How to Improve Writing Skills?
In our daily life, we all write one way or another. Be it official emails, proposals, our resume’, presentations, mobile messages, or social media posts or campaigns.
We may struggle while writing stuff. We want material worth reading and something which would engage our audience and would get them enticed to come back time and again.
In order to Improve Writing Skills, you must go ahead and take notes by following the following tips and tricks.
27 Life Changing Tips to Improve Writing Skills
1. Set up Rational Writing Goals
You must set up a Rational Writing Goal that should have some purpose and be specific about it.
Do you want to be good at making presentation material or want to write an eye catching social media post for marketing purpose or you want to become a full-time content writer?
The goals must be significant, determinate and achievable. They should be short and sweet and to-the point.
If a person who has never written anything thinks that from now on I will write 2,000 to 3,000 words daily, then it is not quite plausible.
First and foremost, weigh yourself that where do you stand? If you are a complete novice with no writing experience, then as a Beginner you must start with 100 to 200 words a day and as you ease into it then up your game.
2. Practice Daily
Setup a daily routine of writing. You can start with small baby steps if you are totally new to the writing game but never leave a single day without writing.
Important thing is that you practice it daily. Make it a habit and adhere to it like you inhale and exhale.
3. Make a Habit of Diary keeping
Recently I saw my 10-year old nephew keeping a daily diary. I was quite intrigued and amazed to know this as it is becoming a lost habit.
(I also had one during my childhood and still have it as a keepsake!)
When I went through it, I noticed a remarkable growth in his writing style with each passing day and I swelled with pride as I know that this habit will take him a long way.
Take up the habit of diary keeping!
Every night, before going to bed write whatever happened throughout the day.
Every time use new words and phrases. This will help in developing and improving your writing skills.
4. Write when You Feel the Most Fresh
Writing is an art and the Best Art piece can be made only when one feels his Best and can give his Best.
Think for yourself…
What part of the day do you feel the most energetic and fresh?
What part of the day do you feel you would just conquer the world?
This is “THE” time when you have to let your writing muscles flex and writing juices flow.
5. Write When You are in a Good Mood
If you have woken up at the wrong side of the bed, had a fight with your spouse or friend, or are going through mood blues then do not opt for writing at that very instant.
Rather Go out for a stroll, exercise or watch something interesting which you like.
Only when your mood gets back to normal and you have calmed down enough then sit on the writing seat.
As writing in a wrong set of mood would make you unproductive and it will be just a plain waste of time and effort.
6. Work on your Grammar
Spoken language is quite different from written language.
Write casually… but not too casually.
Writing has to be grammatically correct.
Brush the dust off your School English Grammar books.
Go through them to improve your writing skills.
Go through them whenever you feel stuck in a grammar jam.
7. Make it a Habit to Read Extensively…
Nowadays, when the world has a myriad of pastimes to choose from and a number of hobbies to get indulged in, the habit of reading is getting almost obsolete.
To become a good reader, you must adopt a habit of reading extensively.
8. …By Setting Up a Daily Achievable Goal
As one reads, his mind clears and he starts thinking in a completely different manner. Once you adapt to the daily reading habit, then you will see a big change in your own personality and the world around you.
Your horizons will broaden drastically.
You would be able to see things from a completely new perspective which will help you to improve your writing skills.
9. Research is The Key
If you are going to write on a particular piece, then do a thorough research on it.
Read, read, read and then read some more.
Many times we have to write on topics which are not our strong point or about which we do not know anything at all.
This is where research comes as a knight in shining armor.
Read similar articles from internet, books, journals or discuss with experts on it.
10. Carry a Writing Pad and Pen
Inspiration can hit you any time of the day. It could be while driving, while shopping, at the gym, while cooking, in an elevator, at the movies, at the concert, ANYWHERE.
Keep a writing pad and pen handy. So, that you can easily jot down whatever comes to your mind.
Never leave it for later as the idea will run off as fast as a Cheetah and you will just end up with sighs.
