9 ways to improve your writing

(from Wright Creativity.)

1. Write more often. It doesn’t have to be perfect, but the more you write (tweet, facebook updates, emails, blog notes) the easier it will be to sit down and write.

2. Read a lot of other writers. Everyone has a different style of writing, and while you need to develop your own, reading someone else can help you to find your own voice.

3. Get a Word-a-daycalendar. Improving your vocabulary is a quick way to improving your writing. But, be careful not to try to use too much verbosity or your readers will start thinking you’re a pompous arse and will stop reading your work!

4. Take a writing class. Even the best writers need training and help sometimes. Learning from someone else or learning a new writing style (like writing about business? Take a short story class!) can really help your writing overall.

5. Read a Thesaurus. Similar to the ‘word-a-day’ but this one can help so you don’t use the same words over and over. Variety is the spice of life

6. Be accountable. Today, I was really struggling with the desire to write. But, I had written every weekday for over 7 weeks and didn’t want to break my streak (okay, so I missed 1 day in there, but c’mon!). So, I forced myself to sit down, grabbed a beer, and just started writing down blog ideas. Pretty soon, this one had developed.

7. It’s not plagiarism if you take an idea, give them credit and expand on it. No one says you have to come up brand new ideas every day. If someone writes an article you find interesting, feel free to write a post about their post and just add to it!

8. Face facts. Some days you’re good, some days you aren’t, on the days that you are in the zone, write more so you have a back log of great articles to use on days when you don’t really feel like writing.

9. If all else fails, have a glass of wine, a beer, a cup of coffee. Whatever liquid motivates you and gets your juices flowing.

Still need ideas? Check out a few more posts about writing tips…

Share your tips for what keeps you motivated to write!