better writing tips

• For Individuals
• For Businesses
• For Universities
• For Governments
• Online Degrees
• Find your New Career
• Join for Free

7 Ways to Improve Your Writing Skills

Writing, like any other skill, is something you can get better at with time and practice. Learn how.

From sending emails to preparing presentations, writing is often a day-to-day task in many professions spanning diverse industries. Writing skills go beyond grammar and spelling. Accuracy, clarity, persuasiveness, and several other elements play a part in ensuring your writing is conveying the right message.

In this article, we'll explore various aspects of writing skills and offer tips for improving yours.

If you'd like to start enhancing your writing skills now, two popular options on Coursera are University of California Irvine's Academic English: Writing Specialization and University of Michigan's Good with Words: Writing and Editing Specialization .

What are writing skills?

Writing is a technical skill that you use to communicate effectively through the written word. Though these may vary depending on what you’re writing, there are several that transcend categories. Writing skills can more specifically include:

Sentence construction

Research and accuracy

Persuasiveness

Each of these components can influence the quality of writing.

Why are writing skills important?

Being able to write well is a form of effective communication , which many employers see as a crucial job skill . In fact, strong communication—spanning written, verbal, non-verbal, and visual—is among the nine common employability skills that employers seek in job candidates.

Regardless of your role, with good writing skills, you can clearly transcribe your thoughts into meaningful messages, enabling you to share your ideas, build relationships, and strengthen your professional image.

Learn more: Important Communication Skills and How to Improve Them

How to improve your writing skills

Writing, like any other skill, is something we can get better at with time and practice. Here are some strategies for developing your own written communication:

1. Review grammar and spelling basics.

Grammar and spelling form the foundation of good writing. Writing with proper grammar and spelling communicates your professionality and attention to detail to your reader. It also makes your writing easier to understand.  

Plus, knowing when and how to use less-common punctuation, like colons, semicolons, and em-dashes, can unlock new ways to structure sentences and elevate your writing. 

If you’re looking to strengthen your grammar and spelling, start by consulting a writing manual. The Elements of Style by William Stunk and E.B. White has long been considered a staple for writers. You can find similar resources at your local library, bookstore, or online.

2. Read what you want to write.

Knowing what a finished piece of writing can look like can guide your own. If you’re trying to write a humorous short story, read humorous short stories. Writing a book review? Find a few and take note of how they’re structured. Pay attention to what makes them good and what you want to emulate (without plagiarizing, of course). If you’re working on a school assignment, you can ask your instructor for examples of successful pieces from past students.

Make reading a part of your everyday life to improve your writing. Try reading the news in the morning or picking up a book before you head to bed. If you haven’t been a big reader in the past, start with topics you’re interested in, or ask friends and family for recommendations. You’ll gradually begin to understand what subjects, genres, and authors you enjoy.

3. Proofread.

While it’s tempting to submit work as soon as you’re done with it, build in some time to revisit what you’ve written to catch errors big and small. Here are a few proofreading tips to keep in mind:

Set your work aside before you edit. Try to step away from your writing for a day or more so you can come back to it with fresh, more objective eyes. Crunched for time? Even allotting 20 minutes between writing and proofreading can allow you to approach your work with renewed energy.

Start with easy fixes, then progress to bigger changes. Starting with easier changes can get you in the rhythm for proofreading, allow you to read through your work once more, and clear distractions so you can focus on bigger edits. Read through your work to catch misspellings, inconsistencies, and grammar errors. Then address the larger problems with structure or awkward transitions. 

If you could say something in fewer words, do so. Being unnecessarily wordy can cloud your message and confuse the reader. Pare down phrases that are redundant, repetitive, or obvious.

Read out loud. Reading out loud can help you find awkward phrases and areas where your writing doesn’t flow well. 

Should you use computer spelling and grammar tools?

Many computer-based tools—like spell check on your word processor, or Grammarly — can help you find and fix simple spelling and grammar errors. These tools are not perfect but can help even the most seasoned of writers avoid mistakes. Take note of any frequently highlighted words or phrases so that you can avoid the same mistakes in the future.

4. Get feedback.

Whether you’re writing emails or essays, asking for feedback is a great way to see how somebody besides yourself will interpret your text. Have an idea of what you’d like your proofreader to focus on—the structure, conclusion, the persuasiveness of an argument, or otherwise. 

Approach a trusted friend, family member, coworker, or instructor. If you’re a student, your school might also have a writing resource center you can reach out to. 

You might also consider forming a writing group or joining a writing class. Find writing courses online, at your local community college, or at independent writing workshops in your city.

5. Think about structure.

Grammar and spelling keep your writing consistent and legible, but structure ensures the big ideas get across to the reader.

In many cases, forming an outline will help solidify structure. An outline can clarify what you’re hoping to convey in each section, enable you to visualize the flow of your piece, and surface parts that require more research or thought. 

Structure might look different depending on what you’re writing. An essay typically has an introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. A fiction piece might follow the six-stage plot structure: exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, resolution, and denouement. Choose what’s best for your purposes.

Like many skills, one of the best ways to improve your writing is to practice. Here are a few ways you can get started:

Start a journal or a blog.

Join a class or writing workshop.

Practice free writing.

Write letters to friends or family.

Put together an opinion piece for your local newspaper or publication you like.

7. Know some common fixes.

Even if a text is grammatically correct, you may be able to make it more dynamic and interesting with some polish. Here are some common ways you can sharpen your writing:

Choose strong verbs (for example, “sprinted,” “dashed,” or “bolted” instead of “ran”).

Avoid passive voice.

Vary sentence length.

Cut unnecessary words.

Replace cliches with original phrasing.

Showing your writing skills in a job search

Your writing skills will shine throughout the job search process , whether or not you intend to show them off. This is because job applications are largely written materials, including your cover letter , resume , and email communications . Use these opportunities to demonstrate your writing skills to prospective employers by submitting clear, accurate, and engaging materials.

Additionally, if you have specialized expertise, such as experience with legal writing, medical writing, technical writing, or scientific writing, you can note that in a resume skills section and further detail that experience within your cover letter or during your interviews .

Getting started

Whether you’re a scientist or a product manager, journalist or entrepreneur, writing effectively will enable you to communicate your ideas to the world. Through practice, exposure, and familiarizing yourself with basic rules, you’ll be able to use your writing to say exactly what you want to say.

If you’re looking for a structured way to expand your writing skillset, explore writing courses on Coursera —the first week is free.

Build job-ready skills with a Coursera Plus subscription

• Get access to 7,000+ learning programs from world-class universities and companies, including Google, Yale, Salesforce, and more
• Try different courses and find your best fit at no additional cost
• Earn certificates for learning programs you complete
• A subscription price of $59/month, cancel anytime

Give your team access to a catalog of 8,000+ engaging courses and hands-on Guided Projects to help them develop impactful skills. Learn more about Coursera for Business .

Keep reading

Coursera staff.

Editorial Team

Coursera’s editorial team is comprised of highly experienced professional editors, writers, and fact...

This content has been made available for informational purposes only. Learners are advised to conduct additional research to ensure that courses and other credentials pursued meet their personal, professional, and financial goals.

• SUGGESTED TOPICS
• The Magazine
• Newsletters
• Managing Yourself
• Managing Teams
• Work-life Balance
• The Big Idea
• Data & Visuals
• Reading Lists
• Case Selections
• HBR Learning
• Topic Feeds
• Account Settings
• Email Preferences

A (Very) Simple Way to Improve Your Writing

• Mark Rennella

It’s called the “one-idea rule” — and any level of writer can use it.

The “one idea” rule is a simple concept that can help you sharpen your writing, persuade others by presenting your argument in a clear, concise, and engaging way. What exactly does the rule say?

• Every component of a successful piece of writing should express only one idea.
• In persuasive writing, your “one idea” is often the argument or belief you are presenting to the reader. Once you identify what that argument is, the “one-idea rule” can help you develop, revise, and connect the various components of your writing.
• For instance, let’s say you’re writing an essay. There are three components you will be working with throughout your piece: the title, the paragraphs, and the sentences.
• Each of these parts should be dedicated to just one idea. The ideas are not identical, of course, but they’re all related. If done correctly, the smaller ideas (in sentences) all build (in paragraphs) to support the main point (suggested in the title).

Where your work meets your life. See more from Ascend here .

Most advice about writing looks like a long laundry list of “do’s and don’ts.” These lists can be helpful from time to time, but they’re hard to remember … and, therefore, hard to depend on when you’re having trouble putting your thoughts to paper. During my time in academia, teaching composition at the undergraduate and graduate levels, I saw many people struggle with this.

• MR Mark Rennella is Associate Editor at HBP and has published two books, Entrepreneurs, Managers, and Leaders and The Boston Cosmopolitans .  

Partner Center

18 Writing Tips That’ll Actually Make You a Better Writer (2024)

by Kevin J. Duncan

on Jun 14, 2024

If you search Google for writing tips, you’ll find a lot of big promises.

There’s no magical writing tip, idea, trick, strategy, or hack capable of turning bad writing into good writing.

But if you want to learn how to improve your writing, if you’re looking to level up your writing skills, a few good writing tips and tricks (combined with hard work) can help make it happen.

Here are 18 of our favorites…

1. Find Your Unique Voice

Serious question…

If we all listen to the same experts and follow the same writing advice, how is it possible for anyone to stand out from the crowd?

The trap many aspiring authors and beginner writers (especially young writers ) fall into is they believe if they mimic a famous author or writer, they’ll be popular too.

Imitation is indeed the sincerest form of flattery, but it’s a no-win proposition. Even if you succeed, you’ll be indistinguishable from all the other parrots out there.

There’s only one you. You have unique DNA. Your hopes, thoughts, and dreams are unique. Even the face you make when you accidentally walk into a spider web is unique.

Want to stand out?

Develop your own writing style . When you sit down to write, tap into what makes you… well, you .

2. Make Your Words Burst to Life in Readers’ Minds

If you aren’t using power words or sensory language in your writing, you’re missing out.

Smart writers and copywriters know what word choice matters. So, they use power words to give their content extra punch, personality, and pizzazz.

And great writers from Shakespeare to Stephen King to Ernest Hemingway use sensory words evoking sight, sound, touch, taste, and smell to paint strong scenes in the minds of their readers.

Both types of words are effective and super simple to use.

If you’re tired of lifeless words sitting on a page, try sprinkling power and sensory words throughout your content.

3. Edit Like Crazy

Many first drafts are clumsy, sloppy, and difficult to read. This is true for most writers — even experienced, well-known ones.

So, what separates great content from the nondescript?

The hard part isn’t over once your first draft is complete; on the contrary, it’s only beginning.

To take your big words to the next level, you need to spend just as much time editing your words as you do creating them.

It’s ruthless work. It’s kind of boring. But it’s vital.

4. Supercharge Your Subheads

Most readers stick around for fewer than 15 seconds .

Heck, most will stick around for fewer than 5 seconds.

Because readers are experts at scanning. They’ll click your headline, quickly scan your content, and — in only a few seconds — decide whether to stay or go.

Writing a great intro is one way to convince readers to stick.

Write masterful subheads that create curiosity, hook your readers , and keep them on the page long enough to realize your content is worth reading.

5. Write Like Superman (Or That Guy You Know Who Types Really Fast)

Whether you’re blogging , crafting a short story , working on a creative writing essay for your high school English class, dipping your toes into content marketing , or writing the backstory for what you hope will be a bestselling non-fiction novel for Amazon; most of us are limited in the amount of time we have available to write.

So, if you want more time to write every day, you only have three options:

• Say goodbye to your family and lock yourself in a room;
• Invent a time machine;
• Learn how to write faster.

Your spouse and children won’t like the first option, and the second option requires plutonium.

But the third option? That’s doable.

6. Craft Irresistible Headlines

Smart Blogger’s CEO, Jon Morrow, recommends spending at least 20% of your time on the headline for your content.

That isn’t a typo.

If you spend 10 to 20 hours writing an article, 2 to 4 of those hours should be spent writing and re-writing the headline.

Why so many?

Because if your headline sucks, no one is going to give your content a chance.

Headlines are important. Practice writing them so you get really, really freakin’ good at them.

It’s a writing habit that’ll pay off again and again.

7. Avoid Weak, Filler Words

Too many writers dilute their writing with weak, empty words that bring nothing to the table.

They silently erode your reader’s attention — one flabby phrase at a time.

Spot these weak words and eliminate them from your writing.

8. Write with Rhythm

In digital media, short sentences and short paragraphs are your friends.

But that doesn’t mean every sentence and paragraph you write should be short.

Too many short sentences in a row and your writing will bore your reader. Too many long sentences in a row and you’ll overwhelm them.

So, mix things up.

Let the rhythm of your words dictate when each paragraph begins, and you’ll strike up the perfect balance between short paragraphs and long.

9. Kick Writer’s Block in the Buttocks

When you’ve been staring at a blank page for what feels like hours, writer’s block can seem insurmountable.

Successful writers have a collection of tried-and-true techniques and writing prompts to bust out whenever writer’s block starts to rear its ugly head — techniques ranging from turning off tweets, LinkedIn, and other social media to asking Alexa to play “I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles)” by The Proclaimers.

If you want to be a better writer, find a writer’s block technique or two that works for you.

10. Be Funny

Some writers won’t like this, but…

Your content can’t simply teach — it needs to entertain too.

Or, to put it bluntly:

If you don’t entertain while you inform, your audience will find a great writer who does.

If stuffy academic writing is your forte, this can be a radical shift. Thankfully, there are numerous ways you can make your content more interesting and entertaining.

The easiest way (and my favorite)? Sprinkle in a little humor .

11. Write with Clarity

It doesn’t matter if you’ve banished the dreaded “passive voice” and your content oozes active voice. It doesn’t matter if you’ve put every comma and semicolon in just the right place. Heck, it doesn’t matter how amazing, profound, or revolutionary your ideas or word choices might be.

If you can’t express your thoughts in a clear, coherent way, you might as well have written your words in an ancient language no one understands.

Ask yourself this question:

Could I explain my content to someone in one short sentence?

If the answer is no, your work is probably too complex. It’s time to simplify.

12. Master Transitional Words and Phrases

Do you want to keep your readers glued to your content?

Want your posts to be so effortless to read people can’t help but absorb every word as they glide down the page?

Experienced writers are meticulous about making each sentence flow seamlessly into the next, and they use transitional phrases to help make it happen.

If you want people to read your writing, from beginning to end, you need to do the same.

13. Learn SEO (Like a Boss)

Whether you write for yourself or as a hired hand , being able to create content that ranks on Google is a valuable skill.

(In fact, if you’re a freelance writer , companies and agencies will happily pay you extra for this skill.)

Consistently ranking on Google doesn’t happen by accident. It happens when you understand the basics of SEO — keyword research, user intent, UX signals, etc. — and purposefully create content with SEO in mind.

If you already know the basics of SEO, you have a leg up on the competition.

And if you don’t know the basics, you need to learn them.

The sooner, the better.

14. Sleep With Your Readers

Remember when I said subheads should create curiosity? This is a good example.

What keeps your target audience awake at night? What has them tossing and turning at 2 o’clock in the morning?

Answer this question and then write about it.

Follow this one writing tip and you could (almost) ignore the rest.

15. Keep an Obsessively Detailed Log Book

Record details of your writing sessions in a notebook. After a few weeks, look for patterns.

Are you more effective writing in the mornings? Afternoons? Evenings? Are you better writing after your first cup of coffee or your fourth?

Find the method in your madness and use it to become a better writer.

16. Just Open the Darn Document (Then Keep Going)

Oftentimes, getting started is the hardest part about writing. So, start small. Just open the Google Doc or MS Word document. Then write your first sentence.

Momentum will take it from there.

17. Throw Linear Writing Out the Window

Remember the movie Memento (aka The movie from Christopher Nolan that told its story in reverse)?

If you’re stuck on a piece of writing or simply need fresh eyes, try writing in a non-linear order.

Don’t start at the beginning of your post. Start in the middle. Or the end. Start with your last subhead. Or your seventh.

In short, mix up your writing process.

18. Challenge Yourself to Write in Weird Places

Having a designated writing space (especially when you’re working from home ) is important.

However, writing in different places from time to time can spark creativity.

Give it a try.

Now It’s Time to Put These Writing Tips Into Practice

Most who read this post will smile, nod their head in agreement, and implement precisely zero of these writing tips.

But not you.

You know knowledge that’s not put into practice is wasted. That’s why you’ve already picked out a few favorites, and it’s why you can’t wait to start writing.

On its own, even the best writing tip is incapable of teaching you how to write well or catapulting you to superstardom. But each one, little by little, can help you hone your writing skills.

So, are you ready to be a better writer? Ready to take what you know about the craft of writing and turn it up to 11? Ready to go from a good fiction writer (or blogger, or author, or freelancer, or marketer, etc.) to a great one?

Then it’s time to get to work.

Let’s do this thing.

Kevin J. Duncan

GET PAID TO WRITE

Make 2-5k per month, even if you're a beginner . we're seeking writers of any skill level ..

Written by Kevin J. Duncan

60 thoughts on “18 writing tips that’ll actually make you a better writer (2024)”.

Hello Kevin,

I enjoyed reading your post, ’14 Tips to Up Your Writing Game in 2019′.

I think finding your unique voice is key, especially for newer writers. I’ll definitely check out your interview on Biz Mavens’ podcast.

Learning how to write faster and more accurately (first time) would be a gamechanger. Work in progress. Thanks for great tactics on becoming a better writer.

All the best, Michael

Hi Michael,

Thank you! I’m glad you enjoyed it.

My podcast interview for Biz Mavens should go “live” any day now . Hopefully everyone will be able to understand me with my accent (and overuse of “ums”). 🙂

Appreciate you stopping by and commenting, Michael. Have a great day!

Hi Kevin, thanks for all those timely reminders and super-useful links all in one place. I’m going straight to Linda’s post on how to speed up your writing because that’s something I always struggle with. Love your work! Cheers, Mel

You’re welcome! Glad you found them so useful.

Yes, increasing writing speed is a good one. “Editing” is the big one for me. The more I edit my posts, the tighter (and, usually, more successful) they are. That’s probably not a coincidence. 🙂

Appreciate the kind words, Mel (especially coming from such a talented writer as yourself)!

A really nice, simple, short post.

I definitely clicked out a few links to check out.

I think it’s also worth clarifying (!) that making a bad writer write good(er), is not impossible, only that quick tips and hacks won’t get you there.

Learning how to write well is like anything. It takes a lot of practise and hard work.

Tips and hacks are what give you and edge.

But learning to write is a serious undertaking.

Great post. Always happy to click through your emails.

Thanks! Back in the day, easy-to-read posts with bite-sized nuggets of info (aka list posts) were my calling card. I hadn’t done one in a while, so this was a fun one to write.

Good clarification. Hard work is vital. And, it’s absolutely possible to go from bad to good if you put in the work. (I slightly tweaked my intro to make sure this point isn’t missed. Thanks!)

Always appreciate your support, Geoff. Thanks for stopping by and commenting!

Thanks for writing the useful post, The difference is that you make your point without promising anything BIG. I completely agreed with you if we improve our writing 5-10%, it would be amazing.

Also, finding a unique voice as a blogger can create HUGE impact on your blogging style and help you enhancing viewership. This will certainly keep you away from the league and help you establishing a unique blogging brand.

Thanks again Kevin, have a wonderful weekend. cheers 😊

-RajatChauhan

Thank you! I’m so glad you liked the post and found it useful.

Absolutely… everyone’s looking to hit a 5-run homerun. “Do this one thing and you’ll be a superstar.” Getting into the top 1% of writers doesn’t happen that way, though. You get there by making a lot of small, incremental improvements.

Work hard, get 5% better. Repeat again and again. 🙂

Hope you have a wonderful weekend, too, Rajat. Thanks for the great comment.

Kevin, I feel the same way here. My hunch is, as you suggested, Work hard, get 5% better. Repeat again and again. Of all your suggestions, I think ‘Sleep With Your Readers’ is most effective.

Also, there is lot to learn from your commenting style and the engagements you create. AWESOME. I believe engaging with commenters could be the most effective tip for receiving comments.

Moreover, when can we see a new post on ‘Be A Better Blogger’.

Thanks a lot for useful tips.🏆

The two things i took away from this article was

spend just as much time editing your words as you do creating them.

Most readers stick around for fewer than 15 seconds.

that is going to change my process and thinking quite a lot

Yes, those are two important takeaways. Those two tips can change the game for a lot of writers!

Thanks for the advice, Kevin.

A very detailed and helpful post you have here.

Do you know of a blogging course that teaches these in-depth?

Looking forward to the best one because I can’t wait to sharpen my ax.

Regards, Jeremiah

Hey Jeremiah,

You’re welcome! Glad you enjoyed it.

Absolutely. Smart Blogger has several courses that could be great fits. If you’re not already on it, be sure to sign up for our mailing list (any of the various optins or popups we have on the site will do the trick). Then keep an eye out for our next enrollment period.

If you have specific questions, please don’t hesitate to ask.

I just wanted to show appreciation for all the help that i have received after reading your blogs. I realize that success with SEO doesn’t happen over night, it takes time and patience. The new blog helps us focus on the areas we are lacking as a Advertising and Marketing agency in Pune we would love to read more blogs like this in the near future. Excellent job!

You’re very welcome, Mohana.

Hi Kevin, excellent writing tips, and really loved them all. Getting better ideas for writing is always a daunting task.

As you suggested, learning SEO is a great way to come up with a ton of ideas to write about.

Also, I often get ideas whenever I’m reading blogs in my niche. I also do keyword research using tools like Semrush as it helps me find hundreds of keyword ideas within a few minutes.

Thanks for sharing the tips.

I think, using more infographic is becoming so crazy to catch user. Instead of writing many words, we should represent in image form in an effective way. I got a lot of better ideas for content making. nice article

Hey, Kevin. Infographics certainly have their place, and I know a lot of marketers who swear by them.

Honestly i am not good at reading but your article is really easy to read and it helps in a lot of ways. Thanks for creating this helpful article.

You’re welcome, Mike. Glad you found the post easy to read!

In today’s world everyone wants to be a photographer and a writer. I must say, with smart technology it is much easier to be a photographer than a writer. Writing is a skill and while everyone should be encouraged to write, not all that writing has to go out into the public eye. I read so much rubbish on the internet and while this article is good in telling people how to improve their writing, I don’t believe everyone can or should write. Sometimes, we should just leave it to the professionals! Not everyone is professional. Saying that, write a diary!

Hey Kevin, thanks for the awesome flashbacks!

I can swear on this- none of the gems you’ve mentioned beat the pants off number 3, it’s an art I can offer to preach daily to writers to use and turn whack content to sizzling copies and attract better clients.

I’m a self-taught freelancer and once got lucky to bag a client offering me consistent work throughout the year.

I always did my best though doubted whether my copies used to meet her standards.

Curious, I took some articles I had written for her, copied and pasted their first paragraph on Google to confirm if they were ever posted.

My heart sunk. I was rudely shocked and felt like I wasn’t good enough when copies I found posted were improved versions of the piece I wrote for her, pure magic!

And I started envisioning going broke when she reduced the number of tasks she sent until she sent no longer sent any despite our contract being active.

Predictable, right?

Maybe she found a better substitute? Or I was in the process of moving out. I had to either go hard on freelance writing or go home.

I desperately schemed through several blogs, changing keywords, opening more tabs hoping to land on at least one gem serving as a leg up to my freelance writing career.

Through Jon’s awesome post on Problogger, Smart Blogger fished me out from the site and Shane was the first person to welcome me home with his masterpiece!

The rest is history, never looking back!

Best, Antony

Hey, Antony. Thank you for the great comment, my friend.

Glad you enjoyed the post and found it to be so beneficial. (And, yes, tip #3 is a great one.)

Don’t write and edit at the same time, I edit my work the following morning and then resume writing again later in the day. This is to offset the uncertainty of making a mistake.

Hey, Ekin. Editing later is a good tip. In fact, it’s one of the strategies we suggest in the “how to write faster” post mentioned in tip #5 above. It works well for a lot of people.

Thank you for sharing this post. I am a new blogger and currently writing a blog about air cargo services and with the tips that you have mentioned above, I will surely use those as my guide on my future blog. Thank you

Hi Kevin, Thank you so much for your information about article writing. I have a blog. I hope your tips and tricks will help me a lot.

