7 Tips to Improve Your Writing Skills ...

Photo Credit: TGKW

Reading will expose you to great writers and their wonderful works. Learn from their writing styles and techniques to improve your own style. Reading will help you improve your vocabulary, as well as teach you the different nuances of a language that you can’t learn on your own. Reading can teach you different things about the culture of a certain nation during a particular cultural period.

Photo Credit: Kip Photographie

Movies and music are other forms of literature. Like books, you can also learn a lot about a culture when you immerse yourself in various movies and music. You will also learn about a language during a certain cultural period.

Photo Credit: Dvortygirl

There is no better way to improve your writing skills than to keep on writing. You will get better if you keep going at it. Remember to set aside time for you to write. Pick a time that will fit your schedule. You don’t always have to have a goal or an end product in mind when you do your writing exercises. You can do free writing to express the thoughts in your head.

Photo Credit: kimberlybrimhall

Although imitation is the greatest form of flattery, you shouldn’t make a habit of it when you write. You can use other writers as inspiration but discovering your voice and personal style will make telling stories and imparting your ideas easier. You will come off as a sincere and real writer. There is more value in an honest literary work than a second-rate version of someone else’s work.

Photo Credit: angelocesare

When you write, you sometimes fall in love with your work. You must avoid falling into this trap because it will hinder you from looking at your work objectively. You need to be able to proofread and edit your work to remove unnecessary sentences, out of place words, and other elements that can diminish your work’s value.

Photo Credit: Mamluke

Don’t be afraid to ask your family, friends, professors, and other writers for constructive criticism of your work. They may be able to point out things you might have missed or overlooked.

Photo Credit: vancouverfilmschool

Taking formal classes can help you with the more technical aspect of writing. There are also classes that deal with various writing styles and movements. You can also study about one writer to learn more about a specific writing approach.

Be progressive in your writing craft and continually find ways to improve yourself. Don’t be afraid to take chances and to make mistakes. Experiment with what you already know and incorporate new things you discover.

Top Photo Credit: Lumase