3 Steps to Improving Your Writing

Okay, because I’m twit-tarded (as Michael Martine calls it), and set two posts to publish for yesterday and none for today, this is your bonus post.

Ah, so what to talk about today? Good question.

I got an interesting email from a new writer this week. He asked what he could do to make his writing better. I think this is a question that haunts all even seasoned veterans (unless you are super-confident, cocky, and think your wordsmithing is brilliant, of unparalleled quality, and unappreciated by the masses.)  I block out hours every week to dedicated to improving my writing, For me, it could always be better.

The answer I sent was a combination of preveious advice, my personal reading, and experience.

3 Steps to Improving Your Writing

Rewrite Great Authors

One of my favorite ways to improve my writing comes from James and Harry (I know, big surprise.) I think it was James who recommended choosing a writer you emulate, and rewriting their work. This makes you examine things like timing, word groups, adjective placement, and rythm. You take something great and change the tone, or transform it into a differnt creature of equal value. By picking apart an article or paragraph, you learn how the thing was constructed. Then you have a blueprint for constructing a similar peice in your own words.

This concept applies to nearly any trade; painting, Web design, car repair, teaching, music.

Read Like a Writer

Another way to improve your writing is to read like a writer. Don’t just read the words on the page, ask “Why is that sentence there? Is it a transition? Is it foreshadowing? What purpose does it serve in the journey the writer is creating?” Examine every line, every word, until you understand why it was written. Read for enjoyment, but also notice how your favorite author inserts a period of calm right before the big dramatic scene where the heroine is left dangling over a pit of snapping alligators.

Push Your Limits

Be well-rounded, even when it hurts. I hate sappy romance novels. I snorted at women who stood in the romance section and selected armfuls of books with bare chested men and dewy eyed women on the covers. “Get a life. Romance is self delusional, ” I thought. But then I was asked to write a romantic short story. So I ordered and read a box full of LoveSwept Novels by Iris Johansen.

And you know what? I didn’t puke and I only rolled my eyes on occasion. I actually enjoyed most of them because Iris writes good suspense and her stories were well structured. The characters were likable and the plot wasn’t too far-fetched (most of the time).

My venture into writing and reading outside my comfort zone lead to a book idea. I think it’s brilliant. I have the outline completed, and plan to start the hard-core writing in 4 weeks. It will be my first submission to print media, which is also outside my comfort zone.

The Bottom Line

The secret to improving your writing is to put words on paper (or the screen, if you prefer). There are no short cuts, no compter program can do it for you. You simply must write. Write everyday and write in ways that are outside your comfort zone. Push a little every week and you will see growth over time. If you stay in your comfortable rut your writing will only grow stagnant and dull.