This is a first-hand experience that I am talking about and I still dread many such lost precious moments.
11. Keep a Dictionary Handy
There are many words and phrases so cliché that even your pet dog does not want to hear it. (From now say Draw to your dog instead of Fetch after throwing a ball!:) )
Always keep a dictionary handy and look for synonyms and meanings of words which appeal you. They will surely please the readers as well if used properly.
12. Be a Spell-Bee Marathonist
A piece of writing with bad spellings is like an overbaked cake which has all the ingredients, yet unpalatable.
Spellings are a making or breaking point for showing off your writing skills.
Bad spellings turn me off as it does millions of readers.
Think of yourself as a Spell-Bee Marathonist and give your Best.
There is plenty of software available for checking spellings. Install them and you are good to go.
13. Turn off all forms of Communications and Distractions
You have made up your mood to write something out of this world.
You make a nice cup of coffee to give you a kick start.
You have taken a paper and pen or have turned on your computer and are about to start writing and you get a Facebook Notification.
You think just a minute or two of going through it won’t hurt but you end up wasting two precious hours over the internet where you have watched a lion roaring, a friend sky diving and have even stalked your latest crush.
Many famous writers and bloggers always go to places where there is no internet so that they do not get distracted while weaving a beautiful piece of work.
First thing first, turn your phone on silent or airplane mode and then start dive into writing.
14. Keep it Short
Never write LONG paragraphs if you want to improve your writing skills.
With time the attention span of people has declined considerably.
According to recent studies, the attention span of an average person is only 8.25 seconds.
We have an attention span that of a Gold Fish. But Gold Fish Are Cute, you will retort back.
Also Read: 7 Mind-Boggling Tips to Increase Your Attention Span
Readers opt for shorter text and paragraphs. So, always keep it short and sweet.
I have also stuck this rule in this article.
15. Keep it Simple
While writing, think of your audience to be a 4-grader and use the language which would make it easy for them to understand.
If you bombard your writing piece with difficult vocabulary for which your reader has to constantly use the dictionary, then he would rather like to skip it altogether.
16. Choose the topic wisely
Choose a topic that interests you or make it a point to take interest in it.
If you will start writing on something which even does not interest you, then how will you be able to grip your audience’s attention?
Do read about it thoroughly.
Build up some interest yourself.
You are good to go only then.
17. Do A Thorough Keyword Analysis and On-Page SEO
To improve your writing skills, start with thorough keyword analysis, there are certain websites and software which give you detailed results of the top most searched keywords.
Meanwhile, also hone your on-page SEO skills.
18. Use Storytelling Style
Once Upon a Time…
Let Me Tell You Something Interesting…
There was a Time When…
Did I catch your eye here?
If your best friend calls you and asks you to meet at the coffee shop around the corner as he has some “story” for you then you start anticipating it.
It is because we ALL love stories and we always get attracted to them. The same goes for your readers.
Use a storytelling style, not something uninteresting.
19. Connect with The Readers
Most of the Content available online is very bookish and dry.
Try story-telling, sharing a bit of yourself, or cracking a joke or two.
In this way, you will connect to your readers right away and they would be back to your write-ups from time to time and would even recommend you to their like-minded friends.
20. Do not Beat around the Bush on Often Used Words and Phrases
Do not use Cliché words and phrases.
If I talk about myself, whenever I read often used words and phrases at every other place, I almost roll my eyes.
This a key point to improve writing skills.
The same goes for your readers.
They need an innovative writing style, give them one.
21. Come at the Reader’s Level
“Readers are not sheep, and not every pen tempts them” ― Vladimir Nabokov
Put yourself in your Reader’s shoes and think that if you were one then what would you like to read in a particular piece.
Then go ahead and write accordingly.
This tactic will keep your readers hooked on your writing style.
22. Do In-Depth Analysis of Your Favorite Blogs or Writers
Do you have a favorite columnist in newspaper or magazine?
Do you have a Go-To Beauty, Tech, or Food Blogger?
What makes you crave for their writing?
What interests you in their writing style?
