Become A Better Writer
So, you want to become a better writer. Join the club! If you have been struggling to grasp the basics of writing or you think that your craft can be improved, then this article will be very useful to you. To become a better writer, find out how you can do this in just 9 steps below. Ready? Let’s go!
1) Ask Yourself WHY
First, sit down, take a deep breath, and ask yourself, “Why am I doing this?” Obviously, there must be a reason why you took out your notepad and a pen, or your laptop.
So, why do you need this particular text written? This will give you a concrete reason and will motivate you to continue. MORE: WHY This Story (Or What They’re Really Asking)
2) Get To The Point
All right, you have a vague idea why, but now you have to get to the point with yourself. Ask yourself these questions:
- Who is my reader (aka target audience)?
- What do I want my reader to know?
- What do I need my reader to feel?
Once you know the answers to those questions, you can start finding the means of putting your idea into words. Remember that the more details you give yourself when answering those questions, the more confident in your writing you’ll be.
3) Understand What You Are Saying
This is pretty simple. If you don’t understand what you are talking about, you won’t be able to explain it to your reader. In the previous step, you figured out what you want, but now is the time to make your reader understand what you want.
If you are writing about a subject you don’t know anything about, do some research first. It won’t harm you, and in the long run, you will actually see this time and effort paying off. MORE: 5 Inspirational Ways To Research (Even When You’re Already Writing!)
4) Find THE Place
Yes, I am talking about your happy place! Your ideal place will be comfortable for you in all senses. If you prefer silence, find someplace quiet. If you like your bed, write in bed. Just keep in mind that you must be able to focus and write, not just relax.
5) Set Deadlines
Deadlines are a great way to make yourself focus. In fact, they are amazing motivators and can really boost your writing speed. You can either set yourself a deadline or a time limit, whichever you prefer.
6) Get A Different Perspective
This is especially helpful if you are stuck and can’t seem to find the right words. Think of people that inspire you. What would they do in your characters’ situation? What would they do? Then, try to write that. Alternatively, if writer’s block really strikes, try THESE 25 PROVEN STRATEGIES to beat it.
7) Close Strong
Lots of blogs insist beginnings are the most important part of your story, but endings are just as important. Mess up the ending and the reader might forget all the wonderful things that came before it. Worst still, they may even put your story down dissatisfied. Close your story with a strong resolution and become a better writer with it.
8) Read Out Loud
As strange as your voice may sound to you when you read out loud, it is still one of the best ways to check if your writing feels good. By reading what you wrote out loud, you can find the places that just don’t work and get rid of them. After all, your reader will not have the perspective of the writer (aka you), so you have to make sure that it sounds good from their point of view too!
9) Be Positive
Last but not least, be positive! You won’t believe how infectious optimism is. No one wants to read stories that are endless downers. Even the most devastating stories have some semblance of hope to them. MORE: Devastating, NOT Depressing – All About Drama
BIO: Frank Hamilton has been working as a translator at translation service TheWordPoint. He also loves traveling and speaks Spanish, French, German and English. Meet him on Facebook.