Write More Awesomely: 10 Tips to Become a Better Writer

Writing, whether it be for a new blog post, your job or an essay for class, can be hard - but it doesn't have to be! Check out the tips below that are sure to make you a better writer (or your money back!)

Practice Makes Perfect

This is true for any skill. The more you do something, the better you become at it. Writing is like a muscle. It's important to keep using it and stretching it out. Try to write every morning when you wake up or every night before you go to bed, or both! The more you write, the easier it will become.

Give it a KISS

In school, all of my teachers used KISS - Keep it Simple, Stupid. If you can say it in 10 words, don't stretch it out to two pages. Let your words be to the point!

What Happens Next?

One of the best pieces of writing advice I received came from one of my coworkers. She told me that after each sentence of a story, the reader needs to be asking "What happens next?" You want to catch your reader's eye and take them on a journey with you.

When in Doubt, Read

Reading makes you a better writer. Whenever I'm having writers block, I pick up a book or read through some of my favorite blogs. I always find inspiration to keep going when I'm stuck, or get new ideas on what to write about.

Revise, Revise, Revise, Revise

This is one thing I have never been good at. I am one of those people who writes something down and calls it a day, but recently I've learned how important revising is. After you write something, try taking a short break then going back to it. Read it through again and see if it still works. Usually I'll find some silly mistakes I didn't see the first time through.

Read it Out Loud

This is another tip when it comes to reviewing your work. When you're going over what you wrote a second time, read it out loud. This is not only another good way to catch any mistakes, but it can help you when writing your first draft, too. Sometimes if I'm stuck on a sentence, I'll start brainstorming out loud and usually I'll find the perfect word or sentence!

Show, Don't Tell

I'm sure we've all heard this tip a million times, but that's because it is so important. You want your reader to stay captivated, and the best way to do that is to paint them a picture. Think about what feeling you want to evoke in your readers and create a compelling story that will have their minds racing.

Don't Be Them, Be You!

Never try to copy the style of another writer. Instead, keep practicing and find your own voice. Finding your voice as a writer can take a long time and is an ongoing process. The more you write, the more your voice as a writer will develop.

Who's That?

Who are you writing for? If you're writing something for your best friend, it might look a little different than what you would write down for an academic essay. Before you start every piece you write, ask yourself who you are writing it for. Every piece you write has an audience, and it is important to keep them in mind with every piece you write. What does your audience want? How do you want them to feel? What do you want them to take away from your piece?

Know When to Walk Away

Sometimes as writers we can be perfectionists. This can cause us to keep working on a piece until our eyes cross. You need to know when to put down the pen or walk away from the computer. Sometimes you have to tell yourself that the story, article or essay is perfect as it is. Know when to hit submit and walk away.

Do you have any writing tips to share? Add yours in the comments below!