13 answers
Jaedene
Student
Goodyear, Arizona
1
Question
Asked
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How can I improve my writing skills??
I really want to improve my writing skills but I'm not sure how. Is there any websites or practices I could do?
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13 answers
Roger Maxwell
Freelance Writer
13
Answers
Phoenix, Arizona
Updated
Roger’s Answer
Hi Jaedene,
I struggled with this for a while. Read books and watched videos on the topic. One book I recommend is "On Writing" by Stephen King. That will lay out a good foundation for you.
The answers given so far have been great, but I fall in line with Ricardo and Tom. Writing is like a muscle. If you want to develop it you have to work it, exercise it. Which means a lot of reps, different resistance levels... While it doesn't sound too helpful, just write! But I would also throw in a couple of things as well.
Become an observer. Notice everything and everyone. Use your senses, listen how people talk, watch how people talk, what they say and how they say it. Observe nature, trees, the sky, animals, how they look, how the wind affects them, or the snow, rain. Be a child, observe everything as if for the first time. Then take your notebook and pen or pencil, and describe it. This is how you train your mind, your craft. These will become resources you'll have, your color pallet, to paint your story. The more colors you gain on your pallet, the more you have to use to paint the world you want to create. And this applies to any story, fiction or non.
My weakness is description, that's what I struggle with. Yet when people read my stories and tell me how much they love my descriptions! Not sure how that works.
And yes, read. If you don't like reading, read easy stuff, or stuff that interests you. Reading the classics can be a bit heavy, so read as much as you can, then move on to something else. But listen to what it sounds like. The music in writing comes mostly from the use of commas, ellipsis, dashes, periods, paragraph breaks ... as well as the number of words in a sentence.
That last sentence I threw in an ellipsis. Read it again. You can feel a pause, hear it, before it completes the sentence. It placed an emphasis on "as well as...". If I used a comma, it would sound and feel different. Read it again replacing the ellipsis with a comma, then again with the ellipsis. Beat it up! Throw in all kinds of punctuation! Get the sound and cadence you want. It's your art!
Tip: Reading it out loud might help to hear the sound of the writing.
One of my favorite books is "Dune". For me "Dune" read like literature. Not like any other Sci-Fi book I'd ever read before.
And now, I've read it probably three times and read it audibly another five. After the second time, as a writer, I read it listening to how it sounded. How Herbert used punctuation, and where he didn't. How he described things. As a writer, reading is as much for enjoyment as it is an opportunity to study the craft. Even reading the bad stuff. I've read a few books by affluent, super famous writers that were horrible! To me at least. I had to stop reading . It sounded horrible too.
Anyway... I could go on and on. But for now, Jaedene, be an Observer, see and experience the world as a child. Then write about it. Get it out there on the page. It may sound like poo, but the more you write, the more you practice and exercise that muscle, the better a writer you'll become.
One more thing, promise. Have fun doing it. Play around with your writing. Get a little crazy.
"The bee floated up until it reached the flower. Just hovering over it. Then dove in collecting all that precious nectar for his Queen."
I'm sitting outside right now, three stories up, and there was a bee buzzing around. No flowers around. So I started writing about it from what I've observed from watching other bees. Then I threw in (painted in) the Queen part. Just goofin. That could be the beginning of a short story. It's not perfect, but I don't care, I can tweak it later if I want. I'm a child right now, an observer. You bee one too. :0)
Hope this helps.
Roger
Drop me a line if you have further questions. Ciao.
I struggled with this for a while. Read books and watched videos on the topic. One book I recommend is "On Writing" by Stephen King. That will lay out a good foundation for you.
The answers given so far have been great, but I fall in line with Ricardo and Tom. Writing is like a muscle. If you want to develop it you have to work it, exercise it. Which means a lot of reps, different resistance levels... While it doesn't sound too helpful, just write! But I would also throw in a couple of things as well.
