Improving your writing skills should be your #1 priority if you want to become a published writer. Contrary to popular belief, you can easily become a good writer even if you’ve been labeled as a “born writer” in your life.
Keep reading this blog to find thirteen actionable tips that can supercharge your writing skills without wasting time and effort.
1. Create a writing schedule
It will get hard for you to improve your writing if you don’t have a proper schedule. Many writers think they can sharpen their writing skills if they write 24/7, but that will not favor you either. You should create a simple, actionable schedule that you can follow without disturbing your routine.
Set some time aside from your daily schedule and allocate it for writing. When you start writing, you should not pay attention to distractions to get the most out of your writing schedule.
2. Connect with professionals
There will be several writing challenges you cannot overcome alone. If you find it hard to fix your writing mistakes, you should try to link with skilled professionals who have experience working in the publishing industry.
For example, if you are located in Toronto, you can link up with freelance Toronto editors if you cannot edit your manuscript yourself.
Connecting with professionals is not as difficult as you might think. You can use online forums to find writing professionals in your area.
3. Spend more time reading
Reading more can help you write better. The more time you spend reading your favorite books, the easier it becomes for you to fix your writing mistakes.
You should set some time aside from your daily routine to read the books you love. Make sure you don’t get too invested in reading and also have some free time for writing. It’s better to read books from your favorite genre, so you enjoy your reading experience.
4. Polish your writing skills
There’s no benefit to writing 24/7 if you still make basic mistakes as a writer. If you are aware of your writing mistakes, you should list them down and try to rectify them as soon as possible.
One of the best things you can do to improve your writing skills is to join a writing class. Learning from a skilled tutor will help you polish your writing without wasting your time and effort.
5. Find your own voice
Finding your voice is the most important thing to focus on as a writer. As a writer, you might be compelled to follow the tone of your favorite writers. But the truth is that trying to write with other writers won’t help you grow your readership.
Developing your own voice as a writer is not as difficult as you might think. You can channel any of your specific personality traits
6. Create an outline
Many writers think it’d be better to get straight to writing without creating an outline. Contrary to popular belief, following an outline doesn’t waste your time and effort. An outline allows you to write concisely and avoid switching from one topic to another.
Making an outline is an easy task. All you need to do is write down your story’s basic flow. You can then add on to the elements to complete your story at the end.
7. Keep your readers in mind
The biggest mistake you can make as a writer is ignoring your readers. Keep in mind that writing isn’t a way to brag about your vocabulary.
You must avoid using jargon and clichés at all costs if you want to make your book interesting. You can read the famous books in your genre to identify what elements pique the interest of readers.
8. Maintain work-life balance
Writing all night or all day long without focusing on other activities won’t help you sharpen your writing skills. You should try to create a balance between your life and your writing journey so you can enjoy the writing process.
9. Start hitting the gym
Sitting in your room all day long won’t help you improve your writing. Scientific research has proven that following a sedentary lifestyle will cause physical and mental health problems and make it difficult for you to write.
You should include proper physical activity in your life to stay active and mentally fresh. Joining a gym is the best way to exercise daily and keep your health in check. Make sure you join the nearest gym so you can prepare yourself for writing.
10. Fix your diet
Eating whatever you can get your hands on to save time for writing won’t help you a lot. You must eat healthy foods and avoid junk foods like pizza to enjoy a healthy life. It’s better to prepare fresh meals from healthy ingredients so you can maintain the levels of nutrients in the body. You can get help from a nutritionist if you are finding it hard to follow a proper diet.
11. Grow your network
Networking is the most important thing that is going to help you as a writer. Being in touch with skilled writers and influential people in the publishing industry will help you get published in the future. Make sure you join networking events arranged for writers to grow your network in no time.
12. Participate in writing contests
You’d never be able to spot your mistakes as a writer if you don’t compete with other writers. Participating in a proper writing contest will help you come across writers who have a better grip on writing than you. Explore writing contests and participate in as many contests as you can to sharpen your writing skills.
13. Explore the world
Sitting in your small room won’t help you get amazing ideas for your new book. You have to get outside and explore the world’s beauty to come up with new ideas. Many established writers have claimed over the years that being in nature has helped them become better writers. Plan a trip to an exotic place with your friends and family to explore new ideas and maintain the work-life balance.