Great tips! Writing is the core skill of every blogger and everyone needs improvement day by day. After reading this post I am so confident that my next post will give a 5-10 per cent boost to my blog. Thanks for sharing!

I enjoyed reading your article about writing tips Kevin.

I will have to humbly disagree with you on number 5 though. You do not need Plutonium for time travel.

Did you know that there is a substance on Io, one of the moons of Jupiter that can be used to open a wormhole for time travel?

Thank you for writing an interesting article on writing tips. R.G. Ramsey

Thanks for providing these amazing tips. I am going straight to Henneke’s post to beat Writer’s Block.

I love permission to be funny and challenge yourself to write in a weird space.

They’re refreshing points and give me permission to be myself and not stick to the mundane “don’t distract your reader with humor” and “have your workspace, write there every day” or you’ll fail mindset.

Funny things happen when you go to weird places, so I like permission to write about them!

Thanks, Kevin.

Hi Kevin, It’s a wonderful piece of content. Although I am not a writer, I am trying to practice writing every day. And I will definitely follow your instructions.

I know SEO and I have a blog also. I just want to know should I higher a writer and concentrate only on blogging strategies or I should write myself only?

Thanks Dipanjan Biswas

Hi Kevin, Thanks for this very extensive list of advice, tips and insights. Keep it up.

Regards, Amna Hafeez.

I am doing really hard to writing blogs. As I read this blog I found I am doing many mistakes. These are really unique tips for writing a good blog. Thanks for sharing

Regards, Kishor Sasemahal

Lots of great tips. My favorite is to BE UNIQUE! Everyone else is already taken.

Hey Kevin, Great article, as much from the format as the content. I’ll reference that later. I just wanted to say how much I enjoyed a couple of the tips you shared in the podcast over on Biz Mavens.

I’ve heard many times that, as a beginning writer you need to find your own voice. I’ve heard many times to write like you talk. But the most interesting tip, for me at least, is the concept of Easter Eggs.

Whether in video games or Marvel movies (I’ve always been a Marvel guy), I love finding Easter eggs that refer back to the original comic books or other movies in the MCEU.

Or in video games when the developer has some obscure reference to another game they’ve developed.

That’s fun for me as a fan and therefore a great way for me to add my interests & personality to posts without trying too hard to be “funny”.

In addition to adding my own personality to the post, Easter eggs are great way to ensure I don’t sound like Jack Nicholson, Christian Slater or William Devane. 😀

Now for the structure of this post. I’m saving this post as a reference because of the structure as much as the content. Here’s why I think its ingenious: 1. Its a list post – possibly the most popular type of post far and above all others. 2. By including the additional SmartBlogger resources in the footer of each list item, you increase audience engagement and make Google very happy. Improving your ranking for the niche. Even though SmartBlogger no longer really needs that. 3. A few of the additional resources link to external blog/sites. This establishes SmartBlogger as an authority and leverages the other sites popularity and introduces SmartBlogger to their audience. Again, SmartBlogger is so huge, you really don’t need the other sites audience.

But its cool to see that SmartBlogger still uses those same techniques even as a behemoth in the blogging niche.

Thank you for wonderful tips. Really appreciate all the mentioned points. Very useful for any blogger , writers, or content strategist.

You have told in a brilliant way about how to become a successful writer. Awesome information. Thanks for sharing this post.

This list shows writing is not for everyone… 🙂 But someone like me can continue trying and learning … Thanks for sharing..

Thanks for the tips! Enjoyed reading it, I also find it useful 🙂

Hi Kevin, Thanks for creating this helpful article! Enjoyed reading it, I also find it useful 🙂

Thanks Kevin for sharing this informative article. I am working on my writing and this will definitely help me that. Will work on this.

i write a lot and use a tool Grammarly to improve the grammar and also for proofreading to know if i wrote something that doesn’t make any sense.

Amazing article.

My biggest struggle with publishing my writing is imposter syndrome. Seth Godin’s work has helped me a lot with that.

I will apply these tips to my own writing. I think these will help me gain some confidence in my writing style.

Thanks a lot!

Hi Kevin Thank you for brilliantly providing everything I was suppose to learn in my grade school English/Language Arts classes in one awesome convenient post. I unquestionably need to review all of these 🙂 SharlaAnn

After reading this I can write a better article. Thanks

Wonderful post indeed.

One of the best ways to improve your writing skills is to write on a daily basis, you will see some improvement if you.

Thanks for this piece of information.

It was a wonderful time while going through your article and I’ve got what I was looking for

I’m so glad you chose to share this article. It’s given me a ton of great information that I need for myself, but it was just too hard trying to find everything on Google. For beginners, this is a well-defined and quite instructive site. Thank you for sharing this information in such a straightforward yet beautiful manner.

Wish you all the best for your future endeavours. Once again, thank you for your valuable tips and ideas helping freshers like us. I will surely share this beautiful piece of article with my peers and people who actually need guidance.

Over the last few years, I’ve experienced an upgrade in my writing skill. I think I’m still around the maiden version but hell… it feels better. I’ve learnt to cut out passive voices, avoid weak words and sentences, and ultimately… I’ve found my voice (still mastering the flow). Writing with clarity makes it so much fun and meaningful. Thanks Kevin. Personally, this is a push and an eyeopener for me.

This article is very informative. It boosted my confidence because I am a beginner in blog writing.

The tips you shared is awesome and helpful for every writer.

But I have a little problem. Whenever I start to write than my mind is stuck in between what should I write and what not.

So, please share something related to my problem. It will help me increase my writing skill.

And, thank you for this amazing piece of content.

Hi Kevin. I often have problems in crafting that perfect title for my article; should I stick to SEO or write a thought-provoking headline?

Thanks for posting such an amazing blog and the introduced content is exceptionally virtuous. will surely share with my friends.

I really didn’t see myself years ago being full-time into this today. while I’ve never had the intent on being a writer in terms of earning a living, now I see value in this today.

It’s a good thing to know that today, anyone can use a self hosted WordPPress blog and consistent writing to earn healthy streams of passive income.

I want to start a blog where I can share my thoughts with my readers, but I am not a good writer, I have a lot of ideas in my mind but I fail to transfer them to a writted articles.

Thanks, Kevin for posting such a nice blog, I am working on my writing skills and this will definitely help me with that.

Finding your unique voice is itself a challenge. But only those who have a passion for reading and writing can overcome this challenge.

I am a blogger not only because I want to make money but because I have had the habit of reading more and writing more since childhood.

The more I read, the more I understand, and the more I can write.

Thanks for sharing these writing tips in detail.

Really very helpful tips and information to write a good article. I especially like ” Write Like Superman” thanks

Leave a Comment Cancel reply

Latest from the blog.

Freelance Writing Rates: Know Your Worth in 2024

11+ Legit Sites to Find Data Entry Jobs From Home in 2024

45+ Absolutely Wild Zoomorphism Examples (+ Definition)

With over 300k subscribers and 4 million readers, Smart Blogger is one of the world's largest websites dedicated to writing and blogging.

Best of the Blog

© 2012-2024 Smart Blogger — Boost Blog Traffic, Inc.

Terms  |  Privacy Policy  |  Refund Policy  |  Affiliate Disclosure

COACHING + PUBLISHING

FORMATTING + DESIGN

FREELANCE COMMUNITY

How to Write Better: 10 Straightforward Techniques

by Ali Luke | Dec 14, 2020

Whatever you write, you want to get your thoughts across in a clear and effective way — that’s the first thing you need to know about how to improve writing skills.

If you’re a novelist, you don’t want awkward word choices or repetitive sentence structures to distract your readers from the story.

As a freelancer, you don’t want your work to seem sloppy or poorly edited.

When you blog, you don’t want readers to switch off because you’re far too wordy.

Want the good news? Even if your writing skills aren’t as strong as you’d like, there are plenty of straightforward techniques you can use to improve them.

Here are some suggestions on how to write better.

How to improve writing skills: 10 new ways to clean your copy

No matter how much of an expert you are, all writers can stand to pick up a few tips to learn how to write better. The same way a piece of writing is never “done” being edited (there’s always something), the work to improve your skills doesn’t end. 

Whether you write articles, blogs, social media copy or research papers, here are 10 techniques to use to help you write anything well.   

1. Cut unnecessary words

Here are two paragraphs that say the same thing. Which one is stronger?

Example 1 : In my opinion, the majority of freelancers should probably avoid working for free (or for a nominal sum) unless they are at a very early stage of their career and as yet have no pieces for their portfolio at all.

Example 2: Freelancers shouldn’t work for free unless they’re just starting out and don’t have any pieces for their portfolio.

The second clearly states a stronger case, especially since it reaches the main point with fewer unnecessary words you don’t need in a sentence .

If you write a blog post, most readers will assume it gives your opinion, so you don’t have to state that. Mastering brevity is an easy way to improve writing skills. Simply be clear, firm and direct .

2. Avoid well-worn phrases

Some phrases are so familiar they’ve lost their impact: they’ve become clichés.

For instance, “In my opinion,” from the previous example is a phrase you can always cut. Here are a few others:

• At the end of the day…
• Like stealing candy from a baby…
• For all intents and purposes… (sometimes miswritten as “for all intensive purposes!”)
• Let the cat out of the bag…

It can be tricky to spot these in your own writing, so take a quick look through this huge list of clichés to avoid here on the Be a Better Writer site .

When you edit, you don’t need to cut every cliché…but check whether it might work better to rephrase.

In dialogue, or in a first-person narrative, clichés can be a helpful way to characterize someone’s speech or thought patterns — but if you want to improve your writing skills, make sure you’re careful and deliberate.

3. Write directly to “you” (in nonfiction)

Although this isn’t appropriate for every form of nonfiction, bloggers and freelancers often write directly to the reader as “you.”

This is a great way to make your writing better, direct, conversational and stronger.

Blog posts and articles quite often use “you” or “your” very early on, in the title and/or introduction. For instance, this post on The Write Life:

Freelance or Full Time: Which Journalism Path is Right for You? Want to work in the media industry as a writer? You generally have two options: You can seek employment as a staff member of a publication, or look for freelance writing opportunities.

(Emphasis mine.)

Or this one about book formatting: 

How to Format a Book: 10 Tips Your Editor Wants You To Know Unless you prefer your friends to be story nerds or those who lean toward obsessive-compulsive tendencies when it comes to grammar, you shouldn’t necessarily seek to befriend your editor .

Similar to these examples, use the singular “you” and avoid phrases like, “Some of you may know”. Yes, you (hopefully!) have more than one reader, but each reader experiences your piece individually.

You can also use “I” where appropriate (e.g. to give an example from your own life) — though, usually, it’s best to keep the focus of your piece on the reader.

4. Vary sentence structures

What’s wrong with this paragraph? 

You should write regularly (not necessarily daily). You should aim to write at least once or twice a week (I recommend a total of 3 – 4 hours per week). You may find it difficult to keep this up at first (especially if you’ve not written much before).

There’s no question the advice it shares is sound and reasonable. Plus, there’s nothing wrong with the actual words used. Still,  the structure of each of the three sentences is very similar: each one starts with “You” then a modal verb (“should”/“may”), and each one ends with a phrase in parentheses.

When you have several sentences in a row that follow the same pattern, they stand out…in a bad way.

Sometimes, it’s appropriate to structure your sentences like this — e.g. in a bullet-pointed list — but in regular paragraphs, it’s often unintentional on the author’s part, and it seems artless and poorly edited to the reader.

For more help with sentence structure, check out, “ It Was the Best of Sentences , It Was the Worst of Sentences: A Writer’s Guide to Crafting Killer Sentences , ” by June Casagrande.

5. Use subheadings as signposts

If you write blog posts, articles or sales copy, subheadings are crucial.

They break up long pieces and help readers stay focused; they also offer “signposts” to readers who may skim for specific information.

When you craft your subheadings, think about how to:

• Make them clear and direct (just like titles/headings) – Don’t try to get clever!
• Keep them short   – Subheadings have a larger font than regular text and don’t generally look good when they wrap around the end of a line.
• Be consistent with the structure – For instance, each subheading might start with an imperative verb (as in this post).

6. Use direct, straightforward language

It’s rare that you’ll want to write something deliberately indirect! That would be the opposite of better writing. Instead, you’ll want your words to come across clear and strong to the reader.

This means avoid the passive voice like the plague — advice most writers have heard before as they learn to improve their writing skills.  In case you need a recap, here’s a quick rundown:

Active voice: John threw the ball. ➜ Succinct and clear.

Passive voice: The ball was thrown by John. ➜ Wordier and less direct.

The passive voice omits the agent (the person who performs the action) from the sentence altogether: The ball was thrown . See?

This small detail can be useful in many ways to make your writing better; for instance, you might write about something where the agent is unimportant, or where you want to conceal the agent. (“Mistakes were made” is a classic example here.)

A good rule of thumb is to always write in a direct, straightforward way.

Make it as easy as possible for readers to engage with your ideas or your story.

7. Read aloud (or edit on paper)

No one’s first draft is perfect, and the above six suggestions should help you rework yours.

Often, it helps to go through your piece at a slow and methodical — many writers find it helps to read aloud since it highlights the cadence of your words.

If you prefer not to read aloud (or if your colleagues, family or cat would give you funny looks if you tried it), then print out your draft so you can edit it on paper.

Use a different format to make it easier to spot typos and repetitive phrasings.

At times when it isn’t practical to print, I’ve also found it helpful to convert my draft digitally: that might mean I turn a Word document into a .pdf, put a novel manuscript onto my Kindle or preview a blog post so I can get closer to the reader’s experience.

Confident, powerful writing will help your message (or your story) have its full impact on your reader.

8. Use a grammar checker

If you have a serious desire to learn how to write better and don’t have access to an in-person editor, consider using a grammar checker tool.

It’ll help you fix grammar and replace common words with more unique options. Some tools even tell you why you should make a certain change, which is an added bonus because it helps you further learn and improve your writing skills .

(But remember, don’t write and edit at the same time!)

9. Liven up your writing with descriptive verbs

Adverbs are the pesky parts of speech that can be tough to eliminate from your writing.

Because they’re descriptive words that modify verbs, adverbs that end with -ly constantly find their way back into sentences. Since people use them so commonly, they sneakily manage to influence our vocabulary. 

Did you notice all the unnecessary adverbs? Here’s another way I could’ve written that sentence: 

… adverbs that end with -ly always find their way back into sentences. They’re easy to use in conversation, so adverbs are sly in how they influence our vocabulary. 

To improve your writing skills, tighten your copy and clear your blog, novel or article of -ly adverbs you can replace with more descriptive verbs. The first way I wrote the sentence isn’t incorrect, but the second version is less wordy and complex in comparison. Plus, it contains less fluff. 

Rather than write, “She drove quickly down the street,” focus on the action to help your reader: What’s the driver doing? Speeding, so you could write, “She raced down the street at lightning speed.”

It’s a small change to swap out adverbs, but the impact is huge when you do so to better your writing with powerful verbs and less fluff.

10. Make your sentences flow

Your amazing story won’t reach your readers if it’s not composed with sentences that pace well, have proper punctuation and vivid details to enhance the reader experience. 

If someone has to read your sentences more than once to grasp the main idea, that means your writing lacks flow. 

To improve your writing and create more flow, incorporate this checklist of sentence structure elements in your writing routine:

• Contractions – Despite the old-age advice, a lack of contractions — didn’t, can’t, weren’t — dampens your writing with stiff informality. Smooth sentences that flow require the use of contractions to make them less uptight, plus they make your writing more conversational, personable and easier to comprehend.
• Punctuation – Take risks with punctuation to add rhythm to your writing. Without semicolons, em-dashes, apostrophes, periods and more, our stories would fall flat with no diversity in tone, cadence and feeling. For example, you can use ellipses to add mystery… Or, allude to a somber tone with shorter sentences; the kinds that create tension in your story, one word after the word.  
• Imagery – Paint a picture for your readers that lures them in page after page, or scroll after scroll. You can make boring sentences all the more exciting with vivid details that create visuals strong enough to ignite your reader’s imagination. Don’t go overboard and paint the entire picture — just enough to keep them going.

Besides these 10 effective tips to use to be a better writer and improve your skills, the one thing you have to do is write. (Then, don’t stop.)

This is an updated version of a story that was previously published. We update our posts as often as possible to ensure they’re useful for our readers.

Photo via Alissa Kumarova / Shutterstock

• SUCCESS STORIES

17 Writing Tips You Can Use Today [From Experts!]

Posted on Sep 20, 2019

Written by Bella Rose Emmorey

Writing tips have aided every writer out there—from Ernest Hemingway to Stephen King.

And now you’re here for a reason…

You want to learn how to write better. Because let’s be honest…we all feel like our writing could use some improvement.

What you didn’t know is that you’ll learn a whole lot more than that by reading this post— and you’ll find out exactly what if you stick with us.

Whether you just want to write for fun or write a book to publish it successfully , we’re here to help.

Writing is a skill you can never be the “best” at. You will always be able to grow and expand on your writing skills. Once you’ve reached what you believe is your very best, there are still mountains more you can improve upon.

That’s part of the magic of becoming a writer .

But it can be hard to know where you actually need the improvement. Which areas are your weakest and which do you excel in?

Here are top writing tips to improve as a writer:

• Write what you want to read
• Write with intention
• Use psychology when writing
• Write as often as you can
• Eliminate distractions
• Research storytelling and story structure
• Always get feedback for writing
• Focus on new ways to phrase common visuals
• Practice writing when you’re not writing
• Use strong language
• Just write to write
• “Just do it.”
• “You’ve got to work.”
• “Write for yourself first.”
• “Quantity will make up for quality.”
• “Tell the truth.”
• “You can’t edit a blank page.”

INSTANTLY Make Your Writing Stronger!

300+ Strong, Impactful Verbs List (including the weak verbs to replace!)

Strengthen your writing by downloading your FREE strong verbs list with over 300 verbs paired with common weak verbs that make your writing worse!

It’s one thing to improve your grammar with tools and technology or similar self-editing , it’s another to work on bettering the actual writing.

If you’re like me (and almost all writers out there), you likely struggle with insecurity in your writing. We writers have a tendency to focus on the bad without knowing how to make it better, and this can often cost us our writing motivation .

If you’re ready to learn tips like the famous “ show don’t tell ” and more, keep reading, or check out the video below!

Writing Tips to Help You Become an Author

If you’re looking for a way to get your book done quickly and with quality, you’re in the right place.

How to Improve Writing with Tips for Writing a Book

In order to improve your writing skills, you have to commit to writing as much as you can, using different writing exercises , and reading often. You have to form a writing habit in order to do this.

But there is good news about this.

Your writing skills are not stagnant. They change and grow as you do.

Think of it as running. The more you run and train, the better you become. It can be really hard to write a book at first but as you learn new techniques, how to use literary devices , and new methods for making it easier, you become a stronger, better runner.

Writing is exactly the same.

The way you improve your writing skills is by making a commitment to you, your work in progress, and all the people who can benefit from your book.

[ Pssst! Want to see some of our Students’ published books? Check out the SPS Library here! ]

How do You Become a Good Beginner Writer?

Being a good beginner writer is about learning the craft of writing and learning specific techniques that make writing good in the first place.

In fact, becoming a good beginner writer is all about reading as much as you can and writing as much as you can. This is what will help you recognize those literary elements you can then replicate and make your own when writing and editing .

Just like I mentioned above, the more you can write, the better you will get, and this makes publishing your book and showing it to the world much easier.

But it’s also about consuming content about becoming a better writer, like podcasts, blog posts , and videos around the craft of writing.

These are our favorite writing tips resources:

• The Self-Publishing School Youtube Channel
• Our Podcast , where we highlight success stories and learn how authors made it happen
• Jenna Moreci’s Youtube channel featuring the best fiction and self-publishing writing tips
• DailyWritingTips.com , a blog featuring unique and specific tips for writing
• Hannah Lee Kidder’s Youtube channel including tips from a multi-published fiction author
• This Stephen King video featuring his own tips
• Brandon Sanderson’s lectures from a college classroom
• Chandler Bolt’s personal Youtube channel for productivity advice and more
• JustPublishingAdvice.com , a blog dedicated to sharing helpful publishing and writing tips.

What are some writing tips for beginners?

Being a newbie writer is not easy. These are some of the top writing tips we suggest in order to improve your writing skills as a beginner.

Writing Tip 1 – Write what you want to read

If you yourself wouldn’t pick up the book or story you’re writing and read it with joy, then you shouldn’t be writing it.

“But what if I think other people will like it even if I don’t?”

This is a very common argument against this writing tip but it’s not sound. And the reason for that is because you’ll lack the passion.

When you create a story that you love yourself, it comes through in the writing. It’ll read as if the words and your protagonist and characters as a whole pop off the page instead of lying flat.

It will also be much easier to write and you’ll want to write it more than if you didn’t enjoy the story or topic as much.

So for this writing tip, ask yourself these questions:

• What’s the first impression the book cover gives off?
• Would you pick it up to read the back cover?
• Would you personally look for a book like this?
• Is this a book genre you personally enjoy?
• Will you develop the characters in a way that makes you root for them?
• Is the story structure captivating to you ?
• Have you read and loved other books with similar worlds/characters/stories?

If you can’t answer these questions with a confident “yes,” skip the book idea and write one you actually want to.

Writing Tip 2 – Write with intention

All writing has a purpose – and it needs a purpose if you want your writing to get better and read as something enjoyable.

When you have a reason for writ i ng  what you’re writing, it becomes so much easier and it feels like you’re fulfilling a purpose rather than just writing a book.

If all you’re doing is writing a book to make money, then your heart (and therefore your passion) is in the wrong place. This makes it very clear to readers through your writing.

Below is a writing tips exercise to help you achieve writing with intention.

Writing Tip 3 – Use psychology to write better

Yes, there is research involved no matter what kind of book you’re writing.

“But how can psychology actually help my writing improve?”

In order to craft your book in a way that speaks to readers how you intend it to , you have to understand how the human mind works.

This is how using psychology as a writing tip helps you get better:

• You’ll craft more realistic characters
• Your antagonist’s and protagonist’s motives will be more realistic
• You can take your readers on a better experience by learning to manipulate their emotions with your plot
• You can easily hit emotional triggers in readers that prompt them to keep turning pages
• You’ll better understand what it takes to write a novel that’s engaging

The Write Practice has a fantastic resource for how to use psychology to become a better writer .

Once you know how people interpret different events, messages, and themes, you can weave them into your book so it has more impact when they’re finished reading.

And for the fiction writers out there, psychology helps you create real and lifelike characters that leave readers itching to turn that page and read more about them and their journey.

Writing Tips Action Step:

In order to accurately research for your book, think about what you want your readers to take away from each chapter, and then the book as a whole.

Then research how real people interpret those specific messages.

For example:

If you want readers to feel inspired during a certain part of your book, research “psychology of inspiration” and read how one can build up to feel inspired and even how it affects their outlook in order to better craft the next chapters.

Writing Tip 4 – Write as often as you can

Even if all you’re writing is a paragraph, it’s better than not writing at all.

And if you can’t add on to your book for whatever reason (maybe a lack of an outline ?), then write something else.

Here are a few ways you can utilize this writing tip by writing something else:

• Write a short story
• Start a new novel
• Write a poem
• Skip to a new section in your book to write
• Write about your life in prose to practice descriptions

The point is to write as often as you can because the more you write, the better you will get. It will help you pinpoint weaknesses in your writing and you’ll notice improvements as you write.

Writing more often also allows you to flex your imagination, which is indeed much like a muscle. The more you use it, the stronger it gets and therefore, you’ll be able to write with more creativity.

Writing Tip 5 – Eliminate distractions

In this age of technology and helpful writing software , there are endless amounts of distractions.

We almost always have our phones within reach, a computer right at our fingertips (literally, if you’re writing), and a TV nearby with access to Netflix, Hulu, and other attention-sucking programs.

If you want to write better, you have to eliminate distractions that keep you from writing .

Here are our writing tips to get rid of distractions:

• Use a distraction-blocking App like Freedom
• Shut your phone off and put it in another room
• Close out of all apps or windows on your computer
• Spend 15 minutes listening to music that reminds you of your book to get you in the zone
• Tell all your friends/family to leave you alone for writing time

As mentioned above, the more you write, the better you get. But you can’t write if you’re constantly checking your phone, email, or watching TV.

Writing Tip 6 – Research storytelling and story structure

This is largely for the fiction writers out there, but all writers can benefit from this writing tip of improving your storytelling.

Storytelling and writing are not the same things.