Become an observer. Notice everything and everyone. Use your senses, listen how people talk, watch how people talk, what they say and how they say it. Observe nature, trees, the sky, animals, how they look, how the wind affects them, or the snow, rain. Be a child, observe everything as if for the first time. Then take your notebook and pen or pencil, and describe it. This is how you train your mind, your craft. These will become resources you'll have, your color pallet, to paint your story. The more colors you gain on your pallet, the more you have to use to paint the world you want to create. And this applies to any story, fiction or non.
My weakness is description, that's what I struggle with. Yet when people read my stories and tell me how much they love my descriptions! Not sure how that works.
And yes, read. If you don't like reading, read easy stuff, or stuff that interests you. Reading the classics can be a bit heavy, so read as much as you can, then move on to something else. But listen to what it sounds like. The music in writing comes mostly from the use of commas, ellipsis, dashes, periods, paragraph breaks ... as well as the number of words in a sentence.
That last sentence I threw in an ellipsis. Read it again. You can feel a pause, hear it, before it completes the sentence. It placed an emphasis on "as well as...". If I used a comma, it would sound and feel different. Read it again replacing the ellipsis with a comma, then again with the ellipsis. Beat it up! Throw in all kinds of punctuation! Get the sound and cadence you want. It's your art!
Tip: Reading it out loud might help to hear the sound of the writing.
One of my favorite books is "Dune". For me "Dune" read like literature. Not like any other Sci-Fi book I'd ever read before.
And now, I've read it probably three times and read it audibly another five. After the second time, as a writer, I read it listening to how it sounded. How Herbert used punctuation, and where he didn't. How he described things. As a writer, reading is as much for enjoyment as it is an opportunity to study the craft. Even reading the bad stuff. I've read a few books by affluent, super famous writers that were horrible! To me at least. I had to stop reading . It sounded horrible too.
Anyway... I could go on and on. But for now, Jaedene, be an Observer, see and experience the world as a child. Then write about it. Get it out there on the page. It may sound like poo, but the more you write, the more you practice and exercise that muscle, the better a writer you'll become.
One more thing, promise. Have fun doing it. Play around with your writing. Get a little crazy.
"The bee floated up until it reached the flower. Just hovering over it. Then dove in collecting all that precious nectar for his Queen."
I'm sitting outside right now, three stories up, and there was a bee buzzing around. No flowers around. So I started writing about it from what I've observed from watching other bees. Then I threw in (painted in) the Queen part. Just goofin. That could be the beginning of a short story. It's not perfect, but I don't care, I can tweak it later if I want. I'm a child right now, an observer. You bee one too. :0)
Hope this helps.
Roger
Drop me a line if you have further questions. Ciao.
Thank you so much for the advice.
Jaedene
Tom Foster
Freelance Writer with a lot of life experience
50
Answers
Forest Grove, Oregon
Updated
Tom’s Answer
The other three people who answered this question gave good advice. My advice is this: just write. There's no trick to getting better quicker since a lot of writing is the same as anything else: repetition and practice. At one point, you might grow to hate writing, but if you're really dedicated, you'll realize that you still love it and will experience a deeper connection with your ideas. So yes, read, write a lot, be mindful, and learn to hate as well as love the art of writing. But, as I always say, it comes down to this one thing.
Just write.
Just write.
David Lentz
Technical Writer
1
Answer
Boise, Idaho
Updated
David’s Answer
1. Read a lot, and as you do, ask yourself why the writer wrote it the way they did. Could it be clearer? Look up definitions not just for words you're not familiar with, but ones you couldn't define of the top of your head if someone asked you to.
2. Read a style guide like The Elements of Style. (There are lots of others.) Buy a cheap paperback or check it out from the library.
3. Watch for what corrections/suggestions you get from your word processor—Google Docs or Word or whatever. Make sure you understand them, then decide whether you agree.
