whether you are a newbie or already a writer in search of direction; we got you covered in this article.
Becoming one of the best writers requires hard work, creativity, and dedication. It is not child’s play. You must invest your time learning, researching, and understanding the topics.
Personally, I found it quite hard to fulfill the reader’s expectations when I started writing. Gradually, with a lot of dedication and hard work, I could write in a better way.
Your journey will not be perfect. You will have many peak points, but in the end, all that will matter is NOT GIVING UP. Always remember to keep your spirits high to write better and more meaningful content.
How to become a better writer: Overview
If you are here, you might indeed be a creative person and interested in writing. All you need next is proper guidance and the will to keep going.
When I started writing, I was fortunate enough to have a mentor who guided me and helped me become a better writer. However, to help you, I have shared all the tips and tricks that helped me grow into a good writer.
In the following article, I have listed the essential tips and advice you will need to become a better writer.
Let us skip to the tips without wasting any further time.
1. To become a better writer, you need to be a better reader.
Reading is the first step you must start with to become a better writer. Reading content similar to your writing interests will help you understand the basics. You will understand the structure of the writing, tone, format, reader’s interests, and what captivates a reader’s mind.
Reading will also help you to get a clear idea of how to start and end the article, Whether you should use a formal or an informal way of writing, etc.
Moreover, reading helps to gain a command over the language and inspires you to write your masterpiece.
2. Start by writing every day.
Once you have read enough of the writings to give the basic idea of how the writers put their thought into words, the next step is to start writing. You can begin by writing one or two paragraphs every day.
AHAA! It’s not that simple. Here the catch is you won’t be able to understand where to start from, what to write, and how to get the required information.
Don’t worry; to become a better writer, you need to be creative enough to solve the problem of the readers. When I started writing, I too had no clue about the best approach and where to start.
3. Follow the writing guidelines.
You need to have proper guidelines to help you write correctly. Plenty of resources on the internet share the guidelines for writing an article in your niche. They also provide with do’s and don’ts of the writing. You can indeed check them out.
Moreover, if you are still confused about what’s best for you, you can join a writing course or an internship. These methods have proven effective for me.
4. Understand the topic
The most important rule before you start writing is to understand the topic of your article. You can take the help of books, the internet, or youtube videos to understand the concept in depth.
In today’s era, the best approach will be to google it, and the problem is solved.
5. Research the topic
Once you understand the details of the topic, you need to research what issue you are addressing in your article and how you will solve the reader’s problem.
You need to jot down the essential points that you will add to your articles and note down the most important concepts that should be included in the article.
You can also go through the best articles or videos for reference purposes. Remember not to copy any writings from the internet and create your unique piece.
6. Choose a platform to write.
If you choose to type your ideas, you will need an editor to write your articles. You can select the platform according to your requirements and based on the exclusive features the platform has to offer.
The most widely used platform by writers is Google docs and Microsoft word. However, there are different types of platforms available for writers. You can check them out and choose one that will serve all your requirements.
I usually prefer Google Docs to write my articles, providing the required tools and flexibility.
7. Create an outline
After having thorough research, you will have to create an outline of your article. Creating an outline provides a direction to your writing and keeps you on track.
I always make a point to create an outline for the article or the book I am writing. It keeps me away from adding fluff information and getting distracted.
The outline will stop you from adding unnecessary topics or any irrelevant concepts.
So, writers invariably make a point to create an outline and write a masterpiece using it.
8. Think about your target audience and write accordingly
You must consider your target readers and what they would love to read. This will help you to write better and deliver value in your article.
You must write in straightforward language if your target audience is kids. You may also add graphics and illustrations to make your writing attractive. On the other hand, if you are writing for adults, you can use some catchy words and phrases. You will have to include some spices and thrillers.
Furthermore, your target audience will change according to your genre. You will need a different tone, approach, and style while writing diverse content.
