powerful.

“Hey, Jake! I saw this really, really pretty girl in the mall that I can’t stop thinking about.”

Or

“Hey, Jake! There’s a young lady at the mall that has captivated me with her pulchritudinous allure.”

The first sentence is bland and uses the repeated adverb “really” to explain how beautiful the lady at the mall is. In the second sentence, each word carries its own weight.

And you might think the second sentence is longer than the first one. Actually, the second sentence has one less word than the first. But again, the second sentence appears longer because each word carries its own weight.

“Pulchritudinous allure” replaces “really, really pretty” in the first sentence. And “captivated” replaces “can’t stop thinking about.”

This is the power of concise writing. You accomplish more with less, and enhance the visual appeal of your sentence. 

Take A Course – Continuing Education

Don’t ever stop learning.

Sometimes to improve our craft we must revisit the basics and fundamentals.

Did you know that in order to continue being a doctor, you must take a minimum amount of continuing education credits every couple of years to maintain your license?

Nearly all states require some form of continuing education to renew your license if you are in a profession where you have a fiduciary or professional duty owed to others; accountant, lawyer, insurance agent, pilot, etc…

For writers, we should apply this continuing education concept to our craft. Every year, you should devote a few hours here and there throughout the year to learn something new or fundamental about writing.

It doesn’t matter if you understand or have mastered the concept already. It is the repetition that will ensure your skills do not deteriorate.

Complete a grammar course or get a language certification. Whatever it is, always continue learning about your craft. That’s what makes you a master in the long run.

Write Everyday

Practice makes perfect.

And this brings us back to the beginning of our blog. I will repeat myself here: to become a better writer, you must practice writing consistently.

If you can, make at least 10-30 minutes in your day just to write. You can write in your journal about your day. Or make a Twitter thread about something that's been on your mind all day.

Whatever you choose, just ensure that you're putting some words on paper or in your phone every day.

Ultimately, your skills as a writer will be a direct consequence of how often you write. It is impossible for you to not become an improved writer if you are writing every single day, every chance you get. 

 

Grow. Inspire. Create.