Writing can be intimidating to a lot of people, especially those who are not used to writing regularly. However, with a little discipline and willingness to practice and learn, writing can change from an agonizing task to an effortless activity in no time.
But why should you strive to improve your writing skills? First of all, it is an essential job skill. In every stage of one’s life, writing is the primary basis by which one’s work, skill, and intellect will be judged. This can be school, college, a future workplace, etc. Furthermore, writing can help us express our thoughts and ideas clearly to others. And most importantly, writing can be fun! (Alright, we might be a little biased here)
Regardless of your feelings about writing or the current level at which you write, you should definitely work towards improving your writing skills. Becoming a strong writer will not only help you along with your academic or professional goals but it will also help you become a better communicator on and off the paper.
Also Read: How to Write a Great Essay
Without further ado, we’ve wound up the five sure shot ways to improve your writing skills!
1. Build Up Your Vocabulary
The first step towards transforming your writing is to create a rich resource of vocabulary in your mind. If you don’t know the right words to express an idea, you’ll never be able to fully write well.
However, there’s a difference between ‘knowing’ a word and fully understanding its context. You may be able to recognize a word. Maybe you came across a word in a vocabulary list or a news article. But, you may not know the word’s usage in multiple contexts and the rules for using it.
We suggest that you learn new words by seeing them used in a sentence with enough context clues to understand what it means in a particular situation. Here are some free resources to help you get started:
- Vocabulary.com: This online tool claims to be the smartest way to build up your vocabulary. It teaches you words by systematically exposing you to a wide array of question types and activities that will help you understand all the meanings and nuances of every word you’re learning.
- 7 Little Words: This word-building game gives you seven definitions. There are tiles with combinations of two or three letters on them which you will arrange to form the seven words. As you narrow down the words, you will be learning along the way.
2. Read Regularly (and Voraciously)!
This may sound like a piece of cliched advice but it’s true! Go talk to your kid in your class who is a prolific writer. Chances are he/she is an avid reader. In fact, many writing coaches will tell you that the best way to get better at writing is to read. This is because reading a variety of texts will expose you to different writing styles and new words with the context needed to learn those words.
Plus, reading is fun! Unlike writing, you can actually choose to read things you like. If you are a science lover, you can delve into scientific journals or read science fiction for inspiration for a new project. If you prefer art, you can learn about your predecessors in art history books or paint visual representations of famous poems. Of course, we would suggest you read out of your comfort zone to maximize the number of new words you come across.
Looking for ways to get your hands on some good books for free? Here are some free repositories of books you can read online for free!
- Open Library: This internet archive library aims to make all works published by humankind available to everyone around the world. This may seem ambitious but through a network of sponsors, Open Library is well on its way to reaching its goal. We’re sure you’ll find something you like here.
- Read.gov: If you want to read some classics of literature, this repository of ebooks is for you! If you’re not sure what books you would actually like to read, this is a good place to start.
3. Brush Up on Grammar and Spelling
If you are a native English speaker, you probably follow a lot of the grammar rules and spelling rules instinctively. However, English can be a hard language to write in regardless of your fluency. Many developing writers fall back to colloquialisms when they write. However, many of the words and phrases we utilize while speaking have no place in writing. Often they lead to grammatical or spelling mistakes in our writing.
Check out this TED-ED video below to learn how grammar came about.
4. Hire a Writing Coach for Effective Feedback
Need to get better at writing for a specific reason? Maybe you need some help with your college application essays or are having trouble with your written assignments for class. Don’t sweat! Instead of trying to learn the appropriate writing style you need by yourself, hire a writing tutor to guide you along the way.
Also Read: How to Choose the Best Writing Tutor For You
A writing tutor can help you improve your writing skills while you complete those college application essays or academic assignments you are struggling with.
Find some amazing writing coaches here.
5. Write, Write, and Write More!
The best way to improve your writing is to just write. Put your pen to paper or fingers to a keyboard and write whatever comes to mind. It may not be great writing at first but as you incorporate the aforementioned ways to improve your writing skills, you will notice some great changes in your writing!
Remember, the first draft will not be perfect. Even the best writers will write multiple drafts of the same text until they have refined what they want to say. Writing and rewriting are a part of the larger process of communicating your ideas to both yourself and the world at large around you.
What Next?
Practice the above listed 5 tips with discipline and perseverance to transform your writing skills in a matter of months. Check out Talentnook for online writing tutors offering free trials
Do you wish to drastically improve your writing skills with expert help? Now excel in English reading and writing with Talentnook’s comprehensive English Program for students for grades 2-9. Join this program NOW and ensure your path to writing success.
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Do you know any other sure-shot tips to improve your writing skills? We’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below.
Looking for an all-in-one writing program for students who want to build an effective writing skillset – early on. So they can communicate with confidence!
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