Writing is the way in which you describe what’s happening within the story. The story itself is a whole other piece of the puzzle – and is arguably the most important piece.

When you have a story idea worth writing, there are a few things to remember.

Here are our top writing tips for learning the craft of storytelling:

• Study comedians – the reason comedy is, well, funny is because comedians know how to tell stories in a way that keep us on the edge of our seat, and then they surprise us, which often initiates the laughter.
• Learn from great storytellers – Stephen King is one of the best storytellers of all time. He has a book, On Writing , that touches on this craft. Give it a read for some of the best writing tips you’ll find.
• Read as much as you can – Writers learn how to write through reading. The more you read, and the wider variety of genres, the more you’ll naturally pick up on the art of storytelling.
• Get feedback on your stories – This is the hardest, but most crucial writing tip to help you improve. You have to understand your weaknesses in order to make them stronger. Ask friends and family for help in order to learn how to make your stories better.

Read books, listen to podcasts, or watch videos about the art of crafting a story.

Another great way to learn the ins and outs of storytelling is to watch great comedians. The reason they can make you laugh is how they craft what they’re saying.

Notice the pauses, when they speed through what they’re saying, and how they deliver that final line.

These are all techniques you can use on a larger scale when writing your book.

Writing Tip 7 – Always get feedback

This will always be the hardest, but most important part of improving your writing. Of all the writing tips to take and execute, this is the best one.

It’s very difficult to gauge your own writing – because you wrote it.

This is much like trying to tickle yourself. It just doesn’t work because you’re the person doing it and is much more effective when someone else does it.

That’s why the beta reading process is so vital. It’s when you let others read your book in order to gain feedback from people in your intended audience.

That’s what it’s like for your writing. You need an outside set of eyes on your work.

Jenna Moreci has a great resource on the beta reading process you can check out.

Here are some specific questions to ask others for this tip to improve writing:

• Did you find anything confusing or unclear?
• Did you understand why InsertNameHere did what they did?
• Were you able to easily follow the dialogue?
• Was the dialogue in writing clear and concise?
• Which character did you empathize with more?
• Do you have any predictions about what will happen?
• Do you have any feedback I didn’t ask you about?

Writing Tip 8 –  Focus on new ways to phrase common visuals

One of the best ways you can strengthen your creativity is by consciously thinking about how you can describe common things in new, interesting ways.

You want to make people see that common item or situation or visual in a brand new light.

The way you can do this is to pause when you’re describing something in your writing and think to yourself, “how else can I explain this to create a stronger emotional impact?”

Here’s an example of this writing tip if you’re still a little confused:

“The sun set behind the trees and the world fell quiet.”

Is this a bad way to describe a sunset and night beginning? No. However, you can easily get more creative about how to illustrate this to readers through words.

“Night yanked the horizon over the sun, silencing the world with its absence.”

This is saying relatively the same thing, but in a way that stops and makes someone appreciate the way in which it was crafted.

Writing Tip 9 – Practice writing in your head

This might sound a bit confusing, so let me elaborate.

When you look at the world, how do you see it? Probably the same way everyone else does.

Here’s an example of how you can practice writing – but only in your own head. This can help you learn how to craft your prose to read in a beautiful, elegant fashion while also being unique and interesting to readers.

Right now, I’m looking out my window into the backyard. It has snow, the trees are bare, and the sky is a muted gray at the horizon, fading to a very faint blue as you look higher up.

This is a very typical visual for winter (especially in Wisconsin).

Now, in order to practice writing without writing, all you have to do is start describing what you see in prose that you would write in your own head.

“Stillness hung in the air thicker than Christmas morning eggnog, the ground covered in a thin sheet of white speckled with brown where the snow failed to make its mark. Bare branches reached toward the absent sun, reluctantly accepting the gray of winter in its place.”

This example is more prose than reality, but this is how you can sharpen those skill by just thinking in this way.

The more you practice this when you’re on the subway, making dinner, or even watching your family and friends interact, the easier it will be to write those situations in your book.

Think like a writer in order to become a better one.

Writing Tip 10 – Use strong language

This writing tip can completely transform your writing for the better.

It’s the single best way to make your writing more captivating without really adding anything new. You just simply have to replace weak language with stronger, more descriptive writing.

This can take some time to get used to but the more you do it, the easier it will get.

So how do you recognize weak language?

Here are some mistakes to look for in your writing to utilizing this writing tip:

• Passive voice – Passive voice is any use of a “to be” past participle. Now, that’s just a fancy way of saying that if you have something was done by something, it’s passive voice. An example of this is: “The chicken was beheaded by the farmer.” That is passive voice, whereas, “The farmer beheaded the chicken.” is active voice.
• Weak verbs – These are the basic, non-detailed version of better verbs . An example would be, “She walked to the store.” In this case, “walked” is the weak verb. You can use another form of this verb to create a stronger visual for your reader. Here’s what that would look like: “She strutted to the store.”
• Emotion explaining – Using words that are emotions in your writing is a pretty clear indicator you have to show and not tell . Saying, “She was scared,” is telling. You can create a better experience for the reader by showing that she’s scared through body language, dialogue, and description.

We even make it simpler for you with our strong verbs list. It has over 200 strong verbs and includes the common weak verbs you can replace.

Writing Tip 11 – Just write to write

Forget about your goals. Forget about how anyone else will interpret what you’ve wrote and just write .

Do it for you. Write what you like and what makes you happy.

Don’t think about the future or publishing or where you’re going from here. Just grab that outline, sit down, and write because it’s fun .

Believe it or not, this frees up a lot of mental space and allows you to write without thinking too much, which often helps you write better.

One of the best writing tips I ever received was to always have a side project going on, something you have no intention of ever publishing. This is where your real writing happens.

It’s a place for you to experiment, discover your writing voice , and learn what you truly love to write while still working on your main project and accomplishing those goals.

In this article, we have more writing tips for beginners .

Now, let’s look at writing tips from famous authors.

Writing Tips from Famous Authors

What better way to improve your writing than to practice writing tips from those who have mastered the craft?

Here are our top writing tips from professional writers like Stephen King, JK Rowling, and even Margaret Atwood.

1 – “Just do it.”

Much like we mentioned above, Margaret Atwood is a huge advocate of diving right in and just writing , despite your fears, insecurities, or lack of direction.

“I think the main thing is: Just do it. Plunge in! Being Canadian, I go swimming in icy cold lakes, and there is always that dithering moment. ‘Am I really going to do this? Won’t it hurt?’

And at some point you just have to flop in there and scream. Once you’re in, keep going. You may have to crumple and toss, but we all do that. Courage! I think that is what’s most required.”

As someone who has made waves with a number of her novels, including the masterpiece that landed her an entire TV series, The Handmaid’s Tale , she is someone you want to take advice from—especially now that Margaret Atwood’s Masterclass is available.

2 – “You’ve got to work for it.”

Much to every writer’s dismay, books don’t actually write themselves. If there was a special machine we could plug into our brain that would spit out a perfect copy of the story inside our minds, we would all opt for that instead of sitting down and plucking away at the keyboard.

But that’s not a reality (at least not yet).

Someone who knows the value of hard work when it comes to writing is J.K. Rowling. Perhaps you’ve heard of her?

“You’ve got to work. It’s about structure. It’s about discipline. It’s all these deadly things that your school teacher told you you needed…

You need it.”

As hard as it can be, Rowling’s advice is as sound as any. Work for your book. Work hard so others can benefit from the worth you’re holding onto.

3 – “Write for yourself first.”

Stephen King has an entire memoir-ish that doubles as writing tips simply because writing has been nearly his entire life.

One of the best lessons King says he ever learned was from a newspaper editor he worked for while he was in high school (which he discusses in his memoir/writing book On Writing ) and he has maintained that voice in his head throughout each work he writes.

“When you write a story, you’re telling yourself the story. When you rewrite, your main job is taking out all the things that are not the story.

Your stuff starts out being just for you, but then it goes out.”

On Writing by Stephen King continues to be a source of inspiration and help for writers everywhere. King has a way of pulling you in and giving you the BS-free advice all writers want – and, in most cases, desperately need.

4 – “Quantity will make up for quality.”

Ray Bradbury is one of the most quoted authors out there. He shares his methods for writing and how to actually succeed in this industry.

His best advice, in my opinion, comes from his book Zen in the Art of Writing , where he says you have to schedule the time to write – and write daily because quantity will make up for quality.

In fact, quantity is what leads you to quality.

“Michelangelo’s, da Vinci’s, Tintoretto’s billion sketches, the quantitative, prepared them for the qualitative, single sketches further down the line, single portraits, single landscapes of incredible control and beauty.”

In essence, the more you practice writing, the better you’ll become and that makes all the difference when it comes to separating yourself from other writers.

5 – “Tell the truth.”

Miss Angelou is an inspiration to writers everywhere. She’s a personal favorite of mine and her quotes and advice for both writing and life has always spoken to me on a different level than others.

One of the best writing tips I’ve read of her is the fact that you have to write the truth.

“I look at some of the great novelists, and I think the reason they are great is that they’re telling the truth.

The fact is they’re using made-up names, made-up people, made-up places, and made-up times, but they’re telling the truth about the human being—what we are capable of, what makes us lose, laugh, weep, fall down, and gnash our teeth and wring our hands and kill each other and love each other.”

When you have a truth worth sharing, writing becomes easier, more meaningful, and therefore more impactful for those reading it.

This ties into our writing tip above about writing what you want to read. Focus on telling your truth.

6 – “You can’t edit a blank page.”

Are you sensing a theme within these writing tips yet?

Even Jodi Picoult agrees that you can’t become a better writer if you never write.

“You can always edit a bad page.

You can’t edit a blank page.”

The best of all writing tips is this one. You have to actually write if you want to get better because great writing doesn’t happen on the first try. It happens on the second, fifth, and even tenth.

You first have to write the words in order to make them better.

Check out this Self-Publishing School review by SelfPublishing.com!

Get Your FREE eBook and Audiobook Copy of

“PUBLISHED: The Proven Path From Blank Page to 10,000 Copies Sold”

Continue Reading

Interested in working with us.

Book a free strategy call with our expert team!

10 Essential Tips to Improve Your Writing Style

by Pamela Hodges | 38 comments

I have a one-hundred-and-five-page book. It weighs four ounces. The Boston Globe thinks that “No book in shorter space, with fewer words, will help any writer more than this persistent little volume.” The Elements of Style by William Strunk Jr. and E.B. White, a treasure trove of wisdom about writing style, is as elemental to a writer as practicing scales is to a pianist.

10 Essential Principles of Style

Strunk and White gave us several principles of composition and style. These are my top tips, counting down from ten.

10. Use The Active Voice

The active voice is more direct and forceful.

9. Put Statements in Positive Form

Do not write what is not happening. Write definite assertions.

8. Use Definite, Specific Concrete Language

Words that are general, vague or abstract are unlikely to hold the reader's attention.

7. Write With Nouns and Verbs

Nouns and verbs are preferable to adverbs and adjectives.

6. Avoid The Use of Qualifiers

Rather , very , little , pretty —these are the leeches that infest the pond of prose, sucking the blood of words. —Strunk and White

5. Do Not Explain Too Much

The use of adverbs after he said, or she said, is cluttered and annoying. “He said sadly” or “she said triumphantly” is not advisable.

4. Do Not Construct Awkward Adverbs

3. be clear.

When you write make sure your intent is clear.

2. Revise and Rewrite

Save the original and what you have rewritten. Write, and revise , and be brave to experiment with what you have written.

1. Omit Needless Words

One elemental writing guide.

The Elements of Style , in addition to advising on composition and style, has a section on grammar, “Elementary Rules of Usage ,” and a chapter on “Misused Words and Expressions.”   The book is an excellent reference for writers who want to understand the basic elements of writing. I keep a copy of the 4 oz book in my bag and read it when I am waiting in line at the doctor's office, or waiting for my peas to cook.

What is your best advice about writing style? Let us know in the comments .

For today's practice, you have two choices:

• Take a section from something you have already written and edit it using one or more of the tips above.
• Or, write something new using the suggestions listed above. Perhaps your story will be about someone waiting for their peas to cook.

Whichever practice you choose, write for fifteen minutes . When you're done, please share your writing in the comments section and give your fellow writers feedback and encouragement.

Pamela Hodges

Pamela writes stories about art and creativity to help you become the artist you were meant to be. She would love to meet you at pamelahodges.com .

38 Comments

This is “must have” writer’s guideline book that has been essential since I was in high school! Great, precise information in a short book!

These are some excellent tips, thank you. My writing tip (although I think everything has been said already) is: do not overdo it. There is some writing full of uncommon vocabulary taken from a thesaurus and every sentence needs to be ‘poetic’, I have seen it a lot. Using every-day language makes the writing better and more clear.

Thank you Federica, A great tip. xo Pamela

I would actually love a copy of The Elements of Style. Thanks for the concise tips and here’s to an awesome 2017!

As a writer seeking publication, I’ve found these tips–and more–to be essential. I still have a (albeit worn) guide from high school that assisted my class with writing academic papers, and it’s been a lifesaver even throughout college. Would definitely love to add “The Elements of Style” to my collection!

I try to take in every useful tip made available to me. These are all excellent and I would love a copy of The Elements of Style. I tried to implement them in my 15 minute writing below:

Follow the leader tear drops trail down the windshield

Shadows of the sky weep loudly, rhythmically

Thunder of a breaking heart reverberates in the silence dwelling deep inside

Aftershocks flare for years

An endless trail of watery emotions splashing against the windshield of the soul

That is beautiful, Renee’! And so evocative. Every word counts!

Something with which we can all relate. Well written.

I would love a copy! This post was a perfect way to start my writing in 2017.

Great post.. Love a copy too to add to my writing books!

Great advice. I should print this list out and hang it up. Most of it is already stuff I don’t have too much trouble with, but qualifiers can still be a problem with me, especially when writing non-fiction. “Really” and “Pretty” are my biggest villains.

My downfall is using qualifiers, but I’m learning to be a ruthless editor. Thank you for the list and opportunity to win a copy of the book.

That’s a great place to start! It seems so natural to say, “That was pretty good” or “He was really very charming” instead of the plain and simple, “That was good” and “He was charming.” I think qualifiers are an excuse to not get creative with word choice, because stripping them out shows how dull some sentences are!

I know the rules, yet I am not convinced about omitting qualifiers. For instance: “That was pretty good” This does not mean it was totally not good nor the opposite. It was so-so or it was fair. I think we need qualifiers for clarification. We just have to use them in moderation.

It would appear that neither of the book’s coauthors takes overly positively to diffuse and gilt bloviation. There remains a potentiality, if this writer were to procure suitable access to these authors’ little monograph, it could remain possible to be prevailed upon with regard to their ratiocinations – albeit illiberally.

Did I miss any?

Your penchant for obfuscation befuddles the perquisition of verisimilitude in the subjective ratiocination of the organic individuals who interpret your discourse.

I first encountered this book in my first college composition class. The advice in Elements of Style continues to provide sound advice for good writing. My husband serves as my critic for determining the clarity of my writing. After reading my last piece, he reminded me of at least half of the ten points listed in the article, lamenting, “You made my head spin.” Not a very good sign–#5 caused his discomfort. Thanks for the reminder and sharing the wisdom of a classic book.

I would love a copy! Can’t believe I don’t own one yet.

Here’s my practice: I heaved the laundry basket out of the way to check the dryer for loose socks. Those things went missing at an alarming rate. Aha! There it was, stuck to the side. A black crew-cut.

I overturning the basket on the bed and set to sorting, folding, stacking, and stashing. One more task checked off the list. One more mundane activity. One step closer to taking my shoes off and collapsing in front of Poirot reruns.

Mondays made me fatalistic. This Monday was no different, as Steve had mentioned that we should plan our annual family vacation. Really? Did we have to discuss it? It would be Iowa. It was always Iowa. Cornstalks, flat fields, pigs, cornstalks, windmills, bad food, cornstalks, the occasional tulip, cornstalks. I questioned my choice of corn-on-the-cob for dinner.

Just because Steve had one million relatives who were still alive and begging to see him and I had no one besides two old uncles in Georgia, we were condemned to a lifetime of two-week expeditions to corn country. Every. Single. Year.

On my journey back toward the laundry closet, I glimpsed a purple-spotted heel peeking out from beneath the coffee table. Well, that was one sock that would have to wait until next week. I bent to pick it up and noticed it was acting as a bookmark in our picture book of Scotland. I opened it to the page on Inverness.

There it was: the land of my dreams. Rolling green hills, mysterious castles, lochs sparkling with sunlight or obscured by mist…it was a fairy tale come true.

A wild thought crossed my brain. What about Scotland? What if we ditched the in-laws this year and got two tickets to Edinburgh International Airport? The idea was too wild. I grabbed the sock and fled.

Once the mind gives birth to an idea, it’s a hard thing to kill. All day long—as I vacuumed, called a friend, picked the kids up from school, seared steaks—the back of my mind churned. Scotland meant emerald fields, tea shops, ancient ruins—a land I’d never seen but that always lurked in my daydreams.

Steve came home for dinner, loosened his tie, and took a seat at the table just as the corncobs came out of the microwave. “Steve, I’ve got a thought.”

“Mmmhmm.” He didn’t look at me, just put his napkin on his lap and reached for a roll.

“I mean, it’s kind of crazy, but I can’t get over it.”

“Yeah?”

I thought I’d better just go for it. “What if we go to Scotland this year?”

That got his attention. “Scotland? Like, the country? Why?”

“Well, you have two weeks of vacation, and we’ve never traveled overseas. Wouldn’t it be an adventure?”

Steve got a look in his eye that said he was debating the pros and cons of having an insane wife. “But, we always see my family in Iowa.”

I took a bite of steak and rolled it around in my mouth for a moment. “I know, honey, but wouldn’t you like a change?”

Steve’s eyebrows raised, his lips set in a thin line, and his eyes focused on mine. He was trying to figure out whether or not I was joking. I decided to remove all doubt. “I researched ticket prices. If we leave next Tuesday, we could get two round-trip tickets for $1,300. It’s a great deal.”

He spat out a mouthful corn. “$1,300? Just to fly?” Maybe he saw something in my eyes then—the look of a woman who has been hunting for socks and wrestling children and paying bills all day (or all year, for seven years). “I mean, I guess…you really want to?”

“‘Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all of one’s lifetime.’ Mark Twain said that, not me. I think it would be good for us!”

Steve wiped steak sauce off his lower lip and stared into his lemonade for five minutes. When he looked up, he said, “Do I have to eat haggis?”

I like this one!

I was taken in with one image following another and short paragraphs that made it clear to read. I would love to know what you made of Scotland…

Go with your gut, edit with a fierce pen.

Such great, clear advice. I think numbers 10 & 8 are my worst enemy. This book has been on my wish list for books on Amazon for a while now. I really need to purchase a copy.

Wonderful advice and tips ——

I stared at his protruding chin which seemed naked after he shaved his scrabbly bread. “Jesus, why are you making this so difficult?” He rubbed the dark circles underneath his eyes that seemed to deepen as the day wore on. “Why am I difficult when I’m just stating my opinion?” “You can’t HAVE an opinion on dying, it’s a one way street your body shuts down and you die; there’s no ifs, ands, or buts about it.” I rapped the rings on my knuckles against the table “Well apparently you can since I am”

He slammed his bony fist, rattling the black coffee in his mug. “NO YOU CAN’T.” He stuck a knobby finger in my face “You died, your body shut down and now you have to do what every other dead person does and pass!” I stuck my lip out and he stared at me coldly. “Don’t look at me like that, I’m just the messenger, if you got a problem bring it up with my boss.” “Explain to me who your boss is again?” He rubbed his temple together, clearly not having it and looked at me. “Your Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” I gave out a chuckle that sounded more like steam from a tea kettle. “That’s a laugh and a half.” He stood up and leaned across the table. “If you could just shut your egotistical, stubborn, unreasonable mouth for even a millisecond and just listened instead of talking, half the trash that falls out of it wouldn’t even pass your lips.” My eyes narrowed and focused on the microscopic shaving cuts on his face, I could feel the heat rising on my cheeks. “If you could just hear yourself and realize the sheer moronic sentences that come tumbling out of you I’m positive you would never pick arguments again.” I stood up and shoved my face towards his till our noses were almost touching and I could smell the heavy cologne he seemed to engulf himself in every morning. “If God wasn’t such an asshole maybe I wouldn’t question everything single thing because honey, when God made me he didn’t just break the mold, he snapped it in half and threw it into Hell before I even had a chance.”

I really liked your words, ‘bony fist,’ protruding chin,’ ‘wrapped the rings,’ is a nice alliteration. you used two words i saw that ended in ly, scrabbly, and he stared at me coldly. Towards the end with the dialogue I thought could be cut a bit to be more powerful.

You write: If you could just shut your egotistical, stubborn, unreasonable mouth for even a millisecond and just listen instead of talking half the trash that falls out of it wouldn’t pass your lips.”

Suggestion just so it reads a little faster.: If you could just shut your stubborn, unreasonable mouth for one millisecond, half your trash would never pass your lips.” I’d cut sheer from the next sentence too. But overall I really like how powerful and in the moment your writing is!

I thought your writing was attention grabbing and flowed actively. With each sentence I wanted to get to the next. Your descriptions were palpable. Great job.

Adjectives – too many. Use exclamation marks for emphasis in full sentences or phrases. For single words, use italics. Do not use capital letters for emphasis. Does liquid ‘rattle’? Sometimes it is not clear who is the intiator and who is the responder in dialogue. Content is intriguing all the same.

I’ve owned those little Struck and White books for many years and think it’s a great idea to give away a few, as intended. I hope it’s to someone who doesn’t have one, rather than someone like me who already has these books. The books are small enough to keep in your computer bag, handbag or just about anywhere you feel the need to put them for reference. I am glad I stumbled upon this discussion, because I haven’t used those books for two or three years. Now, I’ll get them out and read again although I’ve read them many times over. It helps to be reminded of the proper way to punctuate too and that’s in the books. I’m terrible with that and sometimes pay someone to proofread even something short like a poem.

As always, this is great advice. Thank you, Pamela. I’m trying to be more mindful during the first draft phase, but also trying to keep my inner editor at bay. I’m succeeding with the latter for the most part, so will file this away until I’m ready to edit, hopefully in mid March!

