You can improve on your writing.
That’s the main point I want you to keep in mind while you read this article. Writing is one of those things that is required in one form or another in most of your school courses. I know many people who would rather that they didn’t have to interpret literature and craft analytical essays. I fully understand that. Writing can be quite challenging, but nonetheless, every individual has the ability to improve on their writing. Just because you may be struggling right now, doesn’t mean that you don’t have the potential to get better in the future.
While some people may be born with a natural talent for writing, I believe that it’s more important to realize that writing skill is nurtured over time. I say this because I feel like many people get disappointed when they invest blood, sweat and tears into their writing assignments only to have the teacher to hand it back with a less than desirable mark. It sucks. I certainly faced those moments in my junior high years while I was still developing and trying to find my writing style, but it was through those failures that I realized that writing is only improved through practice. I wouldn’t say that I have a natural talent for writing, but rather that I put in the time to identify my weak areas and work on improving them.
Maintaining a positive and constructive attitude towards writing is half the battle. If you already tell yourself: “My writing is horrible, I won’t ever be as good as other people” or “I should just give up because I’ll never be able to improve” then you’ve severely impacted your chances of ever improving. You are what you think. It’s extremely difficult to change this type of attitude especially if it’s been ingrained in you for a long time, but it’s necessary. It’s about looking at your situation from a different angle:
“Although other people may be better than writers than me, I shouldn’t let that discourage me. They had to struggle to get to where they are too, and there’s a lot I can learn from them rather than letting them hold me back. If I keep working hard, I’ll be able to improve.”
After this long preamble, it’s time for some practical tips and tricks that you can start applying today:
1) Read a lot
(Actively reading helps to improve your writing as a whole. You are allowed to see how other writers structure their ideas, what type of vocabulary they employ, what analogies they draw on, etc. If sitting down and committing hours to a traditional novel doesn’t interest you, I would encourage you to try reading online writing. There’s a wealth of writing here on Youth Are Awesome and other websites. They’re generally easier to digest while still giving you the benefit of being able to see a variety of different writing styles. If how someone phrases something catches your attention, make note of it, and try to incorporate it into your own writing.
2) Vary sentence length
Although this may sound simple, it actually adds life to your writing. I first became aware of this after the writer Gary Provost gave this fantastic example:
“This sentence has five words. Here are five more words. Five-word sentences are fine. But several together become monotonous. Listen to what is happening. The writing is getting boring. The sound of it drones. It’s like a stuck record. The ear demands some variety. Now listen. I vary the sentence length, and I create music. Music. The writing sings. It has a pleasant rhythm, a lilt, a harmony. I use short sentences. And I use sentences of medium length. And sometimes when I am certain the reader is rested, I will engage him with a sentence of considerable length, a sentence that burns with energy and builds with all the impetus of a crescendo, the roll of the drums, the crash of the cymbals–sounds that say listen to this, it is important.
So write with a combination of short, medium, and long sentences. Create a sound that pleases the reader’s ear. Don’t just write words. Write music.”
3) Keep your audience in mind
Who you’re writing for will affect how you should write. If you’re submitting a formal essay to your teacher, it’s probably best not to include slang words or text abbreviations like “lol”. You want to sound professional and get a good grade. However, in other settings, it’s appropriate to adjust your writing style to match your intended audience. My audience is youth right now. So it makes sense if I use first-person and second-person points of view because I want to engage with you, the reader, and provide my personal insight. Additionally, if you’re trying to write an informative piece, it would be best to use a factual tone. On the other hand, don’t shy away from using sarcasm and humor if you’re trying to be satirical.
4) Take advantage of your resources
You’re not alone when it comes to writing. Take advantage of the technological age that we live in and use websites like dictionary.com or thesaurus.com in order to enhance your writing. If there’s a word you don’t understand or you’re looking for synonyms, search it up. Your resources also include your peers and your teachers. Don’t be afraid to ask them for feedback. It’s always great because it will make you realize things about your writing that you didn’t notice before. Perhaps some ideas were unclear or they could’ve been phrased stronger. Accept those criticisms humbly and do some editing.
5) Have a plan
A plan provides structure and direction for your writing. My biggest mistake with my writing in junior high was not having a plan. There’s a certain freedom associated not having a plan and letting the writing grow organically. However, this sometimes led to me submitting writing assignments where it was extremely disorganized because I would constantly go off on tangents. In terms of an essay, it’s worth it to spend extra time to plan out your thesis statement, your main ideas and your supporting evidence. This applies to all types of writing: If you go into it blind, there’s a higher risk of it turning out all over the place.
6) Ask good questions
A good writer asks good questions. Whatever you may be writing, you’re always answering questions. In essays, you’re answering the topic question. For example, one of my topics in English this year was: “How does adversity shape an individual’s identity?” The goal of the essay then would be to answer that question and support your claim. Outside of essays, other types of questions are answered as well. A common one is the 5 W’s (Who, What, Where, When, Why). Keeping these questions in mind while you’re writing will make sure you’ve covering all of the essential elements. A good question is the starting point for a good article and that’s why the majority of my posts are answers to questions, including the one you’re reading right now.
7) Don’t stop writing
Last, but certainly not least: keep writing. While it’s great to read about how you can improve you writing, the real improvement happens when you apply the knowledge you’ve gained. The only way you’ll get better at something is to practice. It can feel like an uphill battle, but one thing that I’ve recognized is that you’ll learn a little bit from everything you write. You advance a step further than you were before. With enough steps, you’ll finally be able to get to the destination you want to go. Every little bit counts. You may see successful writers and feel like you’ll never reach their level, but you don’t know how many rejected drafts and crumpled manuscripts they had to go through to get there.
You can improve on your writing.
Don’t let other people’s success deter you from achieving your personal goals. Focus on yourself. You have the capability to improve on your writing. I genuinely hope some of my tips and tricks are useful to you. I’m aware that there’s still a lot of room for improvement personally too. So let’s work together on improving our writing!
If there’s any topics and questions that you want me to address with regards to writing, feel free to let me know.