9. Write the main body of the article.
You must start writing the main body of the article once the outline is ready and you have understood the taste of your target audience.
Use your outline and the research to write the main body. Beware of the flow of the body. It will help you to connect the audience with you. You can also add different headings and subheadings as needed.
While you write the central part of the article, remember to include to-the-point information, which will help the readers. You can be as creative as you want according to the writing requirement.
10. Write the introduction and conclusion at the end.
After you finish writing the body of the article, you should write the introduction and conclusion part. Yes, you read it right. You have to begin writing the introduction part towards the end, precisely when you have done with the body and conclusion sections.
Soon after you get a clear idea about the topic and the concepts you have included in the body, you can start writing the introduction. This will help you state your points confidently in the introduction, and you will be able to write a better introduction. I have been using this trick to make my introductions more engaging and better.
Next, you have to write the conclusion to help readers reach a decision. Don’t forget to wrap up your article on a positive note. This will help readers connect with you and keep them hooked to your writings.
11. Keep a check on the formatting and grammar.
While you write your article, you must keep a constant check for grammar. Grammatical errors may decline the quality of your article and will drive away the readers.
To keep track of the grammar, sentence formations, tone of the article, engagements, etc., you can use tools like Grammarly, Hemingway, ProwritingAid, Quillbot, etc. There are plenty of grammar-checking tools available on the internet. You can use them as editors, extensions, etc.
When it’s the question of grammatical errors, I choose Grammarly. I have been using Grammarly premium since I started writing, which has always been my helping hand. You should choose the one application that suits your needs.
12. Check for plagiarism when done
Plagiarism may lead to the removal of your content from the internet, or you can get permanently banned due to it. The owners may file a case against you, or you will have to face inevitable consequences.
To avoid such situations that hamper your growth, always remember to check for plagiarized content in your writings. Just like grammar tools, various plagiarism checkers are available on the internet. You can check out Grammarly, Copyscape, Scribbr, Unicheck, and other preferred plagiarism checkers.
I have been using Copyscape since it does not points out the unnecessary plag, unlike a few other plagiarism checkers. You can try out all the checkers available and choose the one that fulfills your needs.
Bonus :
- Practice makes a man perfect.
In order to excel in writing, all you will need is practice. As it is said, practice makes a man perfect; similarly practice makes writings perfect.
You will need to face many rejections and make many corrections to reach a better stage. Once you understand the demands and preferences of your audience, you will be able to get better at writing.
You can make your unique tactics and methodology to write better. I would suggest you keep reading even after you get better at writing. This will help you to understand different perspectives and explore the world of writing.
- Use SEO to rank your articles.
SEO will help you reach a large audience and rank your articles on google. You need to be aware of the google search engine algorithms to use the SEO tactics properly.
- Avoid fluff information
Write the content on the point and avoid adding unnecessary information. Adding fluff or unrequired content will degrade the quality of your writing. Readers prefer writings that do not include waste or unrequired information.
- Provide value to the readers
Your article will be valued only if it provides the required information to the readers. The audience must be benefitted from the content that you write. Providing value to the visitors
It is vital that your article must provide a solution to the problem of the readers. It must fulfill the reader’s requirements. Imagine if you are one of the best writers and cannot provide the required information to the reader. What will be the value of your article?
- Remember to add valid information.
A writer must write well-researched and correct information. This maintains the quality of the article. Readers prefer the writings of authors that are trustworthy and reliable.
Always choose official websites and trustworthy sites for research purposes.
Wrapping up: How to become a better writer
You are all set to start your journey of becoming a better writer. This won’t be easy, but all you have to do is keep practicing and working on getting better by 1% every day.
You can also use various tools available on the internet to help you in producing good content. You may also try getting feedback from your peer, friends, or targeted audience by providing them with samples.
If you strive daily to improve your work, You will look back and value your efforts. Please don’t push yourself very hard, but keep it a point to stay consistent.
What’s more?
Let’s start writing and win hearts.