4. Write lots.
2. Read a style guide like The Elements of Style. (There are lots of others.) Buy a cheap paperback or check it out from the library.
3. Watch for what corrections/suggestions you get from your word processor—Google Docs or Word or whatever. Make sure you understand them, then decide whether you agree.
4. Write lots.
Jeremy Lowe
Freelance Author
3
Answers
Greenville, South Carolina
Updated
Jeremy’s Answer
Hi, Jadene!
There are many strategies to improving your writing and many of the other posters here have already mentioned quite a few of them. One thing to keep in mind is that skill comes with experience. The more you write the better you will get, you'll learn different tips and tricks that will make you a better writer overall.
Another strategy is to watch videos on YouTube. There are many great creators who will give advice on what to do and what not to do. What your readers might like or they might not. One series on YouTube that I find quite helpful is "On Writing" by Hello Future Me. This series gives a lot of good tips for how to write characters or build your world, etc. If you find the time I would highly recommend checking it out!
There are many strategies to improving your writing and many of the other posters here have already mentioned quite a few of them. One thing to keep in mind is that skill comes with experience. The more you write the better you will get, you'll learn different tips and tricks that will make you a better writer overall.
Another strategy is to watch videos on YouTube. There are many great creators who will give advice on what to do and what not to do. What your readers might like or they might not. One series on YouTube that I find quite helpful is "On Writing" by Hello Future Me. This series gives a lot of good tips for how to write characters or build your world, etc. If you find the time I would highly recommend checking it out!
Enise Agel
144
Answers
Updated
Enise’s Answer
Hello Jaedene,
You can write first, and then correct each sentences piece by piece, or summarize the whole paragraph and then correct sentences.
On the other hand, you can ask your friend(s) to check your paper. It can be easier to express your knowledge to your friend, and your friend can summarize your writing.
If you do not have time to call your friends or have an urgent time to correct your sentences, I highly recommend "Grammarly" app. But it can cost you if you want to correct sentences fully.
I hope this helps.
You can write first, and then correct each sentences piece by piece, or summarize the whole paragraph and then correct sentences.
On the other hand, you can ask your friend(s) to check your paper. It can be easier to express your knowledge to your friend, and your friend can summarize your writing.
If you do not have time to call your friends or have an urgent time to correct your sentences, I highly recommend "Grammarly" app. But it can cost you if you want to correct sentences fully.
I hope this helps.
Ricardo Islas
producer
26
Answers
Chicago, Illinois
Updated
Ricardo’s Answer
While it's often said that the key to improving your writing is simply to write more, this is only half the truth. To truly enhance your writing, you need to read extensively. By "extensively", I'm not just referring to the volume of your reading, but also the caliber. If you only consume poor-quality literature or hastily-written online articles, your writing may not improve. In fact, you risk becoming a mediocre writer, much like the ones you're reading. So, make it a point to read widely and choose high-quality literature. This won't just enrich your vocabulary, but also expose you to various writing styles, sparking inspiration. A writer who greatly inspired me during my formative years was Stephen King. I received "Salem's Lot" as a gift from my parents on my 12th birthday and have revisited the book three times since.
Another crucial aspect of honing your writing is being a keen observer of the world around you. Paying attention to how people converse can help you craft more authentic characters. Mediocre writers often make the mistake of making all their characters sound alike, as if it's the author's voice speaking through each one.
Lastly, broaden your horizons. Expose yourself to diverse experiences and environments. This personal growth will reflect in your writing because a well-rounded individual makes for a better writer. It's as simple as that. I realize my advice might not be the usual, but then again, my career hasn't followed the usual path either. Just look up my name or check out my movies on Tubi under "Ricardo Islas", and you'll see what I mean. After all, who aspires to be just "conventional"? Yuck...
Another crucial aspect of honing your writing is being a keen observer of the world around you. Paying attention to how people converse can help you craft more authentic characters. Mediocre writers often make the mistake of making all their characters sound alike, as if it's the author's voice speaking through each one.
