Writing is an art form. There is no doubt that the ability to string words together in a way that is precise, engaging, and meaningful requires serious skill. Thousands of people try to start writing professionally every year, but few are able to turn it into a full-time career.
If you want to improve your writing immediately, there are things that you can do to help put you on the right path. It’s important to remember that no one is perfect, but you can constantly evolve and get better at writing over time.
We are going to take a look at some of the things you can start doing today to improve your writing. Let’s get started!
Acknowledge Your Weaknesses
The first thing you should do is get out a notebook (or open Word and create a new Doc), and write down your weaknesses. Many writers know what they do well, but it’s equally important to know where you struggle.
Perhaps you have issues with commas. Maybe you are the kind of person who struggles with using the proper tense between your subjects and verbs. There are many different things that cause writers who are both new and experienced to scratch their heads.
If you are able to write down where you’re weak, you can start doing research today and find out how to improve. For instance, there are numerous online courses and guides available to help you figure out when to use commas.
When you take the time to work on your flaws, you’ll start to catch yourself as you’re writing. You’ll notice that you will make the mistakes less and less. This exercise will also save you time on editing when you are finalizing your piece for submission.
Practice Makes Perfect
Yep, we are going to pull out the old cliche that Practice Makes Perfect. We have heard this phrase time and time again, and it’s relevant as it pertains to writing. If you want to be a successful, talented, writer — you have to write!
You should practice writing something every single day. Even if you’re just writing a 1-2 short story, a journal entry, or even a long letter to a friend, just write something. As you practice the first step we mentioned and learn your flaws, practicing will help you catch those flaws and prevent from them happening as often.
According to legendary author, Stephen King, all good writers do two things — They read and write daily. If you take anything at all away from this piece, make sure it’s the importance of the previous statement.
Allow Your Work to “Rest”
If you’re not writing on a strict deadline, sometimes it’s a good idea to let your work rest for a few hours, or even overnight. In the heat of the moment, it seems easier to go back and edit your work as soon as you’re done writing. The problem here is that the words are still fresh in your mind.
Recommended for You
Webcast, October 17th: How to Solve Your Marketing Data Nightmare
As you read through your piece, you’re looking at the words, but you’re also “thinking along” and that makes it far more likely that you miss simple spelling and grammar mistakes.
If you allow your work to “rest” for a little while, you’re giving your brain a chance to read it fresh. You’re not “reading along” in your mind, you’re paying attention to every word, every punctuation mark, and every phrase.
The end result is content that has been edited with careful eyes and a fresh mind.
When in Doubt, Use a Grammar Program
One of the best parts about the internet is you can find anything — including high-quality programs that check for grammar, spelling, readability, punctuation, and more.
You shouldn’t feel bad about using these types of programs. They are designed as a tool to help those who want to get better. As you use these grammar programs, you’ll begin to notice trends in your writing.
Think back to step one, make notes and correct your writing flaws. If you’re not sure what your flaws are exactly, a grammar program can help you uncover areas of opportunity.
Two of the most common grammar programs include Grammarly and Hemingway App. Both programs feature a “free version”, perfect for those who are on a budget or want to test the app before buying a full-featured version.
Conclusion
Writing every day is similar to going to the gym regularly. You go to the gym to exercise your body muscles, and you write every day to exercise your brain and stimulate your creative side.
It doesn’t matter how bad of a writer you think you are, you can always get better. If you take these four tips into consideration and take the time to seriously write, you will improve.
You can be successful. Never let doubt convince you otherwise. The keys to being a successful writer are now in your hands. All you have left to do is use them! Good luck!