Writing, as opposed to talking, is a way of communicating ideas on paper or on some other “permanent” record, like email. Talking is more spontaneous, while writing is more deliberate. Good writing skill doesn’t happen by accident. Improving your writing skills can help you develop better relationships as well as advance your career.

Let’s look at a few simple ideas on how to improve your writing skills.

·    WHAT IS THE MESSAGE?

First and foremost you must decide is what you will be writing about. It must be a topic of interest to you and to your target audience. If you have more than one topic in mind jot them down and select from this list later.

·    WHY THIS MESSAGE?

Knowing ‘why’ you are writing about this topic will help you build a structure to deliver your message effectively. Remember that you have to catch your audience’s attention from the beginning so that they keep reading through to the end.

After you have selected your topic and clearly understand your reason for wanting to write about it, the next writing skill improvement strategy consists of a series of iterative steps.

1.    WRITE

Start writing. Allow your thoughts to flow freely and do not concern yourself initially with grammar, spelling, structure and organization. Try to capture as many of your thoughts and record them. At this stage, your concern is being able to express all that you want to say about this topic.

2.    EDIT

Proofread your work. Now is the time to make corrections to spelling and grammar. You also want to make sure that your ideas flow smoothly and are easy to understand. You are now shifting more of your focus to the audience who will be reading your work. Ask yourself, “Is this the best way for me to get my message across?”

3.    RE-WRITE

Your answer to the preceding question will determine if you need to re-write or if it’s time to give yourself a pat on the back and relax. Editing your work may require you to adjust your language, simplify your sentences, rearrange your paragraphs, and otherwise eliminate all that is unnecessary for you to deliver your message as clearly and as smoothly as possible.

Abovementioned tips on how to improve your writing skills will help you convey your message effectively. For those who seriously need a writing skills improvement, getting some writing skills courses is suggested.

Ultimately, writing is simply a process of translating your thoughts and ideas into effective prose. The more you improve your writing skills the better you will be at conveying your ideas to others, leading them to a better understanding of your inner self. Keep writing!

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