It Takes More Than Just Writing to Be a Better Writer

I’ve written before about being an online content hack writer and not being ashamed of it. That still holds true, even though it’s not the best writing I do. In that same article I asked you to think about what kind of writer you want to be. Maybe you’re still thinking about it, or maybe you’re working on it, but either way, it might be time to develop a personal strategy for writing and becoming a better writer.

Lots of writers, both successful and less-so, have writing strategies. Stephen King wrote a book about his. In fact, there are lots of books about this subject and the subject of becoming a better writer. If you’re really serious about being a working writer, you might want to read at least a few of them. This is the best place to start on a journey to being a paid writer.

Even if you don’t read any other books on the subject, read The Elements of Style by Strunk and White. This is the reference book cited most by famous writers, and rightly so. First published in 1920, it has been updated several times since then. Keep in mind though, that there are criticisms out there on some of the grammar rules and advice in the book. Still:

You can’t effectively break the rules without knowing the rules.

As a writer you will come to find your voice and preferred style(s). But just like a beginning reader learns the alphabet and very simple sentences before moving on to novels, writers need to learn the rules before bending them to fit their voices.

The following is a list of other good books for both non-fiction and fiction writers that happen to be personal favorites. I’ve been writing professionally for well over 20 years, and I still read good style books about writing. Never stop educating yourself.

On Writing Well: The Classic Guide to Writing Nonfiction by William Zinsser

Aspects of the Novel by E.M. Forster

Story Genius: How to Use Brain Science to Go Beyond Outlining and Write a Riveting Novel (Before You Waste Three Years Writing 327 Pages That Go Nowhere) by Lisa Cron

Sin and Syntax: How to Craft Wicked Good Prose by Constance Hale

Read the Work of Other Writers

You should absolutely do this, but you should also be careful about what writers you’re reading when you’re looking for qualities to emulate. The quality of online writers varies wildly. Do read works by people whose works evoke emotion in you, and writers you know who are successful online, win contests, and have large followings. Then expand your reading to authors and journalists in the print world and in noted publications both online and offline.

If you read a thought-provoking piece in a magazine or newspaper, pay attention to the style the author uses. How they structure their work, their vocabulary and grammar choices, and how they conclude their work. Remember that these are paid writers. Taking cues from how they write can help improve your own work and may help you sell pieces to paying publications. The same goes when reading your favorite novels or good short stories in lit magazines if you’re a fiction writer.

Keep Writing

Of course, you should be doing all of this reading while you’re writing. Learning and doing go hand in hand in almost every pursuit. And just because you’re learning, that doesn’t mean you aren’t a writer. One of the biggest pitfall writers face is a lack of confidence. Steven Pressfield is an excellent fiction writer who has also written several very good books about the art and mechanics of writing. In one, he noted:

“If you find yourself asking yourself (and your friends), “Am I really a writer? Am I really an artist?” chances are you are. The counterfeit innovator is wildly self-confident. The real one is scared to death.”

The Takeaways

Read a lot. Write a lot. Do both at the same time. Well, not the literal same time, but you understand what I mean. Practice, persistence, and self-guided education will take you far in this endeavor and might even lead to your dreams coming true.