Grains of red sand dug into Liz’s bare feet as she stood, waiting, at the edge of a landlocked Western country. It wasn’t exactly a surprise that he was late. Nothing he did could really surprise her anymore, she supposed, considering everything he’d already accomplished. Their current circumstances seemed to dampen everyone’s mood but his– that insufferable, arrogant, loud-mouthed… A crack in the air. The humming of electricity waiting to be released. A sudden dark flash, and he appeared in front of her. His crooked smile appeared before the rest of him, as it always did in these showy entrances of his. He could just teleport without all the fuss, but Liz supposed he couldn’t resist the opportunity for lessers to gawk at him and his huge supply of magic. He smiled down at her. She stared back up at him, at his light eyes, as she narrowed her own. He looked away first, and she resisted the urge to grin. A brush of hot air rustled the scarf covering her hair. She tucked a coarse black strand back into place, noting the sweat and dust covering her fingers, which were cracked and dry. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d properly bathed. “Carro,” she said, her voice lilting. “Alsilynn,” he drawled. Her bronze eyes narrowed. “Liz. It’s Liz.” “Of course.” He took a moment to flick a fleck of dust off his shoulder, clad in a fanciful black tunic. “Now, shall we? I, for one, have somewhere to be, and assuming you haven’t changed your mind…” Liz turned away for a moment to swallow a building lump in her throat, then stepped up to Carro, trying and probably failing, given his raised brow, to make the favoring of her left leg unnoticeable, and placed a trembling hand on his arm. Her palm was clammy, his robes annoyingly clean. He flashed her a too-white smile before they tunneled into darkness. She resisted the immediate urge to pull away from him, and clung to his forearm like it was the last thing tying her to life. Which it was, in a certain way. She’d traveled with him and his enormous power before, but it never failed to wrench her stomach straight out of her body, through her throat, as she watched the illusion of random memories flashing by before her. The front porch of her childhood home. Al’kila, her sister’s stuffed animal who she’d gutted in a low moment of lividity. Her twelve-year-old self, stumbling through the jungle with bites on her hands and feet when a woman appeared and saved her. It felt both alluring and sickening, traveling through that mass of shadows, especially with her heightened senses. They emerged on the other side, Carro arriving straight on his feet and perfectly put together, Liz tumbling to the ground as she landed on her left foot and retching a bit in the sand. He smirked down at her. “Careful, darling,” he said, watching her struggle to her feet without so much as outstretching a hand. She huffed, imagining her eldest sister’s smug smile on his stupid face. Stupid… stupid… whatever. He didn’t care what she thought of him, so why should she? They’d landed in the middle of the campground, and many people were gawking. Some were trying not to stare, just bustling about a little slower than normal so as to catch a glimpse out of the corner of their eye, but most were just outright ogling at them. “Boo,” Carro whispered, and a few bystanders jumped. The women wore headscarves like Liz’s, though clearly from a different region. Liz wasn’t from anywhere around here– not this country, not this continent. She ran a hand over the blue material covering her hair self-consciously. It was hot out here, in the open air. She couldn’t imagine the people living here inside tents all day, the arid atmosphere trapped inside with nowhere to go, just bathing in their own sweat. “Let’s go, bramble bush,” Liz hissed through her teeth at him. Carro waggled his fingers at a young girl, no more than fifteen, hanging clothes to dry outside a dirt-ridden tent. Her eyes widened and she ducked inside, the tent flap falling closed behind her. “They’re all scared of me,” Carro remarked. “It’s delicious.” Liz bit back a snide response and kept walking. As they made their way through the makeshift dirt streets, she went over the plans in her head. She didn’t realize she was quietly murmuring until he pressed a finger to his lips, hushing her. She huffed and limped over a boulder in her path, coming face to face with a tent larger than any other, its canvas walls flapping in the wind. They had arrived. Liz took a breath to steel herself, but Carro just ducked inside. She followed soon after. Concealed within the walls of the tent was a thick, wooden table empty of all but one, a figure dressed all in black with her back to them, a scroll spread out in front of her. Liz cleared her throat a bit. The woman turned with a start, and, finding them there, breathed out a sigh of relief. “Lady Goultia,” Liz said, outstretching her hand and nodding her head in a gesture of honor. Carro just stared at the Lady. Liz suddenly felt very conscious of her bare feet, and shuffled around. “Alsilynn,” the woman replied in acknowledgement. Liz bit back a correction. The people around here didn’t seem inclined to follow nicknames. “And Carro.” Her tone cooled noticeably. “How went your journey?” “Fine.” His blue eyes flickered over her face. Lady Goultia had smooth brown skin, leafy freckles spread across her cheeks, and slightly parted lips, revealing pearly white teeth. She was tall, with assorted scars crisscrossing her squared shoulders. Her dark hair tumbled down her back in a disarrayed mess. She wore a gown of war. A reminder of what was to come, Liz realized, something rippling down her spine, making her shiver despite the heat. “Tranovan’s army marches toward here at an incredible speed,” Lady Goultia began to mutter under her breath, clearly distracted. “If they were to reach here before a day were to pass…” “Lady Goultia,” Carro interrupted, “we came to–” “I know what you came here to do,” she cut in smoothly, directing her gaze at Liz, who straightened her posture as best she could with her bad ankle. “And you will have quarters with the rest of your guild in the eastern section, if you still would wish.” “Yes,” Liz said. She cleared her throat. “We would like preparations for a stay.” “Until the battle,” the older woman stated, her calculative eyes flicking toward Carro, who was standing uncomfortably at Liz’s side. “You will be allowed here until the battle, Carro. And you, Alsilynn, you can stay here as long as you wish.” Carro’s eyes hardened. “Milady-” “I will not have your foolish magic running rampant through my camps.” “But you need me,” he protested, his voice dangerously low. “You have signed a document pledging your allegiance. I have no need to please you as of the moment.” He stood still a moment, their eyes locking, but he eventually nodded his head, albeit stiffly. Liz suddenly became hyperaware of the ever-growing pool of sweat collecting on her upper lip like a persistent moth flocking to a flame. “Good. Now, my guard will escort you toward your quarters.” Carro nodded again, then turned around and pushed through the flaps of the tent. Liz followed after him, dipping her head at Lady Goultia as she exited. Liz had half a mind to ask Carro what in frozen Hell’s name that performance in there was, but was stopped short as she saw they had company. She settled for glaring at him, seething on the inside. A dark-eyed man stood outside the tent waiting for them. He didn’t so much as look at the two, just started walking east. Toward where Liz’s guild was. Her heart lifted at just the thought of them, even as she took quick steps to keep up with Carro and the expressionless man striding ahead of her. As they hurried away from the Lady’s tent, Liz watched the sun begin to recede beyond the mountains in the distance, smiled gently at children darting out of their tents to watch them, fiddled with the sleeves of her shirt. A knot tightened in her stomach. The next day, Tranovan’s army would descend upon the camps in this valley, and she doubted he would care that children– children, for Gods’ sakes– lived here. Death didn’t discriminate. All at once, the breath was knocked out of her as she saw figures emerge from a large tent. Trei was smiling at her like crazy, Ferdinand stood gravely with that giant sword at his side, Val was wrapping a frayed piece of twine around her wrist again and again, and Kirie’s dark red hair created a messy halo around her grinning face. Liz tried and failed to suppress her own grin. She ran toward them, forgetting completely about Carro and the dark-eyed man behind her, and Trei, wearing dirt-laden common clothing that she was sure Carro was sneering at, wrapped his arms around her. She sucked in a deep breath of his sweaty scent. He whispered, “I missed you.” She smiled into his chest. “I missed you, too.” Then Kirie was tucking a strand of wild hair behind one ear and exclaiming, “You didn’t die!” She had a persistent tendency to bounce on the heels of her feet whenever she stood in place, though she was the only one who never seemed to notice it. Liz shrugged. “I try not to.” The taller, more muscular girl punched her arm playfully and grinned. She turned to Ferdinand and Val. “Aren’t you going to say hello?” Val suddenly burst into tears, then wrapped her in a fierce embrace. Liz smiled into her coarse, black hair, and murmured, “I love you, Val.” The girl let out a half-laugh, half-sob, and pulled back. She wiped her nose on the sleeve of her shirt. Ferdinand shook Liz’s hand, probably the most physical contact any of them but Val would get from him, and said, “Um. Good job.” Liz could feel Carro’s eyes on the back of her head, and tried not to turn around. She heard him step forward. Everyone looked up at him– he was taller than everyone but Ferdinand, and even he shrunk in his presence. “I already had dinner.” Liz blinked. A flicker of a timid smile crossed Kirie’s face, and she told him, “That’s okay.” Then to Liz– “We’re frying fish. My specialty.” And so it was that half an hour later, the five of them were sitting in a circle at the edge of the encampment, watching crackling embers disappear into the twilight sky. Liz listened to the conversations in other parts of the camp, listening idly to the talking going on in their little circle. She nibbled at her fish. Trei sat close to her, his hand laying lazily on her thigh, and he laughed at the appropriate times. Val held a scorpion in her hand across the fire, which Ferdinand shied away from. She seemed to be cooing at it. Carro was waiting in the tent, and she could hear him shuffling around and muttering something from her spot by the fire. Trei’s voice startled her. “What are you listening to?” She shrugged, staring into the fire. “Nothing.” “Nothing?” “Nothing important, Trei. It doesn’t matter.” Trei glanced at Kirie, and Liz could see her shrug out of the corner of her eye. She tossed a fish bone behind her, and it landed in the sand, which was rapidly cooling, recovering from the sun’s heat. A young girl was singing softly in a foreign language and strumming a fiddle somewhere, and she focused everything on that. Liz was still getting used to her gifts. The way she could hear a pin drop a mile away, the detail of every strand of hair around her. It was overwhelming at times. The others were all years older than her, the second youngest being Trei, who was eighteen. They’d all had years to fit their magic into their everyday lives, and her sixteenth birthday had just passed a couple months ago. Just days, days upon days that passed fast as heartbeats, before she left to scout the Western countries– with Carro. He was insufferable about it. He’d laughed whenever she jumped and covered her ears at something or had to sit down to get rid of a headache. He was twenty, had trained his magic for years with some special tutor that his family could afford because they were rich. Liz’s family was… not so fortunate. It was even less fortunate that they’d had her, their seventh child and a magical child nonetheless. They kicked her out once her mother had finally relented and allowed it, when she was twelve. What would they do when she started to grow into her gifts? It wasn’t worth the trouble. For a gifted child, magic went through a process of sorts. In their toddler years it was pure magical energy flinging itself at anything nearby or interesting. Then it became connected to their emotions. Liz remembered a time when she’d set her sister’s dress on fire because she wouldn’t let her play with her and her friends– she’d been given a good beating for that. Around the time their bodies began to mature it vanished, reclusing somewhere inside them, until it came back as a specific gift when they were around sixteen. Sometimes children who weren’t very powerful at a young age suddenly had huge magical gifts, and some had little things– Val was good with animals. That was essentially it with her. Kirie was ridiculously athletic, Ferdinand could summon flame (which would have been incredibly destructive when he’d first achieved it, but he never talked about that), and Trei could camouflage into his surroundings like a chameleon. A handsome chameleon with a gorgeous smile. Liz was startled out of her reverie when Kirie threw a huge bucket of dirt onto the fire, letting loose a jarring hiss. She yelped, falling from the log she was sitting on before realizing what the sound had been. She could feel her cheeks burning. “Liz?” Kirie’s face appeared above her, her green eyes wide. “Are you okay?” Liz didn’t respond, but she knew she was blushing furiously. She tried not to think about where Val’s scorpion from earlier had wandered off to as she lay in the sand. “Oh, god. I’m so sorry. I didn’t think about-” “I’m okay, Kirie.” “I’m so sorry.” She bit her lip and was silent for a moment, then stretched out a hand to help her up. Liz didn’t take it, but sat up and dusted the sand off her pants. “I think I’m going to go to bed. Traveling with Carro kind of tired me out.” Kirie nodded mutely. Liz could feel eyes on her back as she walked out of the camp.

These are indeed great tips and I’m looking forward to putting some of this advise to use. As someone who is trying to get back into writing, these tips are much appreciated.

Helpful post. Great Work.

Not quite ready to share my practice here yet. But, I would love a copy of the book!

Great tips! I would love a copy of that book! I’ve been struggling with finding my own style and voice, but I will not give up. Thanks a lot for this and all your posts!

That’s indeed some nice advice to keep in our mind while writing! Stephen King once said in his book On Writing,”the road to hell is paved with adverbs”. Again he said, “They’re like dandelions. If you have one in your lawn, it looks pretty and unique. If you fail to root it out, however, you find five the next day … fifty after that … and then, my brothers and sisters, your lawn is totally, completely, and profligately covered with dandelions. By then you see them for the weeds they really are.” So it’s better to watch before even think to use one!

I did not know about no starting a sentence with I. Thanks for the tip.

Trackbacks/Pingbacks

• 7 Ways To Refresh Your Business Writing Skills For 2017 | Business Writing School - […] Improve Your Writing: 10 Essential Tips To Improve Your Writing Style […]
• ESSENTIAL TIPS TO IMPROVE YOUR WRITING STYLE…. – How to write a story? - […] What is your best advice about writing style? Let us know in the comments. […]
• Dicas para melhorar a forma como você escreve – A arte na escrita - […] Retiradas e adaptadas de the write practice […]
• Writing Links Round Up 4/10-4/15 – B. Shaun Smith - […] 10 Essential Tips to Improve Your Writing Style […]
• Writing Links Round Up 5/1-5/6 – B. Shaun Smith - […] 10 Essential Tips to Improve Your Writing Style […]
• Writing, Editing, & Books – Scribble with Creativity - […] https://thewritepractice.com/writing-style/  […]
• The Elements Of Style By William Strunk Jr | | Book Marking - […] Download Image More @ essential tips improve writing style […]
• The Elements Of Style Strunk And White | | Book Marking - […] Download Image More @ essential tips improve writing style […]

Submit a Comment Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Submit Comment

Join over 450,000 readers who are saying YES to practice. You’ll also get a free copy of our eBook 14 Prompts :

Popular Resources

Book Writing Tips & Guides Creativity & Inspiration Tips Writing Prompts Grammar & Vocab Resources Best Book Writing Software ProWritingAid Review Writing Teacher Resources Publisher Rocket Review Scrivener Review Gifts for Writers

Books By Our Writers

You've got it! Just us where to send your guide.

Enter your email to get our free 10-step guide to becoming a writer.

You've got it! Just us where to send your book.

Enter your first name and email to get our free book, 14 Prompts.

Want to Get Published?

Enter your email to get our free interactive checklist to writing and publishing a book.

Instantly enhance your writing in real-time while you type. With LanguageTool

Get started for free

Writing is an important skill to learn. Here are seven tips that will help you become a better writer.

How to Improve Writing Skills

• Have a strong beginning.
• Be true to yourself.
• Know your audience.
• Use direct language.
• Show, don’t tell.
• Have a strong ending.

How to Improve Your Writing Skills

Everyone writes. Whether you’re sending your mom a text message, an email to your professor, or a letter to your boss, writing is an essential, everyday skill to learn. Here are seven tips to help you become a better writer.

1) Have a Strong Beginning

First impressions matter. This holds true in writing as well. You have one chance to hook your reader—that’s why having a strong beginning is critical for better writing. Don’t ramble. Let your readers know what you’re writing about right away. If you don’t, you risk your readers moving on to something else.

2) Be True to Yourself

The best writing is produced when you’re writing for yourself. In other words, be honest and don’t write solely to impress others. Writing is its most effective when you write honestly about what you think and what you believe. Write earnestly, and your readers will appreciate it.

3) Know Your Audience

You can be true to yourself and write honestly, but knowing how to write better means knowing your audience. For example, if you’re writing an email to your professor requesting an extension for a deadline, you might want to avoid slang and any informal phrases. Before you start writing, it’s a good idea to ask yourself, “who is my intended audience and what is the purpose in writing this?”

4) Use Direct Language

When it comes to effective writing, conciseness is key. Your readers might not follow along if you use unnecessary and empty words . Instead, be direct. If you can use fewer words to convey a message, then do so. The rule of thumb is that the shorter the sentence, the better. However, keep in mind that varying sentence length is important.

5) Show, Don’t Tell

There’s one exception to the rule of using fewer words, and that’s when it comes to showing, not telling. “Show, don’t tell” is a timeless piece of advice that has been passed down by the best writers when sharing their writing tips. What this means is to use descriptive words so that your readers can see, think, or feel what you’re writing for themselves. Doing this makes your writing immersive and memorable.

Learning how to write well doesn’t happen overnight, but LanguageTool’s online editor makes the process easier by correcting spelling and grammar mistakes, providing synonyms, and suggesting stylistic improvements.

Avoid: I was feeling very cold.

Correct: The icy winds made my teeth shatter. My lips cracked in the dryness, and I could see my every breath. The goosebumps that covered my body did their best to keep me warm, but there was no reprieve from the frigid temperature.

Keep in mind that this tip works for fiction and non-fiction writing. For example, if you’re writing an email to your boss requesting a raise, you shouldn’t just say “I’m a good employee.” Be descriptive, and show that you’re a good employee.

6) Read More

There’s no way around it: reading more will help strengthen your writing. If you want to write better novels, you should read more texts written by renowned authors like George Orwell, Alice Walker, and Mark Twain. When you read works by authors like these, you’ll start to pick up what makes their writing so effective. The same goes if you’re trying to write better scientific articles, poems, or essays. Read more and be inspired.

7) Have A Strong Ending

There are two parts of your text that your readers will remember the most: the beginning and the end. Often, writers will hurry when they get to the conclusion, but this is a mistake. Different tactics can be used to write a powerful ending, depending on the type of text. But the general advice is to summarize your main point and invoke emotion. Your final words should make the reader think, “wow, this was worth the read.”

Practice Makes Perfect

Professional dancers don’t just hope they become better dancers. They practice. Artists don’t just wish to become better artists. They practice. Athletes don’t just ask to become better athletes. They practice. Writing is no different. If you want to become a better writer —whether it be for professional, academic, or personal reasons—you must take the time to practice. And if you’re having a bout with writer’s block, there are ways to overcome that, too. Next time you sit down to write, try these tips and see how they significantly enhance your writing.

Unleash the Professional Writer in You With LanguageTool

Go well beyond grammar and spell checking. Impress with clear, precise, and stylistically flawless writing instead.

Works on All Your Favorite Services

• Thunderbird
• Google Docs
• Microsoft Word
• Open Office
• Libre Office

We Value Your Feedback

We’ve made a mistake, forgotten about an important detail, or haven’t managed to get the point across? Let’s help each other to perfect our writing.

Daily Writing Tips

34 writing tips that will make you a better writer.

Now, without further delay, the 34 writing tips that will make you a better writer!

1. Daniel Pay attention to punctuation, especially to the correct use of commas and periods. These two punctuation marks regulate the flow of your thoughts, and they can make your text confusing even if the words are clear.

2. Thomas Participate in NaNoWriMo , which challenges you to write a 50,000 word novel in a month. I noticed that my writing has definitely improved over the course of the book — and it’s not even finished yet.

3. Bill Harper Try not to edit while you’re creating your first draft. Creating and editing are two separate processes using different sides of the brain, and if you try doing both at once you’ll lose. Make a deal with your internal editor that it will get the chance to rip your piece to shreds; it will just need to wait some time.

A really nice trick is to switch off your monitor when you’re typing. You can’t edit what you can’t see.

4. Jacinta In a sentence: write daily for 30 minutes minimum! It’s easy to notice the difference in a short time. Suddenly, ideas come to you and you think of other things to write. You experiment with styles and voices and words and the language becomes more familiar…

5. Ane Mulligan Learn the rules of good writing… then learn when and how to break them.

6. Pete Bollini I sometimes write out 8 to 10 pages from the book of my favorite writer… in longhand. This helps me to get started and swing into the style I wish to write in.

7. Nilima Bhadbhade Be a good reader first.

8. Douglas Davis While spell-checking programs serve as a good tool, they should not be relied upon to detect all mistakes. Regardless of the length of the article, always read and review what you have written.

9. Kukusha Learn to take criticism and seek it out at every opportunity. Don’t get upset even if you think the criticism is harsh, don’t be offended even if you think it’s wrong, and always thank those who take the time to offer it.

10. John England Right click on a word to use the thesaurus. Do it again on the new word and make the best use of your vocabulary.

11. Lillie Ammann After editing the work on screen or in print, I like to read the text aloud. Awkward sentences and errors that slipped through earlier edits show up readily when reading out loud.

12. H Devaraja Rao Avoid wordiness. Professor Strunk put it well: “a sentence should contain no unnecessary words, a paragraph no unnecessary sentences, for the same reason that a drawing should have no unnecessary lines and a machine no unnecessary parts.”

13. David Write as if you’re on deadline and have 500 words to make your point. Then do it again. And again.

14. Yvette Sometimes I type in a large font to have the words and sentences bold before me.

Sometimes, in the middle of a document I will start a new topic on a fresh sheet to have that clean feeling. Then, I’ll cut and insert it into the larger document.

I wait until my paper is done before I examine my word usage and vocabulary choices. (And reading this column it has reminded me that no two words are ever exactly alike.) So at the end, I take time to examine my choice of words. I have a lot of fun selecting the exact words to pinpoint my thoughts or points.

15. Amit Goyal To be a good writer is to start writing everyday. As Mark Twain said, “the secret of getting ahead is getting started.”

Try using new words. i.e avoid repeating words. this way we learn the usage of different words. Do edit your previous articles.

Start with small paragraphs like writing an article for a Newspaper, and proceed from there.

16. John Dodds Remove as many adjectives as possible. Read Jack Finney’s tale, Cousin Len’s Wonderful Adjective Cellar for a fantastical tale about how a hack becomes a successful author with the help of a magical salt cellar that removes adjectives from his work.

17. John Ireland I set my writing aside and edit a day or two later with the aim of making it terse. It has trained me to be more conscious of brevity when writing for immediate distribution.

18. Jai Try to write in simple way. Express your views with most appropriate words.

19. Mark Read great writers for inspiration. If you read them enough, their excellent writing style will rub off onto your dazzling blog.

YOU ARE what you read (and write!).

20. Caroline I watch my action tense and wordiness in sentences when I am writing my technical diddley.

For example, in a sentence where you say …”you will have to…” I replace it with “…you must…”, or “Click on the Go button to…” can be replaced with “Click Go to…”.

Think of words such as “enables”, instead of “allows you to” or “helps you to”.

If one word will work where three are, replace it! I always find these, where I slip into conversational as I am writing quickly, then go back and purge, purge, purge.

21. Akhil Tandulwadikar Don’t shy away from adopting the good habits that other writers use.

Do not worry about the length of the article as long as it conveys the point. Of course, the fewer words you use, the better.

Start the article with a short sentence, not more than 8 words.

22. Julie Martinenza Instead of adding tags (he said/she said) to every bit of dialogue, learn to identify the speaker by showing him/her in action. Example: “Pass that sweet-smelling turkey this way.” With knife in one hand and fork in the other, Sam looked eager to pounce.

23. Aaron Stroud Write often and to completion by following a realistic writing schedule.

24. Joanna Young One that works for me every time is to focus on the positive intention behind my writing. What is it that I want to communicate, express, convey? By focusing on that, by getting into the state that I’m trying to express, I find that I stop worrying about the words – just let them tumble out of their own accord.

It’s a great strategy for beating writer’s block, or overcoming anxiety about a particular piece of writing, whether that’s composing a formal business letter, writing a piece from the heart, or guest blogging somewhere ‘big’…

25. Shelley Rodrigo Use others writer’s sentences and paragraphs as models and then emulate the syntactic structure with your own content. I’ve learned more about grammar and punctuation that way.

26. Sylvia Avoid long sentences.

27. Mike Feeney Learn the difference between me, myself and I . For example: “Contact Bob or myself if you have any questions.” I hear this very often!

28. Richard Scott When doing a long project, a novel, for instance, shut off your internal editor and just write.

Think of your first draft as a complex outline waiting to be expanded upon, and let the words flow.

29. David Careful with unnecessary expressions. “At this point in time” came along during the Nixon congressional hearings. Too bad it didn’t go out with him. What about “on a daily basis?”

30. E. I. Sanchez For large documents, I use Word’s Speech feature to have the computer read the article back. This allows me to catch errors I have missed – especially missing words or words that ’sort of sound the same’ but are spelled differently (e.g. Front me instead of ‘From me’).

31. Cat Either read the book “Writing Tools 50 Strategies for Every Writer”, by Roy Peter Clark, or read the Fifty Writing Tools: Quick List on his blog. Then join a writing group, or hire a writing coach.

32. Suemagoo Write the first draft spontaneously. Switch off your internal editor until it is time to review your first draft.

33. Lydia If you’re writing fiction, it’s a great idea to have a plot. It will coordinate your thoughts and add consistency to the text.

34. Pedro Edit your older articles and pieces. You will notice that great part of it will be crap, and it will allow you to refine your style and avoid mistakes that you used to make.

Stop making those embarrassing mistakes! Subscribe to Daily Writing Tips today!

You will improve your English in only 5 minutes per day, guaranteed!

Each newsletter contains a writing tip, word of the day, and exercise!

You'll also get three bonus ebooks completely free!

95 thoughts on “34 Writing Tips That Will Make You a Better Writer”

Nice collection of tips! Some I agree with, some I don’t, but I think what is important to remember is that each one of us has unique tips and tricks to offer for better writing.

Online content writing demands concise business writing. Forget the flowery prose; web content needs more succinct language.

Drop the passive language. “Is being”, “Is used,” “that is being…” Gone, gone, gone. Outdated. Passé.

I’ll offer an extra fast tip, as I’ve found it’s one that many people aren’t aware of:

Word offers a grammar check *and* a style check. If you can work on your writing to the point that you’ve eliminated every green line in your document, you’re that much farther ahead.

James, excellent advice. Shouldn’t expect otherwise from someone with your expertise.

It would be great to see all of their work as examples of how they apply these tips.

Turning off your monitor for the first draft is a great hack I’ll definitely try next time I write. Actually, I have to make the first draft a golden rule, too often I’m caught up revising my writing in the middle of the process.

This is great ongoing reference, gotta save it somewhere delicious enough..

Thank you! Daniel.

Some wonderful ideas — several of which I employ myself, so I must be doing something right!

No cliches.

Putting events in chronological order seems like a no-brainer, but but watch out for chronologically challenged sentences that interrupt the flow of your writing. I posted an example of it at today . 🙂

Great tips. more authors on our site should heed your advice. It would make for some better quality articles.

