Most people assume that writing is something that some people simply can do… and others simply can’t. When in reality writing is a skill that can be cultivated and improved upon. No one is born a natural writer, not even best-selling novelists.
To prove it, here are a few practical tips to help improve your writing.
1. Read what you want to write.
The single best writing tip that I have ever received is that you should read what you want to write. So if you want to write academic essays, you should read academic essays. If you want to write novels, poems, or novelas then that is what you should read.
By reading what you want to write you become familiar with the overall structure of your chosen writing piece. The more you read, the more naturally the writing structure, language usage, and writing will become over time.
2. Practice writing.
Like any other skill, you will have to practise in order to improve.
The best type of practice will be to practise writing the type of essay or story structure that you will be tested on. If you will be required to write academic essays, short stories, or formal reports, then that is what you should practise writing. It sounds tedious, but the more you familiarise yourself with the overall structure and process of writing, the more naturally it will come.
3. Ask someone to read your writing.
A few years ago, I came across an editor who was exceptional at her job, but still hired another editor to review her own writings. This boggled my mind.
Was the expert editor not capable of editing her own work?
The answer is that she was capable of editing her own work, but, she explained, she too suffered from the human condition and was blind to her own mistakes. Because of this she always made sure to entrust her work to another trusted editor and close friend.
Entrusting your writings to another person’s judgement is never an easy thing, but if your goal is to improve upon your writing, then it is a good step to take.
Make sure that the person you ask to proofread your work is someone you fully trust and whose opinion you value. The person you ask does not have to be a professional editor by any means, but make sure that whomever you choose is someone you can trust to give a kind and honest review.
If you apply these three writing practices, your writing is sure to improve over time. Writing is something that can be learned and improved upon, it’s only a matter of putting in the effort.
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