There is no doubt that content and literature have incredible power. Reading can take us across the universe and cause our imaginations to sizzle. It can capture our attention and take us from a hidden underwater cave to a trailer park on the other side of the world.
Not to mention that for most of us, writing is an integral part of the way we communicate at work, and it’s no wonder why we would all be trying to improve our knowledge of the written word.
So here are five ideas you can focus on to become a better writer:
- Be Specific
- Use the Right Style
- Don’t Disregard Syntax
- Tell a Story
- Stay Consistent
These simple statements aren’t all-encompassing, but you can apply these rules to almost every part of your writing. The one truth about writing is that you need to experiment to innovate. So, in general, these ideas can help you become a better writer, but experimenting will make you a great one.
Even if you’re not a professional, becoming a better writer enhances your communication ability, encourages objectivity, and enriches your imagination. It’s a beautiful art form, and the best part is that this art form is an equal opportunity one.
Be Specific
Advice for writing can be tricky because there are always situations that seem to disagree with conventional guidance. The wisdom to be specific rings true often, though, because details drive interest. They help the reader connect the dots and make a world come alive.
Some studies also suggest that concrete details are easier for people to process, and your audience doesn’t want to work hard to attain information.
Not only can precise information improve your reader’s experience, but pushing yourself to discover those details can drive creative innovation. This practice also encourages us to invoke the senses and flush out ideas.
Even if you don’t use all the details you came up with, great work takes a lot of thought and care. If your workflow/process involves a short ideation period, consider extending it. The stronger the foundation is, the stronger the end product will be. The mind is a muscle you need to stretch and that includes your creativity.
Overall using detail will make your writing clearer, ultimately making your writing more effective. That is as long as you don’t go overboard.
Use the Right Style
Writing has historically served a practical end. One of the very first written pieces of communication demonstrates precisely this fact. It was the Maxims of Ptahhotep written in ancient Egypt. The maxims were instructions for young men on how to act.
I think this has influenced our style today. Ultimately, we write to convey information.
As a writer, there are many different approaches to style; loose, periodic, balanced, active, or passive sentences can all be a style choice. Using writing techniques similes, metaphors, assonance, alliteration, hyperbole, etc…..can also affect your style.
A loose sentence is the conventional construction of a sentence in the noun + verb order. In comparison, periodic sentences place the noun at the end of the sentence. This ordering creates some suspense in the sentence but can also cause the writing to become more challenging to read.
Then there are passive vs. active sentences, which can have a powerful impact on the impression your writing has on a reader. Passive sentences can sometimes derail the reader and create confusion in sentences. They are also a common technique for people to disguise their confusion about a subject matter.
Active Vs. Passive
She strutted down the catwalks.
The catwalks are strutted down by her.
- I walked away from the store.
- The store was walked away from.
As you can see, there are a lot of directions your path can take. So, the belief that shorter sentences are better isn’t flawed. It allows most writers to stay out of trouble. However, it’s not the whole story. Those who try to paint writing in broad strokes are making a mistake because life doesn’t work like that.
Instead, I recommend you focus on the idea of classic prose, as Steven Pinker explains.
Focus on how to convey your idea effectively. Prose is a window onto the world. So you want to position the reader so they can see it with their own eyes. The goal is to see objective reality. Consider having a goal in mind when writing and write towards that goal.
Although conventional wisdom about style has changed very little through time, one aspect of good writing seems to change even less. The grammatical rules we follow are fundamental.
Don’t Disregard Syntax
Horrible Syntax is going to be the first issue people notice. For many, they can’t look past it. Even if those commas were intentional, it doesn’t mean they won’t bother your reader any less.
And at the end of the day, if your main goal is connecting with the audience, you will face problems with bad grammar. That’s why it’s best to avoid breaking the rules. Although once you know the rules, you can break them as long as it makes sense.
Nowadays, you can’t steer too far off course with Grammarly and other similar tools. However, one of the best tools you can use for this is simply reading the sentence aloud. It may seem strange to some people, but it has always helped me catch awkward bits of my writing.
Tell a Story
Before we were carving symbols on cave walls, we were storytellers, and since then, not much has changed.
Readers connect with a piece by being involved in the story. Your ultimate goal as a writer should be to give those readers a flow-like experience.
Story structures can change, but the one below is probably familiar if you’ve ever watched a blockbuster movie. If you’re creating long-form content yourself, try incorporating this structure into your piece.
Beginning
- Everything is normal. This is when you are introduced to the characters in their average every day.
Inciting incident
- This is where the world of the main character is upended; the inciting incident is what should make your audience lean forward in their chairs while they are reading your work.
Rising action
- This is the main chunk of a story where the main character heads off on an adventure in a new world.
Climax
- A good climax satisfies and surprises.
Resolution
- Everything wraps up with a pretty little bow.
The story needs to be compelling, and it also needs to come full circle; never leave a customer or reader with an unresolved feeling.
Another essential consideration that writers need to make is their characters. For example, I have considered the main character in this piece – you. You are the main character of this story, and I guess we’ll see how you feel at the end of the article. Leave your comments, please!
Stay Consistent
Anyone can improve their writing, whether you have written professionally for twenty years or you’re someone who just started. There is always more you can improve on. I understand that my writing isn’t perfect either. These are just the ideas that I focus on every day as I continue to enhance and sharpen my craft.
Ultimately writing is a matter of habit. There are a lot of writing rules and a lot of directions you can take it. None of those will matter much unless you put them into practice.
And if you are just getting started, the truth is, you’re going to need to write some lemons before you get to the gold. Hopefully, these few tips were helpful, and if they were, please leave a comment letting me know. I’d love to hear your thoughts and opinions.