I am particularly interested in these writing tips as this is one craft I want to improve on. Thank you.

Be a good listener first.As by doing this you will be able to express yourself according to your style very easily. And try to learn new words as much as you can

To be a good writer, we need to read and also practice writing simple draft letters , get it corrected through someone who has good vocbulary and gramatical knwoledge then correct it, rewrite agin. Weekly twice practice this will make you a perfect writer.

in first ,you suould read lot.when you read ,enjoy every word and every sentence.after that, write lot. when you write ,enjoy everyword and sentence.

Thank you for providing these useful tips. I’ve recently searched the internet thoroughly, in search for useful tips. And I must say, this site is one of the most beneficial!

I am not that good at writer and I am always looking to improve my writing skills. I surf the Internet a few hours per week looking for new sources and it seems to be helping for the most part. I did find a URL which has a pretty cool product for checking your articles out.

I would like to hear your comments about this service to see if some of you more experienced writers think about it.

I think writing a tip a day is a good way for me to improve my E.But i need a friend who help me correct it.When i write something incorrectly, i don’t know why or where it is incorrect.

i want to say about myself. i want to an essay of any topic. but my problem is that i can not write english. sir. if i write an essay of English.

I feel I have listened to so many writer’s tips to write well. I’ll try using them from now to sharpen my writing. Thanks for the wonderful post!

1, Read. Think about what you read. Talk about what you read. Listen to others talking about what they read. Read what they read. (This helps with content.)

2. Learn the basics of grammar, punctuation, spelling, and usage. Use them. Study them. Pay attention to how well you use them. Study how others use them (or not). (This helps with delivery.)

3. Get help on the parts you don’t do well, and consider the advice you receive. (This helps you combine join #1 and #2.)

“Combine join”

I could offer 3 words: READ, WRITE, OBSERVE. This will help you write.

These tips are awesome. I am a emerging English writer and speaker and this will help me a lot in improving my writing skills.

Much can be said about superfluous words. Meanwhile, please, no more of these: much more better, in order to, in actual fact, needless to say, repeat again? (Need I say more?)

“I could offer 3 words: READ, WRITE, OBSERVE. This will help you write.” Could not have said it better myself

When editing a novel, is it wise to do it chapter by chapter? Or do you have to wait until the whole novel is finished and start editing then? I find it rather tedious to edit a long piece of work.

Dear writers, readers and friends:

I enjoyed reading the above tips. I value good writing. I enjoy reading for some of the reasons I express below.

After years of doing research on “how to improve my writing style”, I believe the best book ever written on this topic was authored by Robert Grunning (circa 1935). You might know Grunning invented a numeric way to measure “bad writing” and coined the term the “fog index” to help expose poor style and composition. The “fog index” is a technique that helps an author, an editor or a reader estimate the degree of ambiquity or “fog” in a given article. Once the fog is declouded out of a writing, clarity comes into focus. Like a diamond cut from debris, the message is allowed to sparkle with a more profound, uncanny, splendiferous brillance!!!

One other point to keep in mind at all time. Ask as yu compose – who will read what I write? With your target reader in mind, express why your message is relevant and important. Place your message in a context that allows your reader to connect in the first sentence. Use words and terms that reveal the value your message will add to the life of your reader. Do this in a refreshing, stimulating way. Avoid using the drab and depressing phraes that are so common in the inferrior views of our rudest critics.

As you express thoghts, comic relief is always appreciated, well if the person has a impish giggle nerve to tickle. Insight is appreciated by those people who like to read an author resolve one or more of life’s perplexing emotional mysteries. People never tire of having or making more money, saving their time, enjoying better health, being more highly entertained or being delivered from that dreadful sense of boredom that often takes one captive by surprise or by the malicious intent of the people who write books on how to improve your writing style.

Writers will not argue that writing is the purest form of known communication. Writing supercedes all other forms in its display of knowledge. It allows people to imagine a concept and then employ their intelligence and vivid imaginations to fill in the suggested blanks, or to wrestle the folly out of one’s brain. Writing stimulates the mind; it waters the soul; it feeds the heart; and, it reveals and demolishes our enemy’s ploys like no other form of communication. Writers and readers know how writing can start wars or propose peace. We know this intuitively.

Good writers create good reading! Good reading comes from good writings. People read what they value. They reject and purge what they view as being boring, or useless, or vain, or disgusting trash!

A good writer knows what people value, and like, and love! Write something valuable in a way that appeals and penetrates into hearts, minds and souls. People will love you for it!

Wishing you all better reading from better writing, RAC

Another aspect that a writer should be conscience of, especially young writers, is to write what comes to you. Don’t just abandon an idea because you think it might be shot down by whomever reads it. Write for yourself, as if you’ll be the only one reading it, and you’ll find that your topics and styles are easier to relate to.

I can’t believe you posted that comment from Daniel! He actually talked about the importance of puncutuation but he misused a semi-colon. That should have been a comma!!!

great tips on writing…. when i write i imagine as if i’m speaking to my close friends

nice post! thank you so much…this will definitely help me in my quest for stardom!

I have seen people preferring informal writing and even speaking in times. It might be good in some point of time,for, it save most of our time in writing long sentence. But, the best part of writing formal writing and sticking to it is that, you will know your depth of writing standard.

Read as much as you can, for, a good writer is a good reader. Try new vocabulary, find its synonyms, and antonyms. use them and try to find difference even between their synonyms.

Three more tips:

Throw away your thesaurus

Read books you normally wouldn’t read

Write actively, ditch passivity.

No one tip will ever work for everyone, what works for some just won’t work for others. Experiment, experiment, experiment.

I’ve been researching my family, and I am finding that there is alot of diffrenties between todays life and what my ancestors have done and I was thinking of writting a book. But I don,t know if there is a market for this kind of book.

It is a wonderful and very useful site not only for me but also for all those who want to become a good writer. I want to become a good teacher of English Language. Please, help and guide me. I will be thankful to you for this favour.

Compare to reading, writing needs more vocabulary. To become a good writer one needs to be a good reader that improved vocabulary.

Informative site, thank you. Writing is fun, especially after you corral your internal editor.

Great article and great tips. I will make sure to read them more then once and to apply most of them if not all.

Your blog in general, and this post in particular, are great resources.

Thank you for sharing such valuable advice. Are you on Twitter?

Great points!

I particularly like number 10, ‘Right click on a word to use the thesaurus. Do it again on the new word and make the best use of your vocabulary.’

I think it is really important to build up as large a vocabulary as possible, this is a great way to get into the habit!

I am a Thai Hypnotherapist, if I write I can write about Hypnosis or Hypnotherapy or Meditation. I am now 75 yeqrs old. In fact, I like reading more than writing, but I would like to try writing about my experiences since I was young until now if possible.

Boonlert Saisanit, Ph.D.

Well, to be a better writer, you should pursue the tips found in this blog. To be your own writer, follow the reverence of your mind… conformity, complacency, structure…they are mere pipe dreams of the still born human intellect. Break from that, be audacious. No book or hymn will make you a true writer. No other can truly show you how you should write. And write with a tinge of gravity… write the implacable essence of your soul, whether it be effrontery, or mediocrity.

You should take a break for a little while like focus a little on other things then when your done doing those activities ideas will start to flow instead of stressing over what you’re going to write about.

This type of user generated content is really not a good source for information. There is a good manual called “Tips for Writers”, and some other books such as “The Elements of Style”, that really tell people: how to use punctuation properly, when to use capital letters, sentence structure, grammar, and much more.

Avoid cliches, and not just cliched phrases – the way a character reacts could be. If someone offered you a spider, would you recoil in horror? thought not.

i need help with write what this words mean omit needles words

i need help with the discussion on /specific /measurable/ attainable /relevant /time-bound / how do i discussion the words in a statement .

how would i write this words abbreviation please help me please?

As a teacher, I am trilingual. I coach Chinese, Spanish and English in Latin America.

Writing is a job I enjoy most. Kindly give me more tips.

Doing translation helps build writing skills.

The one and only way to be a perfect writer is to:

Read, Read, Read. Write, Write, Write Everyday!

Leave a Comment

The 22 Best Writing Tips Ever

by Melissa Donovan | Aug 29, 2023 | Writing Tips | 115 comments

The best writing tips.

Today, I’m sharing one of the oldest and most popular posts on Writing Forward. This one dates back to 2007, but it’s still one of the most-visited posts on the blog and one of my favorites. I hope you enjoy these writing tips and find them useful! Brian Clark over at Copyblogger issued a challenge to bloggers in the post “ The Cosmo Headline Technique for Blogging Inspiration .” The idea is to use headlines from magazines like Cosmopolitan for inspiration, and to write your headlines before composing your article. I’ve taken Brian up on his challenge and as a result, I bring you the “22 best writing tips ever.”

Best Writing Tips

• Do it. Write.
• Read as much and as often as you can. Remember, every writer is a reader first.
• Keep a journal or notebook handy at all times so you can jot down all of your brilliant ideas. If you’ve got a smartphone, make sure it’s loaded with a note-taking app. A voice-recording app also comes in handy for recording notes and ideas.
• Make sure you have a dictionary and thesaurus available whenever you are writing.
• Be observant. The people and activities that surround you will provide you with great inspiration for characters, plots, and themes.
• Invest in a few useful resources starting with The Chicago Manual of Style and The Elements of Style  (aff links).
• Grammar: learn the rules and then learn how to break them effectively.
• Stop procrastinating. Turn off the TV, disconnect from the internet, tune out the rest of the world, sit down, and write.
• Read works by successful authors to learn what earns a loyal readership.
• Read works by the canonical authors so you understand what constitutes a respectable literary achievement.
• Join a writers’ group so you can gain support from the writing community and enjoy camaraderie in your craft.
• Start a blog. Use it to talk about your own writing process , share your ideas and experiences, or publish your work to a reading audience.
• Create a space in your home especially for writing.
• Proofread everything at least three times before submitting your work for publication.
• Write every single day.
• Subscribe to blogs about writing . Read them, participate, learn, share, and enjoy!
• Make it your business to understand grammar and language. Do you know a noun from a verb, a predicate from a preposition? Do you understand tense and verb agreement? You should.
• Use writing exercises to improve your skills, strengthen your talent, and explore different genres, styles, and techniques.
• Let go of your inner editor. When you sit down to write a draft, refrain from proofreading until that draft is complete.
• Allow yourself to write poorly, to write a weak, uninteresting story or a boring, grammatically incorrect poem. You’ll never succeed if you don’t allow yourself a few failures along the way. Do not refrain from writing because you’re worried it won’t be perfect!
• You are a writer so own it and say it out loud: “I am a writer.” Whether it’s a hobby or your profession, if you write, then you have the right to this title.
• Write, write, write, and then write some more. Forget everything else and just write.

115 Comments

This is a wonderful list of 22. I love how you’ve covered so many important elements but broken them down to simple rules to live by. 🙂

Be sure to re-read anything you wrote while “inspired”: it usually sucks. Your best writing is done with a cool head.

Great tips!

On #7, I’d add some emphasis: “Learn the rules and then break them. But LEARN THEM FIRST.”

But….there are no grammar “rules”, only grammar “guidelines”. History shows us different grammar “rules” have gone in an out of style over centuries…and ongoing!

Hi Kay. Actually, there are grammar rules, although they change throughout time. Grammar is fluid and constantly evolving. The way we construct a sentence today is quite different from a hundred years ago, and in another hundred years, sentences will undoubtedly look different than they do now.

Grammar doesn’t cover every aspect of writing, which is why professional writers use style guides that contain guidelines (as opposed to rules). For example, every sentence must contain a subject and a verb — that’s a rule. There are also exceptions to many of the rules. A sentence comprised solely of an interjection is valid, although it contains neither a subject nor a verb.

And we are all free to flout the rules as much as we want, but they do exist. One might argue that since there is no official body checking to make sure everyone is following the rules, they can’t be construed as rules at all, and I understand that argument, but there is a difference between what we would consider a rule and a guideline in the realm of writing.

Good one! The tips are great; I’ve bookmarked the post already.

Very nice set of tips here. I’ve been in this business for over two decades and I can attest to the fact that she didn’t miss a thing. Good job.

This a shoddy list. I cant think of any way this process and encouragement could actually better someone. It is treating writing like a job that anyone can be trained to do, involving only education and refinement of skill, when really writing is an expression of thought that does not require perfect grammar. If it understandable it can be proofread by someone who treats writing like employment. The author needs the ability to materialize plot and characters, even poetically. Just create great characters. Kurt Vonnegut has much better advice than this.

Writing is a job that most people can be trained to do. The lucky writers also possess some talent, but hard work trumps talent any day. Oh, and this list was not compiled specifically for fiction writers. I tried to put together a list that would be useful for a wide range of writers, whether they are copywriters, poets, or authors (fiction or nonfiction).

Thanks for stopping by. Melissa

Wow. Unlike a lot of advice I’ve seen about writing on the web, these tips are actually useful. ^_^ I’m so jazzed!

I’m working on a novel so I will be sure to remember these.

These are some awesome ideas and I am going to try and use them all , they are all very useful tips that everyone needs.

I stumbled upon this page and I’m glad I did. I’m going to take heed to your list 🙂

Great tips! I think that learning the rules and then breaking them applies to more than just grammar – it applies to structure, to headline writing, and beyond. Especially in blogging. Freedom, flexibility and creativity in writing are so critical, as is variety. It’s so easy when you write often to come up with formulas that work – and then stop looking beyond that for what could be better, or even just more interesting. That’s why I loved this challenge from Brian so much. Glad you participated!

The best book ever about writing is called ‘Writing Down the Bones’ by Natalie Goldberg. My sister gave me that Stephen King book, and it pretty much was an uninspiring mishmash compared to Goldberg’s tome. I’ve tried reading practical books about writing books and have come to the conclusion that the only way to make money as a writer is by writing a book telling other writers how to write.

Of course, if you’re more interested in getting a paycheck than in actually writing, then the “practical advice” including that in King’s book will work. But some of us long for the lost art of not writing either gory or tawdry bestselling fiction.

One bit of advice you do miss, and one that I find more than useful, is to complete your higher education. You don’t have to get a Master’s Degree to be a writer, but it sure helps to get your book published if you have a few letters attached to the end of your name. Either that, or be a celebrity.

Regarding point #11, it really does help to have other writers read your work. There are many writers-only community websites that don’t cost anything to join–Gather.com being one of them. I have learned more about writing from being in that community than by reading any book on the subject, no matter how good or recommended that book may be.

the list is really keepable in (at least) mind…!!!

thnx….

I don’t want to offend an above commenter, but I completely disagree with having to have a higher education to write, as one of the above commenters said. If someone loves to write, then WRITE – don’t worry about your status in life. Not all published authors possess college degrees just as Bill Gates and many others also don’t have collegiate degrees. Just because you have a degree doesn’t mean you can write. Anyone can write. A rare few possess that extraordinary quality that puts them on the top tier of literary genius and those people were not taught that by any level of degree. However, a degree does help for technical and non-fiction writing or to get a job at a newspaper. I hate seeing people say they can’t write because they don’t have a college degree. I’ve read writing by people with college degrees that was terrible and writing by those without degrees that was some of the best writing I’ve ever read. When you have a pen in hand or sit down at your computer, throw away your social status, your background, etc. and breathe life into your story. Your actual writing will say FAR more about you than a title behind your name will.

I would never aspire to BE a writer, buying every book on the subject…you just DO it. Look for interesting stories to tell (they are all around you). Open up a local newspaper, watch people, become intrigued with people in the real world. A writer’s best tool is a natural sense of curiousity about the world and the desire to tell the story behind it. If you can drive down a suburban street and wonder about the lives of those behind closed doors, you have the curiousity it takes to write good fiction.

One great writer I’ve read said that if you want to write lyrical and beautiful content, read poetry before you write. For some reason, it works. It’s like it shifts the gears and takes your writing to a whole new level.

I get the feeling that you think if someone wants to be a writer that they should… write a lot?

Really fruitful tips……..Thank You

I agree.Good tips for writting.

God knows I had a hard enough time constructing this response to your tips without utter abuse, and perhaps I will never be a great writer, but I believe that your 9th suggestion is an outrage.

In fact, I couldn’t read past it.

Imitation is suicide. I don’t understand how you or anyone as an individual with a unique voice could possibly identify with the mantra that you seem to espouse in your 9th tip.

I’m certain, since you’ve read the “great authors”, that you’ve read Ralph Waldo Emerson’s essay “Self-Reliance”, but it may be worthwhile for you to revisit such an important expression in defense of the individual’s voice in order for to become a better advisor to young writers.

Matthew Ramsey

I agree with Matthew Ramsey on his main point. Imitation only serves to perpetuate the myth that the only writing worth doing is in service of the publishers and their egos as well as their bad taste in writing. Authentic authorship is not as cost-effective for publishers to promote as is “fast food” writing.

The sad reality is that people are averse to taking chances. So-called “revolutionary” writing is hailed when the only radical approach these writers take is to twist the same plot that everyone else uses so that it really isn’t all that different in a substantial way. The music industry is just as bad, asking original-sounding artists “can you sing more like Mariah Carey” or “can you play this song more like U2? (You can use whomever else fits nicely in their stead.)

Of course, we’re just hitting our heads against this new wave of intellectual fry cooks who would rather make money than create significant original writing. After all, there’s really no money to be made in being true to our voices when the same old crap sells. There is no end to those more than happy to write to the tastes of the lowest common denominator. The same is true of non-fiction as well.

This may damn me for an everlasting place in the pantheon of the shunned, but I couldn’t care less about that. Life is too short to write horrid fiction anyway, and the best authors are those who are better known a century after they are dead–another sad commentary, showing that dead authors who won’t rock the boat are preferable to living ones who do.

Cynthia and Matthew,

I appreciate your strong feelings about imitation. However, since nowhere in this list did I encourage writers to imitate, I’m quite unclear as to how you’ve both become so engrossed in the issue.

If one’s intent is to become a writer, then it stands to reason that one would make study of the trade, and in doing so, would read a variety of literature, eventually gaining understanding of what gets published, what sells, what readers enjoy, and what earns recognition and acknowledgment.

For those who want to make a career out of writing, it must, on some level, be treated as a business. Anyone with an ounce of business sense will tell you to do your market research.

This doesn’t mean you should sell out or lose your voice, let alone use another’s voice. It just means know what’s out there , if for no other reason than to make sure you don’t, unwittingly, imitate.

Cynthia & Matthew Ever read Stephen King “On Writing” he suggests reading as much as possible, in fact he says when your not writing, you should be reading. Earnest Hemingway & William Faulkner, ever heard of these men? they say he same thing, in fact Faulkner says “Read, read, read. Read everything—trash, classics, good and bad, and see how they do it. Just like a carpenter who works as an apprentice and studies the master. Read! You’ll absorb it. Then write. If it is good, you’ll find out. If it’s not, throw it out the window.” -William Faulkner

So, who is correct, Cynthia & Mathew or Stephen King, Earnest Hemingway, & William Faulkner. I chose the latter three. By the way, Cynthia & Mathew what have you written lately???? We would love to see it!!!

P.S. I know I am late to this post, I just discovered it, as I only recently began to study the art of writing

I’ve been feeling so dry lately when it comes to my writing. I’m twenty years old and I feel so inexperienced with life. But these tips are helping me revive my writing past.

At the age of 74, and with no college experience ,I am sure I will never be a ‘great’ writer. you have,however, renewed my desire to write. My passion is people and life, and writing my outlet. I want to touch hearts and make the world a better place,at least for some, or someone. I will write from my heart,though I know without the head there would be no writing. Whatever may be, I pray the world will be a better place because I tried. Thank you for the inspiration to try again.

Great tips! Cosmo will be jealous…

I like what you said about Rule #7. Learn the grammar rules, and then break them.

The trick is to know how to adapt to your audience.

As Mr. Project Engineer, I spend the entire day writing dry technical documents that obsessive-compulsive managers love to micro-edit to half to death. This is when strict adherence to proper grammar and spelling is mandatory.

But, when I write as the Friar, I kinda relax the rules (like I am right now). It’s more fun to write this way even though it’s not grammatically perfect. It also makes my stories more readable.

If I wrote my Blog as Mr. Project Engineer, I’d have zero readers.

@Friar: I used to work as a technical writer and for years I did mostly business writing. Switching back to a creative mode takes a bit of effort (for me, anyway).

I agree….until recently, the only writing I ever did was technical. It’s painful, nit-picky writing.

This “creative” writing is completely new to me. I need to unlearn some of my old habits.

Kind of like trying to teach a draftsman who’s only used AutoCad how to paint a landscape.

@Friar: I hear you! It’s a difficult adjustment but I’m sure we can do it!

A fantastic site, and brilliant effort. A great piece of work.,

I disagree about the Stephen King book. He does not advise anyone to write the way he does, and his instruction and encouragement are not geared at teaching writers how to do so. King gives a lot of solid advice in his book. His recommendation to avoid deliberately trying to increase your vocabulary is among the best advice I’ve heard or read anywhere– no one can be a good writer using words he doesn’t know how to use properly.

You may not like King’s work, but he writes for himself and has luckily found an audience who likes to read him. You might consider his writing awful tripe, but it’s written for a little more than profit. If you have any doubt, compare King’s novels to Dean Koontz’s.

I also think it’s more than a bit hypocritical to recommend reading practical advice only if you’re more interested in getting a paycheck than writing well, then, in the next paragraph, to recommend having “letters” attached to the end of your name in order to get a paycheck for your crappy writing. Higher education is certainly valuable (I have both a baccalaureate and a professional degree), but getting your crappy writing published because you have a degree does not make your writing better than writing published because it is “gory” or “tawdry.”

Anything that helps a writer identify the flaws in his writing and work to diminish them is the kind of instruction that writer needs.

this blog contains great articles.

Why thank you.

You can never underestimate the power of writing poorly. I have friends who get so frustrated that their writing isn’t coming out well so they just call it quits. It’s important to remember that it might turn out bad sometimes, but you need to find what you like in the poor stuff and expand on it.

I think most artists and creative people go through phases where they struggle and everything just seems to come out all wrong. That’s why sticking with it is so important. Never give up!

Great tips. I really like the one about creating a writing space in your own home. When I had my own place, I had an extra room that I could use as a writing study, and it did wonders for my concentration.

Now that I’ve moved back in with my parents, it’s harder to find the space. Of course, writing isn’t about where you do it, so it’s not a big deal, but I’m looking forward to the day when I can have a writing study again.

Creating a writing space is probably one of the most difficult of all these tips because a lot of people just don’t have room in their homes. However, all you really need to write is a notebook and a pen, so your writing place could always be a comfy chair or a seat by a window with an inspiring view.

What a wonderful site so much information and simple tips. Thank you

Thanks, Maria!

I wanted to offer a tip of my own, for consideration. When I’ve written numerous pages at a time and I feel as if the ‘moment’ is passing, I like to have a cd burned with instrumentals of different songs to kind of carry the emotion over page by page, word by word. The classics, such as Beethoven and Mozart are helpful keeping me mellow and yet still inspired and of course if the story calls for drama, or excitement- I must have some Biggie Smalls instrumentals playing in the background. ; ) Hope that would help someone if they tried it.

When you can’t write anything, it means you need to read something.

Definitely!

I especially like rules 6 and 10. Strunk & White is indeed great! More extensive guides I really like are Sheridan Baker’s THE PRACTICAL STYLIST and Diana Hacker’s A WRITER’S REFERENCE.

Though not a Vonnegut fan, I can’t help enjoying an odd-sounding rule attributed to him:

Write like somebody else.

(This will have zero appeal to most writers of free-verse poetry, who think that the whole point and sole point is to express YOURSELF.)

I haven’t read much Vonnegut (maybe none), but I am interested in reading some of his work. I’ve eyed Hocus Pocus a few times and it’s definitely on my wish list! Wonder if I’ll like it…I do like “write like somebody else.” That’s a great tip for fiction writers!

Really very useful tips. Thanks a lot !

You’re very welcome! thanks for reading and commenting!

Some writing tips: Writers always need to be true to themselves. Write down everything. Know your proofreading marks. Take a college level or English Compsition course.

Yes! Thanks for adding these tips!

FOCUS on one subject or topic.

I almost included something like that, but then I realized that single-subject writing doesn’t work well for many writers. But if you work best when sticking to one topic, then you definitely should. This is why one of the secrets of great artistry is trying different methods and techniques to see what works best for you. Thanks!

