How to Become a Good Writer

Write every day. Perhaps you prefer to write a brief contextual description every day, or work on a long-term project. At least you can write one paragraph or one page per day. But if you apply the advice from this article, stick to one important habit: write every day.

• If you don’t have time in your schedule, try waking up early or going to bed late, even if you only have 15 minutes of free time to practice writing.

Write your way through the framework for writers. Don’t be afraid to write something “bad” that makes you end up staring at a blank page. ^[5] Writing everything down on paper can help you get started. Write about how you feel stuck and can’t think of any ideas to write about, or describe an object in the room in full detail that takes a lot of effort, or exaggerates something. that makes you angry. A few minutes like that will help put you in “writing mode” and give you new ideas.

• Search online, in a bookstore, or in a library for a collection of great writing suggestions. They provide a starting point to start writing, and it’s often funny to develop imagination and get started.

Challenge yourself. If you’ve been writing for a while, it’s advantageous to continue to stick to a particular writing style, theme, or structure. Practicing your favorite style of writing is a great way to keep yourself motivated, but it’s also a good idea to make an effort to vary it up with a few different writing exercises from time to time. Tackling new and difficult challenges with caution is essential to improving skills in any field. ^[6] Try these challenges as a practice exercise, whether you’re interested in getting good results:

• If the writer’s writing project or narrative style you read all has the same voice, try a different style. Imitate another author, or mix the styles of two authors together. ^[7]
• If most of your writing is used for a personal blog, or a long-term writing project, pause. Think about a topic you haven’t written about in a regular project, and try writing about it. (For the challenge then, rewrite the piece in a different style so it can fit your writing project.)

Exchange feedback with a supportive group of writers. Ask them to comment on your writing, and actively read drafts of other writers. Accept honest criticism given as advice to improve, but keep your writing away from anyone who acts belittled or behaves negatively. ^{[8] [9]} There is a big difference between helpful criticism and the negative that frustrates you.

• Search for an online community like Scribophile or WritersCafe, or find a broader writing community about a certain style of writing.
• Check your local library and community center for information on local writing clubs.
• You can even practice writing wikis (web applications that allow users to freely create and edit content using any web browser and require no programming knowledge) such as wikiHow or Wikipedia. This gives you a chance to practice, and possibly become a part of the largest writing community you’ve ever joined.

Commit yourself to a writing schedule with others. If you’re having trouble with a writing project, make a commitment to someone else to give yourself extra motivation from the outside. Find a pen pal to write to each other on a regular basis, or start a blog with weekly updates. Find a writing contest in the next few weeks, and promise to submit your first entry. Take on a writing challenge, whether it’s a simple writing process with a group of friends, or the annual “novel of the month” following National Novel Writing Month’s elaborate artwork (National Novel Writing Month or NaNoWriMo.

Review articles that interest you. The first draft of a story always gives you room to improve, and it ends up looking completely different after a few tweaks. ^[10] Once you’ve written a piece of work that catches your eye, read through the “finished” work and look for sentences, paragraphs, or entire pages that you find unsatisfactory. Rewrite the context from another character’s point of view, try to find new plot developments, or change the order of events. If you’re not sure why you don’t like the passage, rewrite it differently without referring to the original passage, and then see what you like best about each writing style.

• Getting rid of favorite passages and starting over can be difficult, so many writers have interpreted this advice as “kill your loved one” over the years. ^[11]

Read a lot. Writers are passionate about languages, and the best way to develop that passion is to read a lot. Read articles in as many areas as you can, from magazines to youth fiction and historical essays, even though you shouldn’t feel pressured to finish reading every piece you choose. ^[12] Reading builds vocabulary, guides grammar, inspires, and helps you understand what can be done with language. For new writers, reading skills are just as important as writing skills. ^[13]

• If you’re hesitant about what to read, ask for some suggestions from friends, or go to the library and pick up a few books from each area.

