Any type of writer who aspires to make writing their career or is already on that path would like to get better at writing. That’s a given. Improving and lifelong learning is the key to success, no matter your chosen path. Here are a few tips and tricks to get better at writing.
Ways to Get Better at Writing #1: Read
All those who say reading isn’t required to be a good writer are simply, to put it lightly, wrong. How can you be a good cook without tasting different types of foods and learning to experiment with these experiences? As you pick and choose what to read, be it articles, poems, or novels, you gain new knowledge about the craft of writing. It can be as simple as finding a new idea for your own writing in all that text you read, discovering a new idiom, or even deciding to explore a different genre thanks to something inspiring you have read. In order to be a good writer, you must first read.
Ways to Get Better at Writing #2: Try Out Writing Different Genres
Speaking of which, you can decide to try out a different type of writing at any time, simply to experiment or even discover your new favorite genre to write in. Ever tried writing a fantasy novel? Try adding some mythical creatures to your manuscript! Haven’t considered writing a poem? Have at it in your writer’s notebook! Everything goes, allow yourself to explore your curiosity, and don’t put pressure on yourself to be perfect at these experiments. Most of these probably won’t see the light of day and that’s okay. This is for you to learn and explore yourself as a writer.
Ways to Get Better at Writing #3: Look Up New Vocabulary
Another fun way to spice up your writing is to deliberately go out of your way to look for interesting synonyms, idioms, or anything of the sort. Even if you think you have a great grasp of your vocabulary, looking up new words can be fun and enriching. See if there are any overused words in your manuscript you can replace with a beautiful phrase you found recently. It’s time for you to enrich your vocabulary and use a larger variety of words to keep your readers engaged.
Ways to Get Better at Writing #4: Seek Feedback
Writing can be a solitary act, but don’t forget to seek feedback on your writing. Having someone else read your work, and mark anything they liked or disliked can be a wonderful experience. Having someone comment on your writing can turn into an eye-opening adventure and help you make any necessary hard decisions to improve your project.
Ways to Get Better at Writing #5: Write
There is no way to go around it. In order to get better at writing, you have to actually sit down and write. There is no way to get better at something without practicing it. Whenever you’re stuck on what to write about next, you can always use some prompts list or turn back to your own writing notebook to see if your past self left you any clues on what to work on next. You never know when an old idea could come in handy!
Here are all the tips laid out for you. It’s your choice to use one, two, or all of them, as well as discard them all if that’s what you prefer, too. Let me know in the comments what is your decision and happy writing!
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