Writing is an art that can be learned. With time you can even be good at it. Practice makes perfect and it is applicable to writing as well. There are several tips on how to improve your writing skills that are enumerated below. The best writing style and the best writing tips are all included below as well.
#1 Write like you talk, to a limit.
Your writing should be natural and fluid. Unless you’re communicating in a more formal setting, write as though you’re talking to a friend. There’s no need to use a difficult vocabulary because the simpler your words are, the easier it is for your audience to relate.
#2 Don’t ramble on.
Even though we just said “Write like you talk”, there’s a catch—don’t ramble. Avoid winding twists and turns, and don’t use unnecessary filler words such aslike,really, andyou know. Good writers know how to get to the point and avoid fluff.
#3 Be a storyteller.
No matter what the message is, we mortals are drawn to stories. Use your words to spin a tale and weave your readers in. Snare them in your web of words and keep them there. All readers are happier when they’re lost in books anyway.
#4 Empathize with the reader.
Empathy can improve all kinds of writing, from fiction to email outreach. While you’re writing remember to put yourself in your reader’s place. Observe whether you’re preaching to them, or are you engaging them by showing that your writing can relate to their feelings and experiences?
#5 Be interested in order to be interesting.
The more fascinated you are about the subject you’re writing about, the more intrigued your readers will be with your work. You can try to find a fascinating angle for your story. With the right approach, it’s possible to write a captivating story about something unappealing and mundane. Use your best writing style to keep the story interesting.
#6 Let your writing stew for a while and edit fresh.
When you’re done with your writing, don’t edit just after you’ve finished. Take a break and then come back later so that you can review with fresh eyes. Even stepping away for a short walk or a cup of coffee to clear your mind can help you shift your mindset from writer to editor.
#7 Get rid of filler words.
When you get to the editing part of your process, remember that it’s time to cut the fluff. Every word needs to have very specific purpose, and those that aren’t pulling their weight have to go. Rambling on with no aim would just make your readers lose interest. Use descriptive words that add to the story but no so much that they confuse the reader.
#8 Avoid cliche.
As you’re reading through what you’ve written at the end of the day, look for overused phrases that can be rewritten in a fresh and distinctive way. It’s one of the best writing tips, but also one of the most ignored.
#9 Dump adverbs.
One of the most important advices on how to improve your writing style, is to get rid of most adverbs and use stronger verb choices instead. For example,ran away quicklybecomes “darted”andcried pitifullybecomes “wailed”. Remind yourself of this wise Stephen King quote: “I believe the road to hell is paved with adverbs.”
#10 Use commas appropriately.
The comma is a famously misunderstood punctuation mark. There are many rules for proper comma usage, but if you understand them clearly, they’ll become second nature. Use them whenever required and do not go overboard. You don’t want an article littered with commas galore. Commas signify a pause and so use them sparingly.
#11 Put everything in the right order.
We often write in the order that ideas and thoughts come to us, but that’s not necessarily the best way to present the final written piece.
If you didn’t create a rough outline before you began writing, then you may try outlining your finished draft. Sometimes, the process of outlining a finished draft will reveal paragraphs or whole sections that would make better sense if they were placed in a different order. Creating drafts is an important writing tip.
#12 Read your writing out loud.
One of the best writing tips is to find irregular sentence structure and fix it. You can do this by reading your writing out aloud. If you stumble as you’re reading, take a look at that particular sentence and see if you can clear it up.
#13 Keep a list of your most common mistake.
We all face writing struggles. By making a list of your most frequent mistakes, you can easily find and eliminate them next time. Learn from your mistakes in an effort to never make them again.
#14 Think about your ideal reader niche.
Before you write, think about what your ideal audience would know today. What is their reality and how can your writing be informative to them? What can you write to pull your audience to you?
For example, if you’ve written a how-to guide on fixing cars, does it start at the same level of knowledge as your ideal reader’s skill level? It’s important to predict where your reader is in their journey so your writing doesn’t lose them along the way.
#15 let your friends or family read your draft.
Sometimes a second perspective can prove helpful. Just remember the philosophy – Take What You Want and Leave the Rest. Give all the advice you receive your full thoughtful consideration, but make your own choices in the end. You’re the writer and it’s your perspective that should lead the book.
Read about writing to learn more writing tips. Most importantly don’t forget to practice often. The best way to improve your writing is by actually doing it. At Unluclasses, we have the famous writer Ruskin Bond to teach you the best writing styles and to give you the best writing tips. By the end of your lessons you’ll have everything you need to know how to improve your writing skills.
