Writing isn’t easy, but it’s certainly rewarding. Whether you’re a professional writer, a student or just a hobbyist, we’re here to offer you a few tips to improve your writing skills and help you fully engage your readers.
First and foremost: plan ahead. We often think of writing as some sort of a passive process: “I will just sit down and write”, but we’re terribly wrong. Writing well takes skill and an entire thought process behind it, which means a plan is needed. Here’s how you can start:
- READ FIRST, WRITE SECOND: Just like crawling before running, you should read before writing. Different authors’ styles might give you new ideas and teach you a new structure. Try reading some writing prompts as well to get your creativity flowing — check out dScryb and r/WritingPrompts!
- ACTUALLY PRACTICE: Many writers just sit down and hope for a finished piece once they stand up, but forget to actually practice. Learn more by trying out a new genre (how about a poem?), another theme (try science fiction!) or even another language (¿por qué no los tres?).
- WHY ARE YOU WRITING? Okay, you’ve decided to write about cooking. But, do you want your readers to just learn the recipe or fully enjoy the culinary arts? So, either give them some deadpan instructions — pun intended — or talk about the summer-y breeze you felt in Paris before cooking.
- WHAT’S YOUR AUDIENCE? If your text is meant for friends or fun, don’t prep an overly formal text. Write in a way that sounds just like a normal conversation instead of a textbook. Unless, of course, you’re writing a textbook.
- BE OBJECTIVE: Once you’ve set a goal, getting there isn’t always straightforward. List every keypoint you must convey, then jump from one to the next. What will you put in chapter 1? How is it different from chapter 2? Did you forget a keypoint or perhaps put too much?
- USE A STRONG OPENING: The first sentences are crucial to grab the reader’s attention and set the tone for the rest of the text. Starting off with a good impression lets the reader know what to expect and if it’s worth it.
- VARY YOUR STRUCTURE: Using the same sentence structure over and over again makes your text boring and hard to read. Mix up short sentences with longer ones and simpler phrases with others that are more elaborate. Don’t be shy!
- REVIEW, REWRITE! No one ever just wrote something on the fly and published it — at least not something good. Review your text to brainstorm new ideas, correct any mistakes and improve its clarity. Take a well deserved break if you’re stuck.
- ACTIVELY SEEK FEEDBACK: It’s common sense that constructive feedback can actually help a ton, but odds are if you don’t seek it, most people won’t give it to you. Go ask your family or friends for some help, even if they aren’t exactly writing enthusiasts — they’re the readers!
- JOIN A COMMUNITY: Writing doesn’t have to be an individual or lonely task. Gather up with friends or make new ones with this common interest. If you don’t know where to start, join our Discord server where we have a channel exclusively for writers!
If you’re stuck in a creative block and just can’t seem to have new ideas, you should reader our article on How To Get Over Creative Block. Put these tips to work and we hope that your pieces are easier to write and your writing experience is even more enjoyable. Write well!