Expand vocabulary. When reading, keep a dictionary and thesaurus on hand, or write down unfamiliar words to look up their meanings later in the dictionary. World-class writers have debated whether to use simple words, or to use long, complex words. That is something you decide for yourself in your writing, but only after you know what vocabulary you have available.

• Dictionary definitions often do not provide clear instructions on how to use a word. Find the word online and read it in context for better understanding.

Learn English grammar rules. Sure, there are many great, famous books written that aren’t grammatically correct, but learning grammar isn’t just about memorizing a set of rules. Learning how a sentence is written, and how punctuation is used to structure sentences, gives you the knowledge you need to express yourself in the way you intended. If you think this might be your weakness, study English textbooks, or find a writing tutor.

• Learn how to write with free grammar if you are not used to formal English writing.
• For grammar questions, consult an English grammar book, such as The American Heritage Book of English Usage.

Tailor the article to your goals and readers. Just like you change clothes because of the weather and events, you should also change your writing style for the sake of the reader and the desire to convey in the article. For example, an ornate writing style may be more appropriate in poetry than in a status report. Make sure your word choice and sentence length aren’t too difficult (or too easy) for the reader, if you’re targeting a certain group. Avoid using specific jargon when speaking to someone they don’t understand well about the topic being discussed.

Brainstorm before you start writing. When thinking about what to write, write down whatever comes to mind, even if it seems unnatural or unsuccessful. A rough idea can lead to a better idea.

Select the topic you want to read. Find topics that interest and interest you. The enjoyment and excitement will make it easier for you to continue writing and maintain the quality of your writing, and hopefully it will set an example for your readers.

Define the outline layout for the project. A serious writing project doesn’t have to be the length of a book. Writing short stories is also a difficult but worthy challenge, and can be a more time-efficient way to practice the skill.

Write down ideas. Keep a notebook and record observations, discussions heard, and any ideas that come to mind in your daily life. When you read or hear something that makes you laugh, think, or want to repeat it to someone else, write it down and think about what makes it so effective.

• You should also use your notebook to write down unfamiliar words.

Plan to write articles. Use whatever method works best for you, or try a few if you don’t have a pre-arranged process. You can make an outline, gather your notes and arrange them until you get the order right, or draw a tree of ideas or diagrams. An outline includes only a draft of the order of events or topics covered, or a more detailed scene-by-scene summary. Creating some layouts ahead of time can help you keep writing for a few days when you feel a lack of creativity. ^[14]

• There are many types of applications for complex writing projects used by many writers, such as Scrivener or TheSage.
• It’s okay to go against the plan, but if you’re going to eliminate it altogether, it’s a good idea to stop and consider the potential reason. Develop a new plan to guide you through the replacement work, and keep yourself conscious of how you want to experience the event.

Research on writing topics. While a piece of prose requires a thorough understanding of the subject matter, even fiction requires research. If the main character is a glassblower, read a book on glassblowing and use the correct terminology. If you’re writing a book about a period before you were born, interviewing people who lived at that time, or who spoke to parents and grandparents, is appropriate.

• In the case of writing a novel, you may have to delve into the information from the first draft before you begin your research.

Quickly write the first draft. Try writing without interruption if possible. Don’t stop to change words or correct grammar, spelling, or punctuation. This is one of the popular suggestions to make sure you actually finish what you originally needed to do.

Rewrite it another way. Once you have your first draft, read it again and rewrite it in a different way. You are looking for grammar and spelling errors as well as writing style, content, arrangement, and coherence. If you don’t like any of the passages, discard them and rewrite them from the draft. Criticizing your own work is an important skill, and takes a lot of practice, just like writing.

• Give yourself time to write and edit, if possible. It’s better to wait a reasonable amount of time, but even a short break can give you the time and calm to make the right edits.

Share your articles with readers. Get feedback on posts in the process from interested readers, whether they’re friends, other writers, or people reading your blog posts. Try to accept criticism without getting angry or frustrated; Even if you don’t agree with a particular thing, knowing what parts of an article others don’t like can be very helpful to help you focus on the point that needs editing.