by Tom Geoffroy

Created on: June 22, 2009   Last Updated: June 23, 2009

Salespeople sell, builders build, painters paint, and writers write. The question is how to be more successful than 99.99 percent of writers. The people from Nike gave us the short and simple answer: "Just Do It." Everyone reading this knows there is truth in that statement; however, there is just a little more to it than that. Consider the following tips.

1. Write and write often. If you want to be good at anything you need to practice your craft. Writing is a craft that involves talent, but it can also be learned and perfected. It is not just some gift certain people have. If you can speak, you can write. Everyone has thoughts about something. If you want to be successful, you need to write your thoughts down. It doesn't matter if they make any sense, just get them down. If you don't write them they are nothing more than wishful thinking. Write them down and then you have something tangible to work with.

2. Read as much as you can. Reading other peoples work will help inspire you, encourage you, and teach you new ways to turn a phrase. Always be a student and your work will improve. Research topics, challenge your opinions, and stay open to various styles of writing. Glean the best from the best and you will become the best.

3. When you write don't try to edit at the same time. Let your keyboard sing as you type out the words pouring from your mind. Let go and let the thoughts flow. You can clean it up later.

4. Edit. Every writer needs to be an editor. Read over what you have written and start to make your corrections. Maybe you need to remove text, or move it around to make it more cogent. Read it out loud. Yes, out loud. When you read what you have written you will hear how it sounds to the reader. When you read silently to yourself you already know what you meant to say and you will tend to read past the awkward sentence structure or fuzzy phrases.

5. Use the tools. Most word processing software comes with spell check and grammar check. You can even get statistics for reading ease and reading grade level. Use these tools to polish your work. Work smarter, not harder.

6. Listen to your critics. No one likes to be criticized. We really don't like "constructive" criticism either. If you can learn to listen to your critics and look for the truth of what they tell you, you will be able to learn more and perfect your craft. You need to develop a thick skin and understand that if someone doesn't like what you wrote that

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