When I first started blogging, I hoped that I would get everything at once. Bigger traffic numbers, wider audience, more engagement. However, many of my posts seemed to be unnoticed by both, people and search engines. What was I doing wrong? Well, many things, actually. The reality is you cannot become a good blogger (journalist, writer, or whoever you want to be) without improving your writing skills. Only after making hundreds of mistakes, you will figure out how to write the content that will get you noticed.
The good news is that with a few proven tips and tricks from my own experience, chances are you will get through this faster than I had to. Today I’m going to share with you several methods I used to boost my writing skills. They helped me, and they are sure to help you too!
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Typing Speed
Let’s face it, fast and accurate typing is important, as this skill can save you a tremendous amount of time. Moreover, it can boost your productivity. Luckily, there are lots of typing classes and training software to developing this skill today, but my favorite one is Typisto. This unusual game app is just great for increasing your typing speed and improving your grammar, which is also crucial for any writer.
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Distinct Writing Style
The signature writing style is one of those things every writer wants to achieve one day. However, it does not come easy and requires much of your time. Where to start? One of the methods I used at the beginning of my writing journey was imitating some of my favorite writers. No, it’s not about plagiarism; it’s about finding something you really like in other authors’ works and using it to improve your writing skills. Over time, you will start to develop your own distinct ‘voice’ and signature style.
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Writers’ Workshop
These days, creative writing courses, meet-ups, workshops, and special groups for writers can be found in almost every city or small town. You can use Meetup to choose something interesting you want to join to in your area. Write something on the chosen topic, receive feedback from like-minded writers, and make your work better. It is not only a good way to boost your writing skills, but also a lot of fun and knowledge.
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Writing and Rewriting
Before you start, keep in mind that writing requires time and dedication, so if you want to succeed in this endeavor, you should work hard. After all, the more you write, the better your writing skills are. First of all, create a writing schedule and stick to it. Remove any distractions and focus solely on your task. Carefully plan, draft, edit, and format each piece of writing to receive the better result. If you have any earlier works, review them to see how far you have progressed since that time.
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Reading Habit
Reading more is also a great method to boost your writing skills. However, you should not read only what you really like to read. You should get out of your comfort zone and try more challenging material. It will expand your horizons and stretch your writing skills. Besides, this method will help you learn different genres of writing and challenge your way of thinking. That is why it is crucial to make reading your daily habit. After all, the more you read, the better writer you become.
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Specific Writing Techniques
To become a good writer is impossible without practicing, but don’t focus on a single writing style at the beginning of your writing adventure. Instead, you should try different writing techniques. For example, include questions in your writing to engage the reader, add a more dynamic rhythm, experiment with metaphors, or do something else you have never done before. In addition to improving your writing skills, it will help you find your favorite style and develop your own writing voice.
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Grammar and Spelling
Needless to say that the correct use of grammar and spelling is of utmost importance for every writer. Whether you write a blog, an article, or a novel, you need to be absolutely confident that your work is free of any mistakes and typos. Fortunately, there are many useful online tools that can help you boost your grammar skills and improve the quality of your work. As for me, I use Grammarly and Hemingway. These two make a great combination for every novice writer.
In conclusion, let me emphasize the most important point of this article: becoming a good writer takes practice and time. However, everyone can boost their writing skills if they want to. Moreover, with these simple yet effective methods I tried on myself, you can achieve your goal faster than you ever thought possible. Believe in yourself and your skills, and you are guaranteed to succeed!