Amen to #21 “I am a writer” 🙂

Amen and hallelujah!

It amazes me how many times people have to hear point 1 before they get it. The only way anyone succeeds at anything is by practising. If you’re not writing more than the next man, you’ll never learn to write in a more interesting way than the next man.

Even though we writers are supposed to avoid clichés, “practice makes perfect” comes to mind. There’s a reason it became cliché (because it was true enough to be repeated often!).

True inspiration!!!

Thanks so much!

Great tips. My biggest problem is to stop thinking about it and just do it. Another tip, is to build a website about something you’re passionate about. To be successful you need a lot of content, so by having a website you have a goal and many pages to write.

I started my creative writing website a little over a year ago and have over 99 pages of content built, it’s a great goal to work towards!

Passion is crucial when you’re developing a website. I’ve learned that firsthand after several projects that I started never got off the ground. You know what they say: do what you love and the money will follow. I would add to that: if you do what you love, joy will always be present.

Great advise. It’s true do what you love and it doesn’t feel like work!

“8. Stop procrastinating. Turn off the TV, tune out the rest of the world, sit down, and write.”

Translation: Get off of Facebook and write!

This is my biggest problem. Too often do I find myself wasting time on Facebook when my creative juices are flowing out of my ears… I have found that my best writing happens when I’ve turned off my Internet and given full concentration to my writing. …with inspirational music playing as well, of course. 🙂

Absolutely. Facebook and Twitter are fun and they can be useful as marketing tools, but mostly they are just time-sucks. I haven’t been using either very much for the past few months. I kind of miss them and I’ll go back eventually, but for now, I’m just too busy and I’d rather write and play music when I’m not working. Stay away from those evil Facebook games! They can be a writer’s greatest adversity!

Great tips. Having a blog has been the best way for me to improve my writing. I often need to go for a walk to clear my head before sitting down to write

Julia M Lindsey Our Little Books

Walks, yoga, and playing music are the best ways to clear one’s head!

These are truly great tips. Number 3, about carrying a notebook is one of the most valuable. You never know what is going to pop into your head at any point in time that you might want to jot down. If you have a memory like mine, it’s the only way to capture things. I had a great idea yesterday but I can’t remember what it was… I just remember it was great. D’oh! Also, as I get older, I’m people-watching much more than I did in my 20s and 30s. That’s where huge amounts of my inspiration comes from.

I agree 100%. I always have a small notebook nearby and keep them stashed in my purse, car, nightstand drawer, etc. Also, now that I have a smart phone, I can always use that to make notes or do a quick recording so I don’t lose my ideas. I used to call myself and leave voice mails if for some reason I didn’t have a notebook with me.

how can i improve my vocaaabulary and also how can i minimize my writing errors.give me some short cut ideas if u can.thanks.

Unfortunately, there are no shortcuts. It takes a long time to develop solid writing skills and a well-rounded vocabulary. However, one of the best things you can do is read. Read as much as possible and read work that is well written. Look for work that is published by credible and reputable publishers – the literary classics, for example.

I believe the gist of what you have written here is the cataclysm of Matthew and Cynth’s above comments – “imitating” the literary classics. Of course, I could be wrong. I tend not to give much literary weight to the so-called classics simply because they tend to lack gender and cultural diversity. Are we saying white men garner the most (if not all) classical literary genius? (I have the same gripe with classical music).

Kay, I’m not sure what you mean by “cataclysm of Matthew and Cynth’s above comments.” I did not suggest people imitate literary classics in the post. I suggested people study the classics in order to understand what kind of works are studied for generations to come. Having said that, imitation is a sound method of study for beginners in all the arts. Musicians play other people’s songs before composing their own. Artists copy other people’s paintings when they are new to the craft. In writing, imitation would be a good way to learn about voice and style. And to be clear, I’m not suggesting writers imitate established authors in the publishing arena but instead in the field of practice and study. I personally never did that, and I don’t think it’s essential, but it can work as a useful learning exercise.

Also, I agree with you 100% about the lack of diversity in the classics that are studied and hailed as the great works. They do lack gender and cultural diversity, and it’s a huge problem. I was fortunate to study literature at a school where I had the opportunity to take courses in ethnic and women’s literature. It’s a shame these works are presented in separate classes, and frankly, I found many of them to be much better than the works we studied in the more conventional literary courses. This is actually a big peeve of mine as inequality rankles me. It’s something we need to work together as a society to fix.

I think all 22 of these tips are great, my favorite one is number 2!

Thanks, Becca! That’s my favorite, too.

Great inputs there again Melissa. I like numbers 17 and down. All the rest are experienced and precondition for the making of a writer.

I just ordered several copies of Melissa’s book, 101 Creative Writing Exercises for my grandchildren. I started writing a memoir over a year ago; Melissa has inspired me to stick with it. Melissa’s tips are helpful and inspiring. Writing Forward is a brilliant concept.

Thank you so much! A memoir is a lovely legacy. Best of luck in your writing adventures!

Hi Melissa,

As newbies should we try to write like the novelists who churn out bestsellers one after another or tell a tale which our heart longs to convey in our unique style?Our styles may not always be interesting and I don’t think one should sacrifice the uniqueness of his craft ever.That’s what defines us but then,how to make our work more sellable?

Peter, I think you should write what you want. If you want to be a commercial best-selling author, then by all means, study that part of the industry and go for it. Personally, I prefer writing from the heart and stories that are more unique (and some of these do make the best-seller list). It’s worthwhile to take some time and set goals or decide what kind of writer you want to be. Style comes with years of practice and experience and is a matter of taste. If you’re just writing your first novel, I would recommend that you focus on getting it written and worry about selling it later. Lots of writers end up tucking their first novels into a bottom drawer and chalking it up to experience (myself included).

Amen to “Write”! I started years ago and allowed a couple of rather nasty experiences to stop and it takes three times as much energy to start (again) as it does to keep goint

That’s true. If you can form a good habit to write every day, it’s easier to keep going. I like to write (fiction) late at night and it’s getting to where I can’t sleep if I don’t put down at least 500 words (usually I get over 1000). Even if it’s messy, senseless, and I know it’s going to get cut, I have to do it. That’s a habit I don’t intend to break!

Am willing to be a best writer but due to social status am slow in achieving my dream.

One of the wonderful things about writing is that it’s accessible to people of all social statuses. Ray Bradbury educated himself at a local library and became one of the most celebrated writers in the world. Read a lot, write as much as you can, and you’ll do fine.

I respectfully disagree with you, Melissa:

One of the frequent and grave errors we (humans) tend to do is assume that if a few select of us are “successful” at (x) that “anyone” doing (x) has the wherewithal to be just as successful. This line of reasoning is especially prevalent when speaking of those who “beat the odds” of failure. Only in scientific reasoning is this flawed line of reason fully recognized: if you change one variable – no matter how significant or insignificant on the resultant – a different result will always obtain. In other words, no two persons share identical experiences (personal or external), so why is it expected that doing (x) will result in success for every individual (despite her unique life experiences)?

Hi Kay. I’m not sure what you disagree with. My article does not imply that “anyone doing X has the wherewithal to be just as successful…” These tips are to help people maximize their potential and increase their odds of becoming successful in writing. Studying strategies that have led to success can certainly help with that, but nowhere did I offer any guarantees, because there are no guarantees in life. But if you study, practice, and do the work, you definitely improve your chances.

One of the most important challenges before an author is figuring out how to enrich and add value to the audience and in so doing to stand out from the pack in a meaningful way.

I just love this article! I love it!

I generally will subscribe to the assertion in your tips especially the nos 17 which ponders on writing irrespective of whether there are grammatically correct or wrong,valid or invalid but the bulk still rest on the individual personality involved cos it takes a determine mind to still continue on that streak knowing fully well that his writeup are poor and uninteresting.However, like the aphorism entails ‘winners never quit and quitters never win’

I find it’s the best way to capture lots of ideas that are flowing quickly through my mind. Love the quote “winners never quit and quitters never win.”

thankyou! that was really helpful, im only young but i think writting and reading is for me as i enjoy it so much, you never know maybe i could be a writter some day, thanks again helped me soo much!

Just stick with it and see what happens!

Carry a voice recorder or a mini note pad with you so when an idea pops in your head you can instantly record it, or write it in your note pad.

I always have my iPhone on me and both the notepad and voice recorder apps have come in handy when I need to save some idea for later!

I am a writer. I love the sound of that and I love saying it to myself, but I always feel like if I say it to a stranger they are going to say yeah right! Lol

For a lot of writers, it takes time to get used to saying, “I am a writer.” But as long as you’re writing, you’re a writer, and you might as well declare it to the world.

Great list, Melissa! Although, the way I see it, one should be very careful with tips#9 and #10. Reading the works of great writers is helpful if only one doesn’t attempt to resemble another person’s style and doesn’t lose herself/himself trying to follow the beaten track. It is also a good idea to be observant. Outer world is a great source of inspiration and themes to write about.

Some young writers may actually be encouraged to mimic great authors (this is something painters do as well). It would be done as an exercise in studying the voices of important authors, and by studying their voices, aspiring authors can shape their own voices. If they’re reading widely, accidental mimicry shouldn’t be a problem. But writers do need to be self-aware, because if we read too much of a single author, their voice can get into our heads and then creep into our writing.

Dear Melissa,

I almost never respond to blogs, but this particular thread has inspired me to write to you. I appreciate the original list of rules/ideas, and by extension, the pile of reaction/ responses. I enjoy having lists to read to inspire me when I’m feeling flat, so, accordingly I have lots of them floating around which I will use to kick me back into gear when I’m uninspired. Or if I forget what I’m writing about. Writing is my– let’s see, third or fourth career (this life), and I deeply appreciate any help I can get in trying to make it go; your list of tips is really excellent. Thank you. I’m going to recommend it to everyone who asks me what I use for my inspiration. Though I must say: having lived a life worth living is also really a big help.

Hi Jason. Thanks for sharing your thoughts about writing, lists, inspiration, and living–which is definitely a big help for writers, because it gives us plenty of material to draw from.

Definitely you should read as much as possible, but not just in your chosen genre. If you want to write fantasy, read history. If you want to write about spaceships, read stories about war in submarines, workers on oil rigs, ice road and outback truckers. There is plenty of real life experience out there that can be taken and adapted to your setting and characters

I agree, Jonathan.

Good article. One could even take the initiative to make their own blog to post their works and to gain a following; if one desires to pursue a career in writing even if it’s just freelancing.

Thanks, Ashley. Yes, a blog is a great way to start publishing and finding readers.

I think an excellent way to “learn” creative writing is to identify an interesting approach in someone else’s work – then write something on your own to reapply that approach in your own words. Repeat every day!

That is certainly one of many ways to learn new writing techniques, and a good one.

That’s great article. Really liked it. Point no 8 is very important …..Thanks.

Thanks, Anupam. Glad you liked it.

You had me at number 1 – Do it, write!

It’s the only way!

A great set of tips. Thank you.

You’re welcome!

Excellent share. Will be trying some of your tips next time.

Thanks! Glad you liked it.

Trackbacks/Pingbacks

• Of the 22 best writing tips, No. 15 is a good idea « sans serif - [...] Read the full story here: The 22 best writing tips ever [...]
• Mom’s Musings » Blog Archive » Blogs for Writers - [...] Also, here are the 22 Best Writing Tips Ever! [...]
• Cosmopolitan Link Karma | Copyblogger - [...] The 22 Best Writing Tips Ever [...]
• Reflections | Writ101 with Molly - [...] The 22 best writing tips ever. [...]
• 21 Must-Read Blogs for Luck-Makers — Happenchance - [...] The 22 Best Writing Tips Ever [...]
• How to Become a Writer - [...] The 22 Best Writing Tips Ever [...]
• Keeping On Track – A Writer’s Checklist… | Mandy Eve Barnett's Official Blog - […] http://www.writingforward.com/writing-tips/the-22-best-writing-tips-ever […]

Submit a Comment Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed .

Subscribe and get The Writer’s Creed graphic e-booklet, plus a weekly digest with the latest articles on writing, as well as special offers and exclusive content.

Recent Posts

• Should You Write Fast or Write Well?
• Writing Tips: Kill Your Darlings
• Writing Resources: A Poetry Handbook
• 12 Nature-Inspired Creative Writing Prompts
• Poetry Writing Exercises to Engage the Senses

Write on, shine on!

Pin It on Pinterest

• General SEO
• Keyword Research
• On-Page SEO
• Link Building
• Technical SEO
• Enterprise SEO
• General Marketing
• Content Marketing
• Affiliate Marketing
• Paid Marketing
• Video Marketing

21 Writing Tips to Become a Better Writer Fast

• Linking websites 72

The number of websites linking to this post.

This post's estimated monthly organic search traffic.

I have personally written thousands of articles over the years, covering everything from writing itself to digital marketing, travel, insurance, and more. My work has been featured on some of the world’s top marketing blogs, including Shopify, Content Marketing Institute, Social Media Examiner, and many others. I’ve built my entire career on the written word.

I don’t say this to gloat—just to show you that I know what I’m talking about when it comes to writing. And I’m about to share what I know.

In this article, we’ll go through 21 tips to become a better writer. But first, let’s discuss what “good writing” really is.

What makes good writing?

Writing is part art, part science. There are no perfect words or perfect sentences, but there is a clear difference between good writing and bad writing. 

Good non-fiction writing:

• Is easy to understand.
• Is well-formatted.
• Has proper grammar and spelling.
• Gets to the point.
• Holds your attention.

Good writing really comes from good editing . It’s rare that a first draft comes out polished and ready to publish.

But great writing has some extra spice to it. It intrigues and motivates. It moves the reader to want to do something. It gets you thinking.

Being a good writer is easy. Being a great writer takes time and dedication. Either way, becoming a better writer starts by following some basic tips and practicing often.

21 writing tips to help you write better, faster

In my decade of writing professionally (and many more years before that writing for fun), I’ve learned a lot about how to be a better writer. And I’ve boiled down my best advice into the following 21 tips.

1. Start with your end goal in mind

Before you put pen to paper (or fingers to keyboard), you should always know what your goal is. 

Why are you writing this article/email/book? What do you want the reader to take away from your writing?

For example, my goal for this article is to help you, the reader, become a better writer. That (hopefully) means you will follow some of these tips and implement them the next time you write.

2. Make an outline

Once you have a rough idea of your goal, it’s time to organize your thoughts with an outline.

A content outline will help you structure your writing logically and let it flow more naturally. It’s also helpful to get the bulk of your research out of the way before you start writing. This is so you don’t get distracted going back and forth between writing and research.

Plus, if you’re writing blog content, having an outline makes it easier to optimize your content for search engines from the get-go rather than optimization being an afterthought. 

3. Focus, focus, focus

After you start writing, it’s important to give it your full attention. This may sound simple, but avoid distractions like kids running around or checking your phone or email. 

I personally like to turn my phone on “silent” and mute my notifications, put on noise-canceling headphones, and listen to instrumental Lo-fi music. You can experiment to see if your brain does better with complete silence or light instrumental music. Heck, sometimes I even write while listening to bass-heavy EDM. 

Regardless, limit distractions as much as possible and allow yourself to focus on your writing.

4. Ditch the fancy words

Effervescent writing with decorative wording doesn’t serve to create an erudite discussion but rather sounds bloviating and obfuscates the actual meaning of your communication…

… or rather, fancy words only confuse people.

While using these words may make your writing look interesting, it detracts from the goal of being clear and concise. It makes it more difficult for the reader to understand your message.

Instead, try to use the simplest and easiest-to-understand words you can while still explaining what you’re trying to say.

5. Use shorter sentences but vary the lengths

Similar to using smaller words, you should also aim to shorten your sentences. 

Imagine if I wrote something that your brain had to continue to read, with multiple commas, multiple ideas, and varying concepts, all in one huge run-on sentence, that just didn’t seem to end, no matter how badly you wanted it to, not giving you any time to take a breath or digest the ideas you’re learning, and it just keeps dragging on…

Makes things hard to follow, right?

Instead, keep each sentence under 16–25 words unless absolutely necessary, and only share one or two ideas per sentence.

That said, you shouldn’t just use small sentences. If you do, it can get boring. Similar-sized sentences don’t entice. See what I’m doing here? All these sentences are of near-similar lengths. 

Compare that to this paragraph, where wording and length are varied. Share something quickly. Then reinforce it with a longer sentence that digs deeper, keeping the brain engaged. Maybe throw in a medium-length sentence as well.

Don’t stress too much about sentence length, but keep it in the back of your mind. It helps to give your writing some rhythm and make it sound more interesting.

6. Write in a conversational tone

Too often I see new writers trying to write in a way that sounds “professional.” Rather than writing in their natural voice and style, they try to sound too buttoned up.

This comes off as boring.

Instead, write like how you talk—within reason, of course. Don’t write a research paper like this. But if you’re writing a casual email or blog post, your writing should sound natural and flow as if you’re talking directly to the reader rather than giving a lecture to them.

7. Write every day

Remember how I said there’s a difference between good writers and great writers? Good writers learn a few tips and write once in a while. Great writers put in the time to practice.

This doesn’t necessarily mean writing an article every day. All forms of writing count, whether that’s crafting an email, writing a blog post, or scribbling in a journal. Have fun with it.

8. Master transitions

As any good copywriter will tell you, the purpose of a paragraph isn’t to convey an idea or make a point. Rather, it’s to get someone to read the next paragraph. 

Knowing how to transition from one idea or paragraph to the next is one of the biggest secrets to keep readers glued to the page. And that’s done with transitions.

The best way to get good at transitions is by reading your work out loud to spot abrupt changes or awkward spots, then editing to smooth these spots out. I talk more about that in the next tip.

9. Read your writing out loud to edit it

Remember: Good writing comes from good editing.

One of the biggest improvements I ever made to my writing came from reading my writing out loud while editing. By reading out loud, it becomes glaringly obvious where your writing sounds awkward, doesn’t transition well, or straight up doesn’t sound good.

If you use only a single tip from this article, use this one.

10. Start a journal or diary

Physically writing in a journal has been shown to have many health benefits , such as reducing anxiety and stress, helping you organize your thoughts, and even coping with depression.

But it also makes you a better writer.

Something about putting an actual pen to paper is magical. Doing this let me experience my second-biggest writing improvement (after the “reading work out loud” tip).

11. Use active voice

Your writing will be made better after reading this. You will write better after reading this.

Which of those two sentences sounds better? The latter is written in active voice, while the former is written in passive voice.

Active voice always packs more of a punch in a smaller package. It’s more interesting to read because it talks about a present action rather than some future possibility.

Check out Grammarly’s guide to active vs. passive writing to learn more.

12. Utilize first drafts

Good writing comes from good editing. You can’t edit without a first draft.

Don’t expect to write something up, never read it over, and have it published and sound amazing. It just doesn’t work like that 99% of the time.

Instead, write your thoughts in a first draft, then edit, edit, and edit some more.

13. Ditch adverbs

Adverbs are great when you really need to emphasize a point. See what I did there?

Using too many adverbs too often is just not necessary and really only distracts from the very point you’re really trying to make. 

Or: Using adverbs too often is not necessary and distracts from the point you’re trying to make.

Instead of saying “really,” or “very,” or whatever other adverb, try using the word without the adverb. Just delete the adverb and read the sentence out loud. And 9 times out of 10, you’ll find the adverb isn’t necessary and removing it makes your writing punchier.

14. Master punctuation

Commas, dashes, colons, and the like are all fantastic tools. But you need to know how to use the tools. Otherwise, they detract from—rather than enhance—your writing.

I often see new writers over-using long dashes and commas. You’d be surprised at how often you can just delete commas and still be grammatically correct.

Here’s a handy guide to help you get better with punctuation.

15. Ruthlessly cut fluff

If removing a word from a sentence—or a sentence from a paragraph—doesn’t take away from the point you’re trying to make, it’s probably fluff.

Too often we throw extra words or sentences into our writing to beef up the word count or sound more sophisticated. Don’t do that.

In my opinion, great non-fiction writing is about saying the most while using the fewest words. Again, it comes back to editing. Edit out the fluff like your life depends on it.

16. Have someone else read your draft

Having a fresh set of eyes on your work can help give you a perspective you couldn’t get when your head was down. Even if it’s just a friend or colleague who isn’t a great writer, have them read it and give you feedback.

You’ll either get a nice dopamine hit from the praise or some ideas on what sucks. Either way, it’s a win-win. 

17. Know your audience

Feedback from your peers is important, but what really matters is your final audience.

Not only will this improve your reader’s retention, but it will also help your content show up in Google search results. Doing some basic research can help your content align with search intent .

Search intent is the why behind the query. Why did they search for that phrase? What are they exactly searching for?

You can figure this out with some basic keyword research. Follow our guide to learn more.

18. Develop your curiosity

How many times did you need to write a paper in school or something for work that you just couldn’t care less about? How well did the paper come out?

Chances are, it could have been better. Great writers are genuinely curious about the thing they’re writing about, and that curiosity propels them to find the right words and sound more interesting.

So if you’re struggling to write about whatever you need to write about, find a way to get curious about it. Watch some interesting videos on YouTube or read interesting news stories on it. Do whatever you need to get curious.

19. Read great writers

If you want to be a great writer, you should read other great writers’ work. Find the best writers in the field you want to write about and start reading.

Google is your friend here.

20. Write somewhere new

My third-biggest writing improvement happened when I started writing at coffee shops, restaurants, cool hotels, and even out in nature.

There’s something about getting into a fresh environment that shakes your brain up and helps you find better words. Next time you’re struggling to write, go out and write somewhere new.

21. Sleep on it

Finally, if you’ve followed all these tips and still can’t seem to find the right words, just step away for a while. A good night’s rest can do wonders.

It’s funny how many times I felt like I was bashing my head off a brick wall trying to write something. But then just putting it down for tomorrow completely turned it around for me.

Sometimes, it’s best to put the pen down for a bit.

Final thoughts

The best writers make writing a daily practice and aren’t afraid to ruthlessly edit their work.

My three biggest tips out of the 21 are to read your writing out loud, keep a journal, and try writing in new places. Hopefully, those three simple things will help you become a better writer.

Ready for more? Here are a few other great articles:

• SEO Writing: 7 Steps to Create Search-Optimized Content
• Julian Shapiro’s Guide to Writing Well
• How to Build a Winning Content Marketing Strategy in 9 Steps

Writing Tips to Make You Better

If you want to become a better writer, get ready to do some work. Because it won't happen overnight, and not just because you want it to. You're going to have to practice.

On this page, you'll find some of my best tips, articles, and resources to help you get started as a writer — to get better not only at the craft of writing but also at the art of communicating.

Why am I sharing this?  Because I believe you have a story to tell — we all do — and the world needs to hear it. So let's dig in.

So… you want to be a writer?

This all begins with believing you already are a writer. So let's start there. My own journey of becoming a writer was an awakening of sorts — to who I already was. Maybe yours will be similar.

A writer is a writer when he says he is. —Steven Pressfield

Anyone who writes is a writer, but that doesn't mean they're a very good one. So let's talk about how to become a better writer. We'll begin with the basics — here are seven key lessons (with links to important articles about each):

• Writing is simple, but  not easy .
• Before you get a  larger audience , you have to get better.
• Practice makes you better; it's the repetitions that make it  effortless .
• Until you put your work out there, you're only screwing around. Write for real .
• You can't practice without discipline. Keep  showing up  and persevering.
• There will  always be resistance ; type through it, anyway.
• Get over your excuses  and do the work.

Before getting started

Before you begin writing, ask yourself these important questions:

• Why do I want to write?
• Who am I writing for ?
• What's my message ?
• Have I found my voice yet?
• What am I willing to sacrifice for my craft?
• What won't I give up?

Once you count the cost and make the decision to begin, it's time to start writing.

Tips for when you begin

I've coached and trained other writers for years. I've built a powerful personal brand and platform and used it to publish my work. I've experimented and seen as many failures as success. Through all of it, I want to use what I've learned to help other people.

So I hope this blog serves you in your writing journey in some way. I've written hundreds of articles here, which is a lot to sort through. Here is a list of 10 essential tips on writing:

• Write every day .
• Make sure your  writing is effective .
• Don't be lazy; do your best to avoid  sounding stupid .
• Stay focused ! Distraction is the enemy of all great art.
• Stop worrying about being a good writer ; just write .
• Forget about fame;  write what's worth writing .
• Get over your  perfectionist tendencies .
• Don't write to get published .
• Write with  conviction .