Read them thoroughly, dissecting their piece of writing inside out, and find out what exactly is the key element of interest in their writings. Then follow them accordingly.
You do not have to copy them one to all but just follow the essence of their writings which entices you as a reader.
23. An Outline-Your Ultimate Savior
When we are going to sow some seeds, let’s say for growing tomatoes. Then we do thorough research.
We take into consideration the kind of soil that will be needed, the kind of fertilizer that will be needed, the kind of conditions and season which will be favorable, and the possible dangers.
The same goes for writing. To improve your writing skills, it is of utmost importance to make a rough draft or an outline on the topic you are going to write on.
It shall have the following elements:
A Powerful Headline
The headline must have powerful words and numbers in it which shall attract the readers.
Some of the powerful words are Ultimate, Proven, Special, Mouthwatering, Quick, Easy, Hurry, Magic, Improvement, Remarkable, Revolutionary, Sensational.
By using power words, you ascertain your reader’s attention to reach for your book or article.
An Engrossing Opening
The opening must be something which shall explain briefly what the article is going to be about. So, that the reader doesn’t get irked by not knowing what he is diving into.
Do not forget the really short current human attention span.
A Perfectly Lined-up Main Body
The main body shall have all the elements aligned perfectly, in a proper sequence.
Do not keep it haphazard, it will confuse and irritate the reader.
A Motivating End
To improve your writing skills, you shall work on the end of your piece of writing.
The ending note must be something that your reader shall ponder on later.
When a movie finishes on a spell-bounding end then you come out of the theater thinking of it. You need the exact dazed effect for your readers.
24. Re-Order your Writing Piece
Whenever you are done with writing, let it rest for a while just like freshly baked cookies which have been lined up on the wire rack to cool down. (I can even smell a batch!!)
The same goes for your write-up.
After a while, go through it again and re-order it, prioritizing that what shall go at the beginning, middle, and end.
25. Some External Aide Won’t Hurt during a Writer’s Block
If you are stuck at a point and have got Writer’s block, then do discuss it with any close family member or friend.
You can also discuss with some writer friend of yours and surely they would come to your rescue with a tow truck to carry the block away.
26. Take Criticism Constructively
Criticism and Cringe both begin with a CRI and that is exactly how we feel when we are being criticized.
What seems to be a Masterpiece to us, would be not so impressive to someone else.
Take the criticism positively, and use it constructively for improving your writing skills instead of sulking on it.
If a person criticizes your piece of writing, then right away take a pen and notepad and jot all the points down and then keep it in your mind while editing or writing in the future.
27. Choose a Nice and Cozy Writing Station
If you are someone who is mostly busy writing or are planning to take up writing as a full-time career, then you must make your writing area nice and cozy.
The environment we work in drastically affects our writing skills.
Things to consider for your perfectly productive writing space
A Nice, Sturdy Desk
You must have a desk that has enough space to place your computer or laptop, a notebook, a cup, and a plate (for possible munching)
A Comfortable Chair
You must sit upright on a comfortable chair with good back support.
Nowadays many writers complain of constant back pain and weakened spine because of wrong sitting posture.
Proper Lighting
Chose a spot where there is enough light available.
To ensure that you do not strain your eyes.
Better choose a place by the window so that you can use Sunlight which is a natural mood uplifter.
No window in your room?
No Problem!!
Invest in a Good Writing Lamp.
Healthy Tip!!
As most of the writers are sedentary, so make it a rule of thumb that you have to move for 3 to 5 minutes for each half an hour seated session.
Take-away Points:
Setting up rationale writing goals, making a habit of extensive reading, writing regularly, and doing thorough research.
Taking Criticism positively, cutting off all distractions and communications, writing in a proper place, writing in a good mood, keeping it short and sweet, setting up a nice work station, keeping in my keyword research and on-page SEO, and making a good outline and proofreading at the end will help improve your writing skills.
Pick One Skill at a Time, Once Excelled Then Move Forward.
You will Ace at It!
Happy Writing!!:)