Writing is not easy. There’s a reason why the most famous authors are so well paid and loved. They put great care and passion into what they do, and they constantly strive to improve themselves. Whether you’re a blogger, journalist, or an aspiring author, becoming a great writer takes time, and you need to put in the work. To help you hone your craft, here are five tips to help you become a better wordsmith.
Write every day
As with any great skill, expertise will not come without practice. They say that you need 10 000 hours of practice to become a master of any given field. Whether or not that figure is accurate, there’s no doubt you need to put in some effort. Make time to write something every single day. It doesn’t matter whether you’re working on a novel, recording your day in a diary, or even scribbling down random thoughts that come to your head, consistency is a crucial step in becoming a better writer. In time, you’ll learn new techniques, like how to write in the third person limited, which will help to refine your unique writing style and voice.
Read constantly
The prolific author Stephen King claims to read approximately 80 books a year, which amounts to roughly one and a half books a week. While you don’t have to commit to this many, reading the works of other bloggers and authors will inspire you and help you learn from the best. To get you started, here is a list of great books to improve your writing.
Keep a notebook
Inspiration strikes at the strangest times, but rarely when you want it to. It could be while you’re driving, out for a run, or even sleeping. When you get a brilliant idea, you want to record it immediately so you don’t forget it. Get into the habit of keeping a notebook with you at all times to jot down any ideas and thoughts. Keep it by your bed while you sleep as well in case your dreams spark some inspiration.
Teach someone to write
A quote often attributed to Einstein says that if you can’t teach something to an eight-year-old, you don’t understand it well enough. Whether or not he truly said this, there is something in the idea. Teaching writing to a novice forces you to articulate complex ideas and communicate in a way that others can understand. Try leading a writers workshop or even teaching your child some creative writing skills. Click here for some free writing worksheets for kids to help you.
Get into a routine
When you’re suffering from writer’s block, it can be hard to motivate yourself to sit down and put something on paper. But by establishing a routine that you stick to each day, you can force yourself to get the work done. Set yourself a fixed time to start and finish each day, and have a designated writing room. It could be a home office, a shed, or even your favorite spot in the local coffee shop. It doesn’t matter what environment you choose as long as you are consistent with your writing efforts.
Any writer knows that the creative spark never comes easily, but by following these five tips, you can put yourself in a better position to develop your skills and harness inspiration when it arrives.
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Great advice!! I love to write everyday even if it’s in my journal and it defiantly helps.
That’s a great way to get started!!
Excellent post! I used to write all the time when I was younger, then I stopped when my mom died. Fourteen years later I started my blog and it was so difficult to even put one post together. It’s been three months of constant writing and reading~ and I have to admit you are right. You can’t get good without investing the time.
i can definitely understand the stopping and starting, but you got this girl!! keep going! don’t give up
I often sit with writer’s block and battle to find a good routine! My problem is that I have so many good ideas of what to write next and create an awesome schedule…BUT…it always happens when i’m out and don’t write anything down. So by the time I get back to my desk…my brain is like…meh, totally can’t remember anything! And yes I get super annoyed with myself.
i totally know what you mean – especially when things need to get done!
My son struggles with his writing, these tips will really help him ❤️
These are even great for kids too!! Especially the daily journal writing.
Consistency is SO key with any skill, especially writing! These tips are awesome building blocks to help achieve that! Thanks for sharing, Jennifer!
You’re so right! Definitely with any skill but especially with writing too.
These are all good points. It really helps to be consistent and write a lot. I have always enjoyed writing, and it does help when you write on a daily basis.
Being consistent is the key to being a good writer!
These are great tips, thanks for sharing!
I hope they can help other writers out there !
Yes, indeed, being consistent can help you not only become better, but also overcome writer’s block. I like to write daily for my blog, even though most of what I write I don’t even publish, but it does help wit the whole writing process.
Such the truth !!!
Becoming a better writer is something I have been wanting to work on so this article is super helpful. I want to read more books but never feel like I have the time! I am definitely going to take it upon myself to make the time!
Awesome ! That is great ! I always feel like I never have time either