10 ways to improve your writing skills-quickly
To help you
become the best writer you can be, here are 10 techniques to improve your
writing skills.
1. Keep a journal.
Believe it or
not, writing in a journal can help you improve your writing skills. It can also
help you discover new story ideas that could be developed into the next
best-seller. When you write in your journal, don't censor your words. Allow
them to flow freely.
2. Participate in writing prompts.
Writer's Digest, Creative
Copy Challenge, and other writing resources provide writing exercises and
prompts. These are good ways to improve your writing and to test story ideas.
3. Rewrite your blog posts.
If you have a
blog, go back a couple of years and find a few blog posts to rewrite and
repurpose. You may be surprised how much your writing has improved over time.
4. Rewrite newspaper and magazine articles.
Choose your
favorite newspaper or magazine, and rewrite a couple of the articles. Challenge
yourself to write a stronger headline and copy.
5. Activate Google alerts.
Setup a
Google Alert for writing, writing skills, book writing, and other alerts, and
follow the latest stories. Read what other writers are doing to improve their
writing skills.
6. Read beyond what you normally read.
If you have a
hankering for fantasy, sci-fi, romance, memoirs, YA, NA, middle grade,
self-help, or whatever tickles your writer's fancy, get out of your comfort
zone and read something different. Stretch your mind and you'll stretch your
writing skills.
7. Comment on your favorite blog posts.
Challenge
yourself to write in-depth comments instead of the familiar, "Great
post!" or, "Thanks for sharing this brilliant information." Such
vapid comments do not add to the conversation, nor do they improve your writing
skills. Here's a tip: If you want to get noticed by the blog owner and taken
seriously, write a decent comment.
8. Join a writer's group.
Don't be shy
about sharing your writing. One of the greatest ways to improve your writing is
to join a writer's group in which you'll receive valuable feedback such as how
to strengthen introductions, how to develop characters, how to write stronger
scenes, and more. Please note: You may have to try out a few groups before you
find any that work for you.
9. Attend a writer's conference or workshop.
When I lived
in Chandler, Ariz., I was blessed to have found Changing Hands Bookstore in
Tempe. The owners schedule writing workshops throughout the year. Not
only did I meet fellow aspiring authors, I met published authors who would
share writing tips and tricks such as the importance of using an outline,
whether you write fiction or nonfiction.
10. Write.
You must
write to improve your writing skills. Try to write at least 1,000 words each
day or every other day. When you think you've finished writing, write some
more. When you think you've really finished writing, keep writing.
To improve
your writing, you need to write five days a week, 50 weeks per year, if not
more. Writing requires dedication and time. If you're serious about being a
published author, you need to write and write and write.
ไม่มีความคิดเห็น:
แสดงความคิดเห็น