If you Google the phrase "become better writer" you'll get just over 59 million results. About half of these will be freelance writing advice blogs . The rest will probably try to sell you a book or a newsletter subscription. Do you really want to become a better writer? Then follow the advice contained on one of the best of those 25 million writing tips blogs: read fewer "how to" articles, and spend more timing WRITING.
Why does writing matter to us?
We have thousands of talented writers here at Helium. Read their About Me pages and notice how they answer the question, "why I write." Invariably, their answer is some version of "because I must." Write because you love to write, first - and because you "need" to write, second. This is why most active writers host blogs. On your own blog you are free to write in free-form flow, without outside deadlines - just for the sake of writing.
A recent article from the respected advice blog, Early to Rise, offers five great reasons to write. The author notes that becoming a better writer can open doors and lead to financial success. Although ETR would love to sell you all sorts of helpful materials, the advice offered freely is the same: WRITE, for the sake of writing.
First, be sure of the rules.
Before you can become a better writer you need to become a competent writer. Be certain of your parts of speech and proper punctuation. Learn to use commas sparingly. Beware of excess adverbs, like "sparingly"! Learn all about semi-colons and colons. Know when you're dangling a preposition, and why it's okay to do so now and then. Once you are a confident writer, you may proceed to "talented writer" with self-assurance.
Second, read!
Most successful authors are also voracious readers. They read what the competition writes, read for entertainment,and read to stay abreast of the news. They read for inspiration or to research their current project. When you read you cannot help but soak up some good writing.
Notice which writers have the ability to make you forget about your surroundings. Ask yourself what THEY are doing right; backtrack and pay closer attention to what worked. Reading builds your vocabulary by osmosis. Reading also teaches you (without you trying to learn) how to construct great sentences.
Be careful what you quote!
Most of us routinely speak in cliches far more often than we realize. We tend to write the same way. Find new ways to express familiar thoughts! Turn in sooner and get up before sunrise - and you'll feel better, make more money, and gain wisdom. See? Read that sentence again. Ben Franklin said it first, and said it more memorably; but I didn't simply pop off a familiar truism there. That's the point.
You'll want to use material from other sources when you write, whether it's for a short story or a news article. Don't think you can "make it yours" by changing a couple words here and there. That's plagiarism, even when you don't quote exact phrases. Find your own voice; absorb the material and make it uniquely yours. If you're going to repeat something someone else said, do it clearly and give undisguised credit.
What about "my voice"?
We hear that all the time: "find your voice." However, you cannot somehow sound different from every other writer on the planet. That's impossible. But each writer has his or her own way of speaking, which carries over into the written word. This leads directly to another great piece of oft-repeated writing advice: "write the way you speak." This doesn't mean write casually, with constant asides. It means, try avoid that stilted and scholarly writing style that makes most of us cringe.
Read your words aloud.
Many of us edit too quickly, simply running spell-check and scanning for obvious grammatical errors. Want to write great stories or articles? Read them aloud, preferably to an audience. You'll catch awkward sentence constructions, constant cliches, and repetitive or redundant phrases (like that one). Why is this step so important? Because it works. "Reading" includes reading your own work!
Rewrite, rewrite, rewrite.
Think your first draft is a Pulitzer Prize winner? Don't bet on it. Read your first sentence again and make it better. Slash a few extraneous phrases and re-order your thoughts for greater clarity. Your written output isn't scripture. Consider everything you write as fair game for the red pen. Sure, save your drafts so you won't lose any precious inspired utterances; but read your sacred sentences with a critical eye. When you become a talented editor you are well on your way to becoming a capable writer. Not only that - editors make good money!
Share your work with your peers.
Of course your mother will love your short story. Your best friend will be happy to lie to you about your abilities as a writer. So find a friend who isn't afraid to offer an honest critique. Join a writers' group and dare to share. Post your writing on forums and on publishing sites like Helium, then deliberately seek critique. Be humble, and be willing to listen. Most of this advice will be free, but worth far more than the price paid. Arrogance about your untested writing prowess will get you nowhere.
In conclusion:
Spend less time reading advice about becoming a better writer (yes, even this article), and more time simply writing. Edit, revise, read aloud, get feedback - then move forward and write some more. Write in the morning, before reading your emails. Write at lunchtime. Build a blog. Write on napkins, then revise on your laptop. Just write. And never be afraid to rewrite. You may be surprised, after all, at just how good a writer you can become!
[this draft revised several times before posting]