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10 Ways to Develop Writing Skills and Techniques

Do want to discover ways to develop writing skills and techniques? 

Most people I know are interested in developing their writing skills. If you are a beginner and want to write compelling articles, then you are in the right place.

Most beginners prefer to get advice from professional writers, while others simply use the services of talented copywriters or bloggers. It is possible to study the structure of brilliant works and get inspired.

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In the Internet era, everyone can freely express his or her thoughts in written form. Ask yourself, what kind of writer you’d like to be? Have you ever dreamed of becoming a great novelist? Or do you just search for advice on how to express your thoughts more consistently?

After reading this article, you’ll discover how to improve your writing.

Use “powerful” words.

Good writing should be characterized by creativity and appeal. The most active part of speech is the verb. When a strong verb is used, a simple sentence can acquire a very high emotional charge and will likely grip the person reading it. In order to use such compelling and memorable words, it is vital to read a lot of books. Try not to limit your reading to fiction; there are various scientific, historical and philosophical books that can help you improve your vocabulary.

Rewrite.

Most budding writers think that paraphrasing text is an easy task. Take my word for it: rewriting is one of the most difficult aspects of producing great works. Consider revising texts focusing on ‘problematic’ areas.

During revisions, you can consciously imitate the works of your favorite writer. It helps to be tuned into an accomplished writer’s ‘frequency’ or to try to get into his or her inner world. It’s okay to practice another writer’s style and manner. You do not have to imitate their techniques completely.

All you want is to get that amazing feeling that someone is controlling your hand. Also, revising and rewriting helps to pay more attention to small things that can ruin your plot. It will also facilitate the remembering of new vocabulary, grammatical structures and the consolidation of old ones.

To Develop Writing Skills, Write every day.

Don’t say that you can’t write because you lack fresh ideas. This is a poor excuse. Write about everything you’ve dreamed or felt today. What interesting things did you learn today/yesterday / this week? What would you do if you got a million dollars (you can even dream about a billion)? How could one live this day better? What would you like to change in today’s society? Be sure that regularly writing is guaranteed to improve your writing skills.

Take away the excess.

There is no need to use long sentences and/or redundant words. To write beautifully means to compose your text simply and clearly. No one wants to read extra information and waste his or her time on useless information.

Improve and use your imagination.

It is impossible to write a text without any stylistic devices. If you are ignorant of these, try to start with the simplest—synonyms or metaphors. For example, choose any object and describe it, but don’t use the most common characteristics. Use unique, unpredictable, even crazy descriptions and comparisons. Then just remove from the comparison “as” or “like,” and voilà – you would have created an attractive expression.

Reduction. Of course, you need to check your masterpiece. But don’t be too proud or afraid to correct your mistakes. It is an inevitable step in the process of improving your writing skills. I don’t know anyone, whoever avoided making mistakes. Get feedback from your writing friends or members of your critique group. If you don’t have such an option, use special software.

Avoid clichés.

One good way to improve your writing skills is by avoiding cliches. A cliché is a common expression, often a figure of speech whose effectiveness has been obliterated through overuse and popularity. Usually, they are so general that the reader does not even remember them. “She fell head over heels” is a bright example of a cliché.

Avoid generalizations.

Broad generalizations are one of the weak text characteristics. For example, a scientific essay contains a following: “Nowadays we are more progressive than people were a hundred years ago.” This statement includes ungrounded assumptions and does not give a definition of what “progressive” means. Be specific and precise. Use more exact synonyms, for instance.

Enjoy the process.

Last but not the least important thing is to derive pleasure from the process of writing. If you don’t enjoy it, you are unlikely to succeed. It is important to be passionate about writing and to enjoy the process.

Incoherent rules.

Think deeply. Do not follow all the advice straightaway. The experienced writers do not adhere to strict rules – they know when and how to break or avoid them. Everything, from the traditional rules of grammar to the above tips. The main purpose is to write so well that your mistakes seem intentional and conscious. Bravely is important here.

Final thoughts on Ways to Develop Writing Skills and Techniques

Well, these are central pieces of advice, which, in my humble opinion, will help you develop writing skills. The writing process should be fun and interesting. Else it will become a torture. You might feel a burst of energy or complete exhaustion. There is no one universal rule on how to write and what to express at the same time.

Find your voice and style, listen to your heart and just write, write, write. Of course, at first, it will be difficult but don’t give up. For a start, you can use someone’s help. For example, you can buy short story collections or order an essay on any topic, and you’ll receive an opportunity to obtain new knowledge about sentence structure and new vocabulary for writing texts.

Don’t be afraid to write, make mistakes, improve your craft. I wish you good luck!

About the author:

Helen Birk is a freelance writer who works for edubirdie essays writing in Canada. She enjoys helping students with the paperwork and lives under the motto: “I do my best, so that I don’t have to blame myself for anything”.

Chioma Iwunze-Ibiam

Chioma Iwunze-Ibiam writes prose fiction and creative non-fiction. She is the founder of creativewritingnews.com. Her first novella, Finding Love Again was published by Ankara Press. Her second novella, The Heiress' Bodyguard was shortlisted for the Saraba Manuscript Awards. She currently works as content marketer for various online businesses. You can follow her at @cwritingnws.

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