Lastly, broaden your horizons. Expose yourself to diverse experiences and environments. This personal growth will reflect in your writing because a well-rounded individual makes for a better writer. It's as simple as that. I realize my advice might not be the usual, but then again, my career hasn't followed the usual path either. Just look up my name or check out my movies on Tubi under "Ricardo Islas", and you'll see what I mean. After all, who aspires to be just "conventional"? Yuck...
Ranelle Golden
Screenwriter, Director and Producer
5
Answers
Orlando, Florida
Updated
Ranelle’s Answer
I am a screenplay writer. However, I also write articles, books and other things like press releases. One resource that helps me when its not screenplay related is Grammarly.com. Drop your writing in, it will help you with editing as well as suggestions for improvement. There may be some sites out there with prompts to help you write too. Wish you all the best! Ranelle
Karen Kitchel
Community Volunteer
344
Answers
Saint Paul, Minnesota
Updated
Karen’s Answer
Suggest you check out Theprose.com which is a site where you can reply to "challenges" which are specific topics to address. Sometimes you get feedback from other writers or you will know that someone liked what you wrote. You can also present a topic in a Challenge for others to write about topics that interest you -- usually very specific.
Also see if you might find a volunteer opportunity to do some writing for a nonprofit and ask for feedback. Many nonprofits send newsletters to a broad audience and you might be featured there.
With every good wwish.
Also see if you might find a volunteer opportunity to do some writing for a nonprofit and ask for feedback. Many nonprofits send newsletters to a broad audience and you might be featured there.
With every good wwish.
Paul Goetzinger MPA
Academic and Career Consultant and Freelance Writer
745
Answers
Seattle, Washington
Updated
Paul’s Answer
Writing personal letters friends and family, is a long lost art, that has gone out of style, with the advent of email.
But it is great practice to improve writing skills.
Also, writing poetry is very good for practice and skill development.
You might also consider taking a course or certificate in technical writing.
But it is great practice to improve writing skills.
Also, writing poetry is very good for practice and skill development.
You might also consider taking a course or certificate in technical writing.
Elina Davtyan
marketing assistant
1
Answer
Yerevan, Armenia
Updated
Elina’s Answer
A key step to improve your writing is to read smarter. This involves analyzing what you read, exploring various genres, finding your favorite. Another important step is to experiment with the one you like the most while seeking feedback regularly.
Kevin Nally
Graduate School Student Services Coordinator/Advisor
8
Answers
Pullman, Washington
Updated
Kevin’s Answer
When looking to improve your writing, it can be helpful to include the following: 1) keeping your story coherent & going forward, it never hurts to outline your thoughts and Main points. 2) Diversify your reading. Take advantage of any type of reading possible.
Fernando Iriarte
Freelance Writer & Editor
151
Answers
Puerto Rico
Updated
Fernando’s Answer
A good place to start is with revisiting your favorite stories. Comb through them and ask what parts click with you and why did the author go for that approach? One of my personal means of practicing is making plot beats and seeing how many different ways I can re-organize them while still having the main plot make sense. This is a great way of practicing scene transitions, as well as paragraph transitions for when you're writing an article or essay.
Marlene Ridgway
Feature Writer
7
Answers
Leland, North Carolina
Updated
Marlene’s Answer
A great way to improve your writing is to be constantly reading! Find similar authors and writers that do the type of work you're interested in and get familiar with them. Think about why you enjoy their writing. What works and what doesn't? How would you rate their writing and why?
A great way to practice this is to keep a reading log. Make a note of what you're reading and then take a bit of time to record what you liked about it and what you didn't. This will get you thinking about your own writing and what you want to accomplish. Good luck!
A great way to practice this is to keep a reading log. Make a note of what you're reading and then take a bit of time to record what you liked about it and what you didn't. This will get you thinking about your own writing and what you want to accomplish. Good luck!