Build your platform

Although writers need to write first for the craft, it's not a bad thing to want to get published. But that's a byproduct, not a goal (For the real writer, anyway).

Look. This isn't just something that happens accidentally. You have to work at it. So how do you create work that earns you the attention of publishers, exactly? You build a platform .

These days, a lot of writers use blogs and the power of the Internet to get their writing discovered. There's no reason you can't do the same. Here are 10 basic tips on blogging and building an audience that will help you get published:

• In order to get noticed , you've got to be intentional.
• Narrow your  focus  to broaden your audience.
• Learn from copywriters, and  write for scanners .
• Engage with readers ( get more comments  on your blog).
• Be intentional about growing your blog traffic .
• Build an  email list  (like,  yesterday ).
• Use  guest posting  to tap into new audiences.
• Write great content, but don't stop there; build relationships , too.
• Expect haters .
• Help people .

Get a free newsletter on making your creative work succeed.

• The Minimalists
• What’s Minimalism?
• 30-Day Minimalism Game
• Our 21-Day Journey
• Popular Essays
• How to Start a Blog
• Media Praise
• Hire to Speak
• Simplify Everything
• How to Write Better

11 Ways to Write Better

We are all writers now. Whether you write books, blog posts, emails, Instagram captions, or text messages, you are a writer. No matter your preferred medium, here are a few tips to help you write more effectively.

Treat text messages like prose . Before hitting the send button, review your text: spelling, content, punctuation. Ask yourself: What am I attempting to communicate ? What am I attempting to express ? Be more deliberate with your most common form of casual writing, and you’ll automatically become more deliberate in other mediums.

Words are tools . Expand your vocabulary to make your writing more precise. There’s no need to use a ten-dollar word when a ten-cent word will suffice, but having more tools in your toolbox will allow you to select the most appropriate tool for the job. Sometimes you need an ax, sometimes you need a scalpel. Pick one new word each day, and then use it at least 21 times in your conversations with others that day. The most useful words will stick, and your vocabulary will expand over time.

Do it daily . If you want to improve your writing, write every day. Writing is a muscle: if you don’t use it, you lose it. For me, the best way to guarantee consistent writing was to start a blog. (Related article: How to Start a Successful Blog Today .)

Punctuation. Is. Pace . To add variety, velocity, and cadence to your writing, play around with different punctuation: periods, commas, em dashes, colons, semicolons. Short, succinct sentences communicate tension. Longer, run-on sentences, on the other hand, help establish a frantic, hurried rhythm—a feeling that the pace is picking up as the words tumble onto the page.

Avoid throat-clearing . Blogs, books, and social media posts are littered with unnecessary intros, solipsistic digressions, and avoidable drivel. Ditch the nonsense and state your points. When in doubt, delete your first two paragraphs and see whether the writing improves.

Don’t waste the reader’s time . Our time and our attention are two of our most precious resources. It is selfish to force a reader to spend fifteen minutes reading something you could’ve—and should’ve—communicated in 90 seconds. If you want to earn your reader’s trust, don’t waste their time.

30% composition, 70% editing . For every hour you spend writing, spend three hours editing, shaping your work into something more concise, more powerful—more beautiful. Writing truly is rewriting.

Narrative urgency . Every sentence must serve a purpose: Your first sentence must make the reader want to read the second. The second sentence must propel the reader to the third. So forth and so on until the very end. If a sentence doesn’t move the narrative forward—if it doesn’t make the writing more urgent—then it must hit the cutting-room floor, no matter how clever or precious it seems.

Avoid too many adverbs . A sure sign of amateur writing is the overuse of adverbs, especially -ly adverbs. A woman in a story isn’t incredibly pretty—she’s beautiful; the sky isn’t very blue—it’s azure. Find the perfect words to avoid using adverbs as crutches.

Follow the rules, and then unfollow the rules . Learn the rules so you can break them successfully. I recommend two books to my writing students to help them understand the guidelines of good writing: Grammatically Correct and Garner’s Modern English Usage .

Read more about writing . No matter your level of competency, there’s always room for improvement. For daily tips and writing-related articles, follow How to Write Better on Facebook and Twitter , and subscribe to the free How to Write Better newsletter .

If you’re serious about improving your writing, and you’re willing to put in the time and effort, I teach a dozen new students each month in my four-week online writing class, How to Write Better .

15 Ways to Write Better

We are all writers now. Whether you write books, blog posts, or Instagram captions, you are a writer. This short ebook contains fifteen tips to help you write more effectively.

You May Also Enjoy

Learn how to start a blog in less than an hour. Follow the step-by-step instructions we used when starting our blog, which now has reached more than 20 million people. Creating this blog is one of the best decisions Ryan and I ever made. After all, our blog is how we earn a living. More important, it's how we add value to other people's lives. Read more

Let's play a simple game together. We call it the 30-Day Minimalism Game. Find a friend, family member, or coworker who's willing to minimize their stuff with you next month. Read more

Minimalist Rulebook

Download our 16 rules for living with less in this beautifully designed ebook.

• Skip to main content
• Skip to secondary menu

Wylie Communications, Inc.

Writing workshops, communication consulting and writing services

Try these 8 tips for better writing

Get clicked, opened, read and shared — and more.

Want to write better stories? More persuasive messages? Otherwise boost your writing skills?

As we plan our upcoming Master Classes , I’ve been creating a lot of new slides. Here’s a sneak peek at some of my favorites:

1. Make the important interesting . It’s not enough that your message be important. To get attention, you need to make those important messages interesting. So use storytelling, metaphor, wordplay and other creative techniques .

2. Don’t forget to prewrite . Getting ready to write is the most important step in the writing process. But too many writers gloss over it — or worse, skip it altogether. So before you hit the keyboard, conduct research, develop your story angle and organize your piece . You’ll soon find yourself Writing Better, Easier and Faster.

3. Write content that’s relevant, valuable and interesting . That’s what people read and share. Are you writing content-marketing pieces that make readers laugh or that help them live their lives better ? Or are you just blah-blahing about your latest widget?

4. Reach nonreaders with words . “Readers” read, on average, 20% of the words on a webpage, according to the Nielsen Norman Group. So how do you reach nonreaders with words?

Pass The Skim Test . Make sure readers can get the gist of your message without reading a single paragraph. That means embedding key messages in headlines, decks, subheads, links, lists, bold-faced lead-ins and other display copy.

5. Tailor, don’t just personalize, subject lines . For higher open rates, go beyond, “Hey, Ann.” So add a second data point to your subject line . That will multiply your campaign success by 10 times, according to Eloqua.

6. Make sound bites sound better . One-quarter of journalists rank quotes the least important element in a news release — after the boilerplate and the dateline. Make your sound bites more compelling by focusing on the end user.

7. Half of your audience members can’t read at the 8th-grade level . Write at that level, and you’ll miss 50% of your readers. To reach all of your readers, however well they read , hit Flesch Reading Ease of 60 to 70.

8. Front-load your web heads . On search engine results pages, newsrooms and other story lists, people read only the first couple of words of your headline. If they don’t get your key message, chances are, they won’t click.

So draw readers in by front-loading your web headlines . Move the topic to the top of your headline so readers get the gist of your message in the first 11 characters.

Share this:

Reader interactions, leave a reply cancel reply.

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Reach more readers with our writing tips

Learn to get the word out with our proven-in-the-lab techniques in our email newsletter.

How to Become a Better Writer: 18 Actionable Tips to Use Today

Alana Chase

With over 10 years’ experience in editing and editorial team management, Alana serves as Eleven's Head of Editing, aiding editors in creating top-quality content and overseeing recruitment to ensure only the best of the best join Eleven’s ranks. A seasoned digital journalist and writer, Alana holds an MA in Creative Writing and is accomplished in spearheading content strategy at high-growth media startups.

Becoming a better writer can feel overwhelming. You’re brimming with ideas and bursting with passion, but figuring out which advice to follow and where you need to improve can leave you feeling discouraged.

Our editors at Eleven have coached hundreds of writers in improving their skills and unlocking their full potential. Now, we’re here to lend you the same helping hand.

In this article, we’ll share 18 tips — plus plenty of resources — that can transform you into a stronger, more confident writer. 

Let’s dive in!

Establish a writing habit

Like practicing any skill regularly, consistently writing helps you improve over time, allowing you to steadily build up your experience and confidence.

Make writing part of your regular routine — but start small so you don’t overwhelm yourself. Set aside 10-15 minutes per day to write, then steadily increase the number of minutes as you get more comfortable. 

You may find it helpful to write at the same time each day, such as before your morning coffee or an hour before bed. Or, you can write whenever you’d like to.

You needn’t set rules about what to write during dedicated writing time, either. You can “brain dump” (where you write anything that comes to mind), do some reflective journaling, flesh out a story you’ve been mulling over, explore new ideas, or refine your existing work. The important thing is to put pen to paper or fingers to keys each day. 

As you’re forming your habit, you can use a personal productivity app such as Habitica , Streaks , or Way of Life to track your writing streaks.

Reading more is one of the easiest ways to improve your writing skills. It opens you up to different writing styles, narrative structures, storytelling techniques, and modes of expression. You can also see well-constructed sentences and proper grammar usage in action, get exposed to convincing arguments, understand how to convey emotions and ideas in writing, and more.

Essentially, by reading regularly, you passively learn from established writers , absorbing what makes their writing compelling so you can apply it to your own work. 

You can read anything you’d like, but we recommend reading across genres and forms to broaden your perspective. For example, try reading blog articles and short stories, novels and non-fiction books, etc.

Take notes on what you read. What do you enjoy about it? What do you feel makes it strong writing? Doing this helps you pinpoint techniques you can use in your writing.

Do your research

The best writing is well-researched writing. Strong research adds depth and credibility to your work, which helps secure readers’ trust and interest. Solid research skills also make it easier to present convincing arguments and convey your ideas clearly — both hallmarks of excellent writing.

No matter what you’re writing, take the time to dive into your topics and collect information from reliable sources. These include digital libraries and databases like JSTOR and Google Scholar , reputable outlets like the BBC and the New York Times , and academic journals like Nature . 

Check the authority of the websites you get your information from using Ahrefs, which calculates sites’ domain ratings (DR). The higher the score, the more authoritative the source.

Additionally, get into the habit of fact-checking and cross-referencing information to ensure accuracy. Snopes is one of the best fact-checking tools available, and Reuters has tons of articles confirming or denying recent news reports. Pepper Content also has a great guide on fact-checking for beginners .

Never forget to outline

An outline serves as the roadmap for your writing , ensuring solid structure and good flow — both markers of excellent writing. (In fact, “Structure & Flow” is one of the seven areas Eleven’s editors focus on when editing articles.)

Take the time to create an outline before you start drafting. You can create your outlines using pen and paper, a mind-mapping tool like MindMeister , or your favorite word processor — e.g., Microsoft Word or Google Docs.

Begin by jotting down your main ideas, then expand on each with supporting ideas and details. Be sure to add an introduction and conclusion to your outline, too.

Here’s an example outline for a short blog post on how to choose the best gaming laptop:

• Introduction
• What to Look For in Gaming Laptops
• Performance
• Processor speed and capabilities
• Graphics card specifications
• RAM and storage capacity
• Display and graphics
• Screen size and resolution
• Refresh rate and response time
• Graphics quality and technology
• Portability and design
• Weight and dimensions
• Build quality and materials
• Keyboard and overall aesthetics

Brush up on grammar

You don’t have to be a grammar whiz to be a great writer, but knowing the basics (punctuation rules, subject-verb agreement, etc.) can go a long way in helping you communicate your ideas clearly. 

A good grasp of grammar also allows you to catch and correct minor mistakes before submitting your work to an editor or a client or publishing it online. It makes your writing feel more polished and professional.

Here are some of our favorite resources for improving your grammar knowledge:

• Eleven’s Grammar Guides , created by expert editors
• Purdue University’s Online Writing Lab
• Grammarly’s Complete Guide to English Grammar
• The “Language Rules” section of Scribbr’s knowledge base (especially great for academic writing)

There are also many grammar checkers you can use — we’ll cover those later in this article.

Avoid passive voice

Passive voice — where the subject of a sentence is being acted upon — can make your writing seem stiff and dull. 

The opposite of passive voice is active voice , where the subject of a sentence performs an action. Active voice injects energy into writing and makes it easier to read by emphasizing who/what is doing the action. 

For example:

• Passive voice: “The cake is being eaten by the children.”
• Active voice: “The children are eating the cake.”

An easy way to ensure you use active voice is to place the “doer” of the action (e.g., “the children”) at the start of your sentence. Then, include the action (e.g., “are eating”) and what’s receiving the action (e.g., “the cake”). 

Use powerful verbs

Swapping adverb phrases for powerful verbs is an easy, effective way to level up your writing. This is because powerful verbs convey specific emotions and actions, making your work more vivid and impactful .

❌ Eliza walked slowly. 

✅ Eliza crept.

Why it works: This paints a vivid picture of Eliza’s movements and evokes a sense of fear. The result is an immersive sentence that captures the reader’s imagination.

Check out this list of strong verbs for inspiration.

Being concise means using fewer words to get your points across. Concision helps writers communicate clearly and keep their readers engaged by avoiding unnecessary details.

Below are some quick ways to increase concision in your work.

Trim unnecessary words/phrases

For example: 

“At this point in time” → “Now”

“Due to the fact that…" → “Because”

“Despite the fact that…” → “Although”

​​“Last but certainly not least…” → “Lastly”

Eliminate redundancies

“absolutely essential” → “essential”

“evolve over time” → “evolve”

“desirable benefits” → “benefits”

“future plans” → “plans”

“unexpected surprise" → "surprise"

“repeat again” → “repeat”

Simplify sentence structure

“Due to the fact that it was raining, we decided to stay indoors.” → 

“We stayed indoors because it was raining.” 

Avoid throat-clearing

❌“It’s important to remember that…”

❌“Note, however, that…”

❌“It is essential to point out that…”

Consider your audience

Regardless of what you’re writing, you should know who you’re writing for . This ensures your message resonates with the readers you’re targetting.

Consider their backgrounds, knowledge levels, and expectations as you write, and tailor your tone and style accordingly. For example, writing for a tech-savvy audience may allow for more jargon, while a general audience might need simpler language.

Remembering why your audience is reading your work is just as important. For example, are they looking for a solution to a problem? Ensure you provide them with practical, how-to advice. Do they want to be entertained? Then check your work has a compelling story, interesting characters, and moments of humor or suspense.

Fully explain your ideas

Being a great writer involves expressing your ideas fully and clearly, leaving no room for confusion . This is especially important in academic, professional, persuasive, and blog writing.

Start by outlining your main ideas, then build on them with additional details. This ensures you won’t forget any points as you write your first draft. 

As you write, break down any complex concepts into smaller, simpler parts. Support your ideas with examples, analogies, and how-to advice where appropriate. For example, say you’re discussing the mathematical concept of algorithms. You might compare algorithms to a recipe, where you follow steps to reach a certain outcome. 

This way, your work will be clear and easy to follow — even if you’re writing about intricate or technical topics.

Write strong introductions and conclusions

Introductions and conclusions are the bookends to your writing. Both need to be strong or else your work will lack structure, feel incomplete, and fail to engage your audience. 

Introductions open the door to your ideas, inviting readers in and sparking their curiosity. You either appeal to their emotions or speak to their pain points.

Conclusions, on the other hand, can sum up your main thoughts and urge the reader to take action, pack a big emotional punch, or emphasize your core argument.  

This is what Eleven’s editors look for in blog article introductions :

• Identifies the target audience and their main pain point(s). Uses the right tone and vocabulary for the audience; mentions specific, relevant, and relatable challenges that the audience may face.
• Concise and to the point, with no fluff, rambling, throat-clearing, or preamble.
• "Hooks" the reader by providing a unique and actionable solution, benefit, or desired outcome to be expanded upon in the article.
• Includes a short bridge into the article, appropriate for the audience. For example: “In this article...”, “Below, you’ll find...”, “Keep reading for...”

And here’s what our editors look for in blog article conclusions :

• Conclusion concisely summarizes main points of the article and contains no new information or perspectives.
• Avoid literal summaries — e.g., “In this article, you learned...” or “This articlecovered 5 tips for...”

Eleven’s Head of Operations, Christian Rigg, has also written excellent guides on writing strong introductions and crafting excellent blog article conclusions . You can apply these tips to academic and persuasive writing, too. 

For creative writers , here are some resources to check out:

• “ How to Write the Perfect Ending for Your Novel ” from MasterClass
• “ 7 Tips for Writing Effective Endings to Short Stories ” from Writer’s Digest
• “ How to End a Story: 7 Tips for Fiction Writers ” from Reedsy
• “ The Dos and Don’ts of Novel Endings ” from Writer’s Digest

Don’t fear imperfections

To become a better writer, you’ll need to let go of the idea of perfection in your first draft. First drafts aren’t meant to be flawless finished products — they’re a starting point for your ideas.

As novelist Stephen King puts it, “[The first draft] is completely raw, the sort of thing I feel free to do with the door shut — it's the story undressed, standing up in nothing but its socks and undershorts.”

So, don’t get bogged down with self-editing and rewriting while drafting. Instead, just focus on capturing your thoughts in your first draft. You can refine your phrasing, structure, style, and anything else you’d like in subsequent drafts. 

Read your writing aloud

Reading your work out loud is a fantastic way to gauge your writing’s flow, clarity, concision, and more. It’s also perfect for ensuring you’re striking the right tone for your audience — e.g., formal or casual. 

Verbalizing your writing allows you to catch confusing phrases, run-on sentences, paragraphs that lack cohesion, awkward transitions, sections that need more detail or context, etc. In doing so, you spot the exact areas to improve your work . 

Not a fan of your own voice? Ask a trusted friend, family member, or peer to read your work aloud. Or, you can use text-to-speech tools such as NaturalReader .

Edit, edit, edit

The best writers are also strong self-editors: They can carefully analyze and polish their writing so it’s clear and valuable to their audience. 

Plus, the more you edit your work, the better you'll understand what you’re good at and where you can improve — making you a more effective writer over time.

Nailing self-editing isn’t as difficult as you may think, either. At Eleven, we’ve developed a simple, three-stage process for self-editing :

• First Pass (5 minutes per 1,000 words): Read your work and ensure it answers the reader’s question, is focused and doesn’t go off on tangents, provides value, and speaks to your target audience. Flag any areas that need adjusting and rewrite them. 
• Second Pass (15-20 minutes per 1,000 words): Edit individual sentences and adjust specific words and phrases. Ensure your writing is concise, the tone matches your intended audience and stays consistent, your writing is clear (without any vagueness), and you use active voice wherever possible. 
• Third Pass (5 minutes per 1,000 words): Check for spelling and grammar errors. Pay close attention to punctuation mistakes (e.g., “its” versus “it’s”), misused commas, commonly confused words (e.g., “they’re,” “their,” and “there”), compound words (e.g., “everyday” the adjective and “every day” to describe frequency), and subject-verb agreement errors (e.g., “The dogs is barking” versus “The dogs are barking”). 

Be open to feedback

Learning to accept and act on feedback is a huge part of becoming a better writer. It isn’t a judgment on worth but rather an opportunity for you to improve . Even successful authors continually learn and evolve through constructive criticism!

Start by seeking input from your peers, and consider joining writing communities like Critique Circle and Scribophile to connect and exchange feedback with fellow writers. (Eleven also has its own writing community—launching soon.)

When requesting feedback, ask for notes on areas you felt you struggled with, such as pacing or character development. Then, polish up your work based on the feedback you receive.

Take advantage of writing tools

Improving as a writer becomes easier with the help of writing tools. These don’t just correct your grammar — they can also teach you how to write more concisely, help expand your vocabulary, provide instant feedback, improve your narrative structure skills, and more. 

Below are some of our favorite writing tools.

• Grammarly : Corrects grammar and spelling and provides suggestions for sentence structure, word choice, tone, and more to boost clarity and coherence. Grammarly also has a generative AI feature with several tools to improve and expand your writing. 
• Hemingway Editor : Highlights spelling and grammar errors, flags complex sentences, and suggests simpler alternatives. It aims to make your writing easier to read by encouraging you to use straightforward language and active voice. 
• Wordtune : ​​ An AI-powered editing tool that flags spelling and grammar errors and provides suggestions to enhance the tone, style, structure, and clarity of your writing. It has a ton of other generative AI features, too. 
• ProWritingAid : Like Grammarly, it checks grammar, style, tone, sentence structure, and readability and offers suggestions to make your writing clearer and more engaging. You’ll get a “Style Score” and an in-depth “Critique Report” on your writing, outlining strengths, weaknesses, and areas for improvement.
• Writefull : Built for academic writing, Writefull provides instant feedback on grammar, vocabulary, tone, and style. It also has five AI widgets to take your writing to the next level.
• Thesaurus.com : Online thesaurus that can help you diversify your vocabulary, avoid using repetitive language, and make your writing more expressive. Visit the website or download the app, and enter a word to find synonyms, antonyms, and related words.

ChatGPT . The large language model can be fantastic for brainstorming ideas, creating outlines, receiving feedback, refining sentences, and more. Here’s a great guide on using ChatGPT to improve, not replace, your writing . We have our own guide on 7 Ways to Humanize AI content and Maintain Your Voice , and we share some ChatGPT prompts to polish up your writing here .

Complete writing exercises, challenges, and courses

Writing exercises stretch and strengthen specific creative muscles, enhancing skills such as character development, dialogue crafting, and plot construction. 

Challenges kick things up by introducing constraints or requirements, such as writing a story in 100 words or completing a 50,000-word novel in a month. These help you improve as a writer in various ways — from becoming more adaptable to sticking to deadlines to writing with more creativity and confidence. Check out our list of a year’s worth of writing challenges to get started.

You can also enroll in a writing course to push your creative boundaries, refine your skills while fostering discipline, and learn more about writing as a craft. We’re gearing up to launch our fully online Freelance Writing Mastery course in 2024, and you can sign up for early access right now.

Alternatively, you can browse online platforms like Skillshare or Coursera for writing courses. Or, explore the online and in-person courses that your local university or community college offers. Chances are you’ll find at least a few options covering fiction, nonfiction, business, and academic writing. 

SLook for courses marked as “non-degree” or “continuing education.” These are less expensive, short courses that schools offer to those looking to expand their knowledge and skill sets without completing an associate’s, bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degree.

Remember your “why”

Regularly reflecting on why you became a writer — or want to become one — can fuel your creative fire and drive your commitment to improvement . Research backs this up: Those with clear, autonomous motivations tend to put in more effort and achieve better results .

Connecting with your purpose also pushes you during challenging moments in your writing journey. You’ll be more likely to “stay the course” and continue growing when you remember what it’s all for — whether to inspire others, leave a lasting impact, or simply savor the joy of creation.

Consider keeping a journal where you can document your writing journey, jot down moments of inspiration, and reaffirm your goals. You can also check out personal development books, such as Elizabeth Gilbert’s Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear and Steven Pressfield’s The War of Art , that explore maintaining motivation as a writer.

Becoming a better writer requires the right mix of determination and dedication. Although it doesn’t happen overnight, it doesn’t have to be a drag, either. 

We’ve shared 18 practical tips to help you elevate your writing skills — from improving your understanding of grammar, writing concisely, and being less afraid of first-draft messiness to thinking of your audience, remembering to self-edit, and learning to accept and action criticism.

With these tips in your toolkit, your writing journey can only go up from here! If you want to keep up to date with our latest writing tips, <a href="subscribepage.io/RkHP1C">sign up for our newsletter</a>.

Receive insider tips straight to your inbox.

Would you like to speak to one of our experts?

Create custom email campaigns, measure performance, and turn insights into results with Mailchimp’s email marketing tools.

The latest from the Eleven blog

From writing and editing to strategy and marketing, our expert team answers the biggest questions in online content.

SEO Case Study: How NinjaOne Increased Traffic 678% In One Year

9 Signs It’s Time To Update Your Freelance Writing Rates (+ How To Do It)

What to keep in mind when building your writing career, get early access to our course, future-proof against ai, land your dream clients, and command higher rates.

Created by Eleven’s most established editors, SEO strategists, and account managers.

Grammar Girl

• Get-Fit Guy
• Project Parenthood
• Relationship Doctor
• Modern Mentor
• Nutrition Diva
• Savvy Psychologist
• Curious State
• Unknown History
• Modern Manners Guy
• Health & Fitness
• House & Home
• Relationships
• Productivity
• Business & Career
• Money & Finance

How to Maximize 401(k) Matching Funds

What is the role of trust in fitness, ‘which’ versus ‘that’.

