Every writer is a work in progress. This means you have an infinite ability to keep getting better. As you continue to improve your writing skills, you'll be able to enchant your readers with the world of your imagination. So here is a list of six ways to improve your writing.
1. Read Books on Writing
There are many books out there that are written specifically to help you improve your writing, and they come in an array of options: books on grammar and sentence structure, plot device, character development, dialogue, world building, etc. A quick Google search will help you find a list of options to check out and Goodreads, a website for book reviews, should be utilized to find the right writing manual for you. Here are some popular recommendations: "The Elements of Style" by William Strunk Jr. and E. B White, "On Writing Well" by William Zinsser, "Bird by Bird" by Anne Lamott, "The Writing Life" by Annie Dillard, and "Plot and Structure" by James Scott Bell.
2. Go to a Writing Workshop
A writing workshop is when a group of writers get together to read and critique each other’s writing samples. The role of the criticizer and the one being critiqued are both beneficial for the aspiring writer: the former helps you analyze writing to see what works and what doesn’t, and the latter gives you feedback on how to improve your writing. When you critique someone’s writing, you want to be kind but honest. When you have your writing critiqued, you want to be open-minded but wise in which advice to take and which to ignore. Best of all, the experience will teach you how to be humble about positive feedback and mature about negative feedback.
3. Join a Writing Group
A writing group is a bunch of writers who get together to support each other on the writer’s journey. They’re closely linked to writing workshops, as that’s one of the key activities that a writing group engages in. But they are so much more. Although your family and friends will always support you in your writing struggles, it’s nice to connect with people who share your passion. Your writing group will be your coach, your advisor, and your 4 a.m. friend. They’ll understand the excitement of killing off a character and they won’t judge you for spending so much time on baby naming websites. It’s the perfect combination of serious work and serious laughs that adds glamour to the writing life.
4. Read Deliberately
You probably love to read, but in order to improve, it’s not enough just to read a lot of books. You must pay attention to what makes them good (or bad) and how you can incorporate (or avoid) those same things in your writing. It’s similar to a writing workshop, but in this case, you’re exposing your inner critic to published works, and you can stay in the comfort of your pajamas while you do it! Although books on writing do this work for you, the value lies in the ability to analyze writing on your own. Carry a notebook and pen with you when you read so you can jot down what sticks out to you. Remember, the best writers are those who learn from other writers.
5. Write Every Day
The name of the game is consistency. In order for practice to truly make perfect, you don’t want extensive time lags in between your writing sessions. By writing every day, you strengthen your creative muscles in the same way an athlete gets stronger with a consistent gym schedule. A good gym workout mixes up the exercises so that muscles grow most efficiently. In the same vein, you ought to mix up what you write about. Some days, you might work on story prompts, other days, you might try your hand at poetry. This will make you a more well-rounded, experienced, and skilled writer. But remember, creative burnout is real. If you don’t want to overwork your muscles, know that it’s okay to take a rest day once a week.
6. Revise Every Day
Every book you’ve ever read has been edited and revised many times before it made its way onto a bookshelf. Don’t take that for granted. Editing is an important skill every writer must learn to perfect. By editing, I’m referring not just to grammar and spellchecking, but to the pacing of the story, the consistency in voice and character, and the elimination of unnecessary detail. It’s the process that separates the dusty manuscript from the New York Times bestseller. But in order to be a good editor, you must practice that skill as much as you practice writing. Now that you know to write every day, you can start editing that writing too.
So now, you’ve got a few good pointers on how to improve your writing. In no time at all, you’ll be writing stories that sound just like how you imagined them. Time to get to work! Good luck.
