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3 Incredibly Easy Methods to Enhance Your Writing Skills

How practicing these skills can make you a better writer

By Kristina SegarraPublished 2 years ago 4 min read
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3 Incredibly Easy Methods to Enhance Your Writing Skills
Photo by Jess Bailey on Unsplash

I’m a self-taught writer and I never took a formal writing course. But I’m always looking for ways I could improve my skills. I learned how to write mostly through practice. And I’ve found three incredibly easy ways to help me become a better writer.

And the best part? They are all free, and you can practice them any time of the day. If you’re an aspiring writer embarking on your writing journey, you will find them helpful. These methods involve writing, reading, and editing every day.

Writing regularly

A year ago, when I first dipped my toes into writing, I had zero writing skills. I have no formal degree in writing. And I’ve never taken a professional writing course. Most of the skills I’ve learned I picked up along the way.

Fast forward today and I can write articles with ease and it doesn’t take me as much time to flesh out each article.

And what did I do to get to the level I am at now? The secret to my success is that I wrote every single day for 365 days straight. There would rarely be days when I didn’t write a word.

There was one factor, though, that helped me in my writing — I came to it after having some editing experience. As a language enthusiast, I’ve always had a knack for words and a passion for grammar.

But for the most part, I’ve learned the art of writing through writing.

You may be wondering how you can start writing with no writing experience. The good news is, you can become a self-made writer. If you have a passion and a desire to improve, you’ll eventually get there. The most important is that you commit yourself to learn. Once you become a writer, learning never stops.

It’s no coincidence. Writing strengthens the writing portion of your brain and the more you write, the better you get. So while many self-proclaimed gurus recommend you to take a writing course, sign up for a class, there is no need to take all these steps. You can learn the skills as you go, one step at a time.

There are many resources online that can help improve your writing skills. Some of them are free. You just have to know where they are and how to find them. Sharpening your editing skills will elevate your writing and bring it to the next level.

For example, if you’re looking to get better at grammar, you can find some free editing resources online. Some sites even have free practice questions to test and hone your skills.

Reading a lot

I can’t stress enough how reading makes you a better writer. And it’s no coincidence that Stephen King in his book On Writing said it too. If you want to become better at writing, you must read a lot. With that said, it’s worth it to put aside some time every day and devote it to reading.

I read from 30 minutes to an hour every day. The reading routine not only sharpens my mind but also helps me think and fill my creative tank with ideas. So it’s rarely the case when I don’t have any topics to write about, thanks to my reading practice.

And you don’t have to limit yourself to what you read — if you dislike fiction, read plenty of nonfiction material. With the internet at your fingertips, the opportunities to read are abundant.

“If you don’t have time to read, you don’t have the time (or the tools) to write. Simple as that.”

— Stephen King

Editing someone else’s work

Editing someone else’s work can indirectly improve your writing too. When you read over someone’s writing you’re not only honing in on grammar mistakes, you’re also focusing on the actual content. Your brain is actively engaged in the process.

As an editor of Illumination, I get to edit other people’s articles. I’m also a part of an amazing writers’ group. Together we swap each other’s articles for suggestions and feedback. And I can’t tell you how much this has helped me grow as a writer.

I also edit projects I pick up from clients from time to time. This type of work helps me hone my writing abilities.

So, don’t underestimate the power of editing. Simply editing someone else’s work can hone your skills and make you a better writer than you were yesterday.

The takeaway

You don’t need to take formal writing lessons or invest in a professional writing course to become a better writer. You can take a longer road and learn the skills as you go. The three skills that have helped me improve my writing are writing a lot, reading, and editing other people’s work. Practice them every day and you’ll get better.

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About the Creator

Kristina Segarra

Health & wellness and self-improvement writer. Mother of 2. Musician.

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