More From Grammar Girl

Dashes, Parentheses, and Commas

Why Do Old Documents Have S’s That Look like F’s?

Noun Strings and How to Fix Them

How to Cite AI Chatbots

‘Anyway’ or ‘Anyways’?

‘Catawampus,’ ‘Kitty-Corner,’ and more

Why the Bully Pulpit Isn’t What You Think

Should We Accept ‘Commentate’ as a Verb?

Now Then, What’s a Namesake?

Contact mignon fogarty, get texts from grammar girl.

Most Recent Tips

Testimonials

How to Be a Star in a YouTube World, May 2007

"So why does the show consistently rank in the top 40 podcasts on iTunes? The show is well produced. . . . 'Grammar Girl' found a narrow niche that a surprising number of people are interested in.

 "Helpful. Smart. Funny. Fans find Grammar Girl to be all those things."

Chicago Tribune, Don't Get Carried Away on National Grammar Day, February 2008

"A more level-headed grammatical authority is Mignon Fogarty -- known to her Web visitors and podcast listeners as Grammar Girl."

Follow Grammar Girl

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.

10 Simple Ways to Become a Better Writer

Do you enjoy writing? Does it come naturally to you? Do colleagues praise you for your crisp, articulate, Nobel Laureate-worthy email updates?

Congratulations! Because if you work in an office or run your own business, you’re likely to spend about a quarter of your workday doing one thing:

Oh, and that’s just the portion of your day that you’ll spend writing emails .

That figure doesn’t account for reports, proposals, best practice guidelines, blog posts, Facebook updates, tweets, texts, chapters of your forthcoming memoirs, that TED Talk script you’ve been tinkering with for the last 18 months, and the occasional hand-written “thank you” note.

We live in an era where the written word is King.

And if you’re going to write 40,000+ words this year —at minimum!—you might as well learn how to do your absolute best.

Here are 10 ways you can be a better writer , right away.

(The kind of writer whose words get results.)

1. Get Clear

Before you sit down to write (anything), ask yourself: Why am I writing?

What’s the desired outcome that you want with this particular piece of writing?

Are you writing to brighten someone’s morning? Motivate your team to head back into the ring after a crushing defeat? Encourage folks to say “yes” to your new meeting time?

The best writing tends to have one clear, ringing intention. Choose it—and commit.

2. Get to the Point

In the business world, brevity is gold.

If you’re struggling to get to the point, take a moment to think about the person (or people) that you’re writing to, and create a roadmap for yourself by filling in the following statements:

The reason I am writing is:

What I want you to know is:

What I want you to do is:

Get those three points down pat. Then refer to them as you write to keep yourself on track.

3. Strip it Down

Albert Einstein once said, “If you can't explain it to a six-year-old, you don’t understand it yourself.”

Imagine that you’re writing for an audience of little kids—impatient, easily distracted, with zero tolerance for jargon.

You can practice—out in the real world—by having actual conversations with kids. Try explaining to a toddler what you do for a living, for starters. You’ll see, very quickly, if your elevator pitch is clear and intriguing—or not.

4. Write From Your Happy Place

Ever notice how when you’re stressed out and trying to “force” yourself to write something amazing, it almost never works?

Research shows that getting yourself into a happy, relaxed state—think: taking a shower —is the key to creativity-on-command. When your body is experiencing a rush of dopamine, that’s when those a-ha! moments (“Ooh! I’ve got the perfect title for my presentation!”) tend to happen.

Can’t take a shower at work? No worries. There are plenty of other ways to get into your happy place before you sit down to write. Play energizing music, light a scented candle, bounce on an exercise ball—whatever it takes to help you unclench and relax!

5. Give Yourself a Time Limit

For most people, the longer you fuss over a piece of writing, the worse it gets.

When you have a clear reason for writing and feel happy and relaxed (see tip #4), your first draft is usually best. There’s no need to endlessly chew it over.

Clearing out your inbox, for example? Give yourself a time limit—say, two minutes per email—to prevent yourself from slipping into analysis-paralysis.

(You can set up a “ smart playlist ” in iTunes comprised entirely of two-minute songs, to keep yourself rockin’ along. When the song changes—hit “send” and move on!)

6. Ask, “What Would My Hero Write?”

If you’re struggling with a sensitive piece of writing where hitting the right emotional tone is essential, try channeling one of your personal heroes.

“What would Mister Rogers write in this situation?” “What would the Dalai Lama say?” “How would Richard Branson handle this email chain?”

7. Close Strong

Lost in a sea of never-ending email threads? Questions building upon questions, never leading to decisive action?

Try taking a decisive stance, rather than wrapping up your writing with an open-ended prompt.

Think: “In my opinion, the following approach is the best choice. If you agree, write back to say ‘yes,’ and I’ll get started.”

Not: “So, what do you guys think? I’m open to everyone’s input!”

8. Use the 7 Magic Words

“All I need from you right now.”

Kick these words up to the top of your correspondence, as in:

“I’m so excited that you’re going to deliver a keynote at our annual conference.

All I need from you right now is the title of your talk, a headshot, and your bio.”

These seven magic words give your reader a clear assignment, and put them at ease. (“Ahhh—that’s all? No problem. Done.”)

You can always add more information down below, if necessary (“Here are a few other things to know—for later.”)

9. Say it Out Loud

Whenever possible, read your writing out loud.

Does it sound like it was written by a human being or a cyborg? Are you stumbling over excessively long sentences? Catch any typos or duplicate words? If so, tweak and read it out loud again.

If reading aloud isn’t possible—because you don’t want to disturb your colleagues—try lightly tapping a finger on your desk or thigh as you silently read each word in your head. (It’s bizarre, but it works almost as well as reading out loud.)

10. Be a Daymaker

David Wagner, CEO of Juut Salonspa, often speaks about being a “Daymaker” —not just going through the motions at work, but actively choosing to be a source of positivity and encouragement. Choosing to make someone’s day.

With everything you write—every email, every text, every tweet—you have an opportunity to make someone’s day. (Or not.)

Often, all it takes is a few words of kindness, a thoughtful compliment, or the kind of insightful reminder that leaves people thinking, “Yeah. I needed that.”

Set “Daymaker” as your barometer of success—for your writing, and for everything you do.

Whether your writing is “perfect” or not, your intent will shine through.

• Starting a Business
• Growing a Business
• Small Business Guide
• Business News
• Science & Technology
• Money & Finance
• For Subscribers
• Write for Entrepreneur
• Tips White Papers
• Entrepreneur Store
• United States
• Asia Pacific
• Middle East
• South Africa

Copyright © 2024 Entrepreneur Media, LLC All rights reserved. Entrepreneur® and its related marks are registered trademarks of Entrepreneur Media LLC

SEO Writing 101 — How to Create Content That Ranks Discover how to master keyword selection, content structure and on-page SEO to rank better on Google.

By Nick Zviadadze Edited by Chelsea Brown Jul 2, 2024

Key Takeaways

• 96.55% of all web pages receive no organic traffic from Google, highlighting the importance of a solid SEO strategy.
• The benefits of writing SEO content include improved rankings and visibility, increased brand awareness, better user engagement and higher conversion rates.
• This article highlights five key strategies to help you create SEO content that ranks.

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

Shockingly, 96.55% of all pages get zero organic traffic from Google. And, without a solid SEO strategy, your content can easily get lost in the sea of unvisited Google pages and suffer the same fate. Luckily, there's a way to solve all that.

By mastering the basics of SEO writing and ensuring you create quality content, you can make search engines send more traffic your way. So, let's explore why SEO content is so important and touch upon the best SEO tips to improve your writing and boost your rankings.

Related: 6 SEO Tips to Help You Rank in the New Era of Quality Content

What is SEO content?

SEO content is created specifically to rank highly on Google and other search engines. Unlike conventional blog content, which you write based on your interests or what you think your audience wants, SEO content is planned and crafted to align with search engine algorithms and user search behavior.

You pick a keyword that your target audience is searching for. Then, you write content to rank well for that keyword. To achieve that, you must ensure it aligns with search intent and follows SEO best practices.

That means providing valuable, relevant information that answers the user's query, using clear and engaging language, incorporating keywords naturally, structuring your content with headings and subheadings, and including internal and external links to improve credibility and user experience.

Writing SEO content has several benefits:

Improves your rankings and visibility of your website

Attracts organic visitors who actively search for your topics

Keeps readers engaged on your website longer with relevant content

Increases your brand awareness and authority

Improves conversion rates

How to write SEO content that ranks

Writing good content is all about using the right SEO strategies , starting with the following:

1. Pick the right keyword

You should aim for keywords that are not too competitive but still have solid search volume.

For example, if you're a small ecommerce business trying to rank for "running shoes," you have to compete with giants like Nike and Adidas, which is almost impossible.

Instead, target keywords that are easier to rank for but still relevant to your business, like "breathable running shoes for hot weather." These keywords can drive targeted leads to your website without investing so much time and effort to rank for them.

Here's how to find these keywords:

Use SEO tools like SEMrush or Ahrefs to identify keywords with good search volume and lower competition

Look at the keywords your competitors are ranking for and find opportunities they might have missed

Focus on long-tail keywords that often bring more qualified traffic

2. Create a content outline (make sure to satisfy search intent)

Once you've chosen your keyword, make sure the content you create matches the search intent behind it. Search intent is the reason behind the search query or what the user wants to find through their search.

For example, if your keyword is "Nike Air Zoom Pegasus 40 vs. Adidas Ultraboost Light," the search intent is to compare the two running shoes. Your content should provide a thorough comparison, covering aspects like comfort, durability, price and user reviews, rather than something unrelated, like the history of each brand.

Related: 3 Powerful SEO Techniques That Will Boost Your Website's Search Engine Ranking

Creating a content outline helps you structure your content to meet this intent. You can do that by:

Googling your keyword and going through top-ranking content

Analyzing the structure and noting down common themes

Creating an outline that follows a logical progression

Breaking down your content into sections with clear headings

Adding images, charts and videos to improve your content

3. Follow on-page SEO best practices

Nailing on-page SEO ensures that search engines and readers can easily understand and navigate your content. The best way to do that is to follow these SEO techniques:

Include your keyword in the title, URL, introduction, subheadings and conclusion

Place your keyword naturally throughout the content without keyword stuffing

Use plenty of internal links to related content on your website

Maintain a clear and logical structure with headings and subheadings to improve readability

Write compelling meta descriptions that include your keyword to increase click-through rates

Ensure your content is mobile-friendly, as 59.4% of web traffic comes from mobile devices.

4. Create easy-to-read content

People rarely read whole articles from start to finish. Instead, they skim through them, searching for the information they need. That's why you need to follow a simple structure and use everyday language to ensure your content is easy to read and understand.

To improve the readability of your blog posts , you should:

Use clear and descriptive headers to guide readers through your content

Use bullet points wherever possible to break down information into digestible chunks

Bold the most important phrases in each section to highlight key takeaways

Incorporate screenshots to visually demonstrate key points and processes

Keep paragraphs short to make your content easy to skim

5. Include superior value

Most writers make the SEO mistake of not doing enough research before creating content. Instead, they paraphrase what their top-ranking competitors say or rely on AI to create generic blog posts.

However, you need to go the extra mile to create content that gets the best SEO results .

Start by digging deeper into forums like Reddit to discover your potential customers' most common pain points and questions. This step will help you understand their needs and concerns better.

Stay up to date with the latest news and developments in your industry to ensure your content is fresh and relevant. Read articles and listen to podcasts to get fresh insights and come up with unique angles for your articles.

You can also make your content more valuable by including the latest statistics or expert insights to add credibility and depth to your content. This is the best way to stand out from your competitors.

Related: Here's the SEO Combination You Need to Win Google's Algorithm

Mastering the basics of SEO writing is crucial for ensuring your content ranks well on Google.

Entrepreneur Leadership Network® Contributor

Founder at MintSEO

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Editor's Pick Red Arrow

• Lock The Average American Can't Afford a House in 99% of the U.S. — Here's a State-By-State Breakdown of the Mortgage Rates That Tip the Scale
• Richard Branson Shares His Extremely Active Morning Routine : 'I've Got to Look After Myself'
• Lock This Flexible, AI-Powered Side Hustle Lets a Dad of Four Make $32 an Hour , Plus Tips: 'You Can Make a Substantial Amount of Money'
• Tennis Champion Coco Gauff Reveals the Daily Habits That Help Her Win On and Off the Court — Plus a 'No Brainer' Business Move
• Lock 3 Essential Skills I Learned By Growing My Business From the Ground Up
• 50 Cent Once Sued Taco Bell for $4 Million. Here's How the Fast-Food Giant Got on the Rapper's Bad Side .

Most Popular Red Arrow

Learn new languages with babbel — now just $140 for life.

The world's top-grossing language learning software is on sale for just a few days.

How to Maximize Every Hour of Your Day for Unstoppable Productivity

Maximize and win your day with these key strategies that are guaranteed to boost your productivity and help you achieve your goals.

This Former Flight Attendant and Her Roommate Started a Side Hustle With Just $2,000 Each. Then It Earned Them Nearly $600,000 — and Counting.

Rachael Leina'ala Soares and Heather Aiu co-founded ALOHA Collection in 2014 — inspired by a "wet bikini" and "sweaty yoga gear."

Salesforce Shareholders Say No to CEO Marc Benioff's Nearly $40 Million Pay Package

Salesforce covered Benioff's personal security costs last fiscal year.

This Country Just Implemented a 6-Day Workweek for Employees

Employees can choose to work the eight hours in a weekend shift or divvy up the time by adding two hours to their regular weekday shifts.

Why Leaders Who Can Properly Delegate Will Avoid This Suffocating Business Trap

The infamous "Founder's Trap" — where founders or leads end up taking on too much — can stagnate any company's growth. Learn how to avoid it by delegating.

Successfully copied link

How to Write a Good User Story: Examples & Using Feedback

The origin of user stories can be traced back to the late 1990s, when they were introduced as part of the Extreme Programming (XP) methodology to bridge the gap between customers and development teams. In the context of agile framework user stories, they fit into the larger scope of the Agile framework for project management and product development by decomposing large business requirements into user personas. This aids agile teams in achieving requirements iteratively.

To best understand the concept of user stories, let’s look at an example involving a popular tech product, such as Uber .

In the conventional approach, tasks might be outlined in a very technical and feature-specific manner. For instance, a task list for developing the ride-booking feature might include:

• Develop the booking interface.
• Create a driver-matching algorithm.
• Implement payment gateway integration.

While this approach clearly specifies what needs to be done, it often misses the broader context and the user’s perspective. Developers may focus on completing tasks without fully understanding the end user’s experience, leading to features that are technically sound but lack usability and relevance.

In contrast, let’s look at the same functionalities in the form of user stories:

• As a commuter, I want to book a ride quickly so that I can get to my destination without delays.
• As a rider, I want to see the estimated arrival time of my driver so that I can plan my time better .
• As a passenger, I want to pay seamlessly through the app so that I don’t have to carry cash.

Each user story describes a narrative that captures the who, what, and why from the user’s viewpoint within the Agile framework.

They provide a common language that both technical and non-technical members can understand, reducing the risk of miscommunication and ensuring everyone is on the same page.

By framing tasks from the user’s perspective, user stories ensure that development efforts are directly aligned with delivering value to the user. It also makes it easier to plan development cycles and allocate resources effectively, ensuring that the most impactful features are delivered first.

At the same time, user stories are flexible and can be easily adapted as new insights are gained or user needs to evolve. They allow the development teams the freedom to innovate and solve real customer problems.

This iterative approach allows for continuous improvement and refinement of features, leading to a more responsive and user-friendly product.

Step 1: Define the Product Vision and Strategy

Step 2: identify user personas, step 3: gather requirements and insights, b. user story statement: role, goal, benefit, c. description, d. acceptance criteria, step 5: prioritizing user stories, new ways of working, concluding tips💡 for success, getting started with user stories.

Imagine you’re building a house. You wouldn’t start by picking up a hammer and nails without a blueprint, right?

This step-by-step tutorial will guide you through the essential stages of crafting effective agile user stories within an Agile framework, using an example of a task management and team collaboration product. We will introduce the concept of a user story template to help you understand the standard format for writing user stories. We will cover the creation and management of user stories, including the composition of user stories, responsibilities for writing them, and the importance of writing user stories from the user persona’s point of view to avoid potential issues.

Before writing user stories, it’s crucial to clearly understand your product’s vision and strategy. 

Try Usersnap for Enhancing your User Stories

The vision is the ultimate goal or purpose of the product, while the strategy outlines the approach and tactics to achieve the vision. Having these in place ensures that every user story aligns with the broader objectives of the product.

User personas are fictional characters that represent different segments of your user base. Each user persona should have specific characteristics, needs, and goals. By incorporating user personas into the user story format, you can better understand the user’s needs, goals, and behaviors.

By identifying and understanding your top 3-5 user personas, you can create user stories tailored to their unique perspectives and requirements.

• Meet Sami, a product owner who needs to prioritize and track feature development.
• Meet Shannon, a software developer who needs a distraction-free environment for coding.
• Meet Sarah, a scrum master who needs to coordinate with her remote team efficiently.
• Meet Carlos, an IT admin who manages user access control and ensures the application’s security.

By leveraging user personas, teams can ensure that every feature developed aligns directly with what users truly want and need.

Gathering requirements and insights is a critical step in creating user stories, as it forms the foundation upon which the stories are built. This process involves collecting detailed information from various sources to understand your users’ needs, pain points, and desires. 

User interviews and surveys are two of the most direct methods to gather insights about a user’s experiences, challenges, and specific needs. Design your questions to capture both measurable data and detailed feedback by including a mix of multiple-choice questions and open-ended questions.

Example Interview Question: “Can you walk me through your typical day and how what you currently use to accomplish your tasks?”

Example Survey Question: “On a scale of 1-10, how satisfied are you with our product’s current collaboration features?”

In addition, usage data can provide valuable insights into how users interact with your product. 

Tools like Usersnap can streamline the process of collecting and managing user feedback in the form of bugs, new feature requests and micro surveys.

Such tools allow users to easily submit their feedback directly from the product, capturing screenshots, doing annotations, and comments that provide a rich context for their issues and suggestions. 

This type of feedback provides product teams additional context to easily identify issues and be able to pinpoint areas for improvement.

Integrating these tools into your workflow can help you efficiently gather real-time, actionable insights.

Step 4: Writing User Stories

The requirements are then broken down into user stories using a specific user story format within the Agile framework. This format includes the decomposition of business requirements into user personas, the use of 3Cs (card, conversation, confirmation) for creating user stories, and the visual representation of user stories using templates such as index cards and PowerPoint. A PowerPoint user story example can be particularly useful for illustrating complex scenarios. Each user story covers a shippable functionality that can be designed, developed, tested, and released to the users in isolation.

Writing user stories involves crafting a clear and concise narrative that outlines a specific feature or functionality from the user’s perspective. The structured approach covered in this section ensures clarity, facilitates communication, and helps maintain a user-centric focus throughout the development process.

The title of a user story should be a brief summary of its functionality. It should clearly indicate what the story is about at a glance.

Example: “Creating a new task”

One of the most popular templates for writing the main statement of a user story follows the format: “As a [type of user], I want [some goal] so that [some reason/benefit].” 

This format helps to clarify who the user is, what they want to achieve, and why it is important.

Example: “As a product owner, I want to create and assign tasks so that my team knows what to work on and when.”

It is a common misconception that a user story only includes the statement.

The description provides additional context or details about the user story. This section can include relevant information that helps the development team understand the user’s needs and how to implement the functionality.

It is where all the specific details captured during discovery would come in to help. Tools like Usersnap can help enrich the feedback requests by allowing users to attach screenshots with annotations, as well as automatically capturing details about the user’s browser, device, location and other specifications.

Example: “The task creation interface should allow the product owner to add task details such as title, description, due date, and assignee. There should also be options to set priorities and add tags for better organization.”

Acceptance criteria define the conditions that must be met for the user story to be considered complete. These criteria provide clear and testable requirements, ensuring that the feature delivers the intended value and functions as expected.

• The product owner can create a new task with a title, description, priority, due date, and assignee.
• The description field supports rich text formatting.
• The priority field includes predefined options: High, Medium, Low.
• The due date can be selected from a date picker and must be a future date.
• The assignee field should allow selecting of one or more team members from a dropdown list.

Once the development is complete for a given user story, Product Owners or QA can also use the Usersnap widget to check the functionality against the predefined acceptance criteria. The widget allows to specify discrepancies easily using screenshots, annotations and comments.

By including these components, each user story becomes a comprehensive and actionable item that guides the development team in creating features aligned with user needs and expectations.

This structured approach ensures clarity, facilitates communication, and helps maintain a user-centric focus throughout development.

Not all user stories are created equal. Therefore, they need to be ranked.

As a Product Owner, your primary responsibility is to ensure that the development teams focus on the items that create the most impact on your product.

To help prioritize, you need some measure of the impact that each user story will bring. This could be a combination of factors such as reach, impact, and alignment with strategic goals. Understanding the potential business value helps you focus on features that will benefit users and the organization most.

Additionally, it’s essential to estimate the development effort required for each user story. This is often done using story points, a relative estimation technique considering the complexity, risk, and effort needed to complete the task. Story points are generally preferred over man-hours because they encourage teams to think about the overall scope and complexity rather than just the time it might take.

Product teams can hold estimation sessions where they discuss each user story and come to a consensus on the number of story points it should be assigned. This collaborative approach, called Planning Poker , ensures that everyone has a shared understanding of the work involved.

Once you have estimates for business value and the development effort, you can use any prioritization framework (like RICE) that uses a combination of Effort vs Impact to help prioritize your user stories. 

This structured approach to prioritization helps maintain a clear direction for the product, facilitates better resource allocation, and ultimately leads to a more successful and user-centric product.

As technology evolves, so too do our tools.

New tools and technologies offer innovative ways to enhance and streamline the user story writing process.

Remember, user stories are living documents. They evolve as you learn more about your users through testing and feedback.

Technical user story examples illustrate how user stories create a connection between strategic planning and iteration planning. This connection helps keep track of organizational goals and achievements in Agile methodologies.

Modern tools like Usersnap facilitate collaboration with your customers by automating the process of collecting post-production insights that are crucial to iterating your user stories. Additionally, some teams still prefer using a Word Doc user story format for its simplicity and ease of sharing.

Usersnap integrates seamlessly with product development platforms such as Jira and Azure DevOps, and can capture and organize all types of issues, feedback, and new feature requests neatly within your product backlog.

By receiving a prioritized list of feedback in your backlog, you’re already halfway to success.

Customers can influence the prioritization of roadmap items through community upvotes, ensuring development teams always focus on the highest impact features, and making sure their efforts are directed towards what truly matters.

Another significant advancement in the last couple of years has been with User Story writing through Generative AI .

AI tools can help process feedback, validate assumptions, and facilitate user story writing by providing templates and examples tailored to user personas and needs. This not only speeds up the process but also ensures that the stories are data-driven and highly relevant.

👉 Want to learn more about using Generative AI to write user stories? Check out my video where I demonstrate the process using ChatGPT.

• Out with the Old: Keep your backlog fresh. If a story hasn’t been prioritized in a year, it’s time to trash it or give it a makeover before development.
• Be Specific, Yet Flexible: Define the “what” and “why” clearly, but leave the “how” open for your team to bring their creative genius to the table.
• Less is More: No one likes to read verbose user stories. Keep descriptions under 200 words to ensure they are read.
• Don’t Get Too Attached: Remain open to iterating your user stories based on new information received.
• Listen to your Users: The most important person to listen to is your user, not your executives. Regularly harness real user feedback to keep your stories relevant and impactful.
• Use Simple User Story Examples: Emphasize simplicity and clarity in your user stories. A simple user story example can effectively convey a lot of information in just a few words, addressing the WHAT and WHY parts of a feature, making it easier for product and tech teams to understand and assess relevant acceptance criteria.

Capture user feedback easily. Get more insights and make confident product decisions.

And if you’re ready to try out a customer feedback software, Usersnap offers a free trial. Sign up today or book a demo with our feedback specialists.

You might be also interested in

10 best customer feedback examples 2024 [updated].

10 Examples of Website Feedback Button

10 Web Design Trends for 2024

10 Ways to Utilize Customer Advocacy for your SaaS