avatarTom Handy

Summary

The website content provides insights into improving writing skills through reading, practice, and marketing, emphasizing the importance of persistence and learning from criticism.

Abstract

The article "9 Ways to Be a Better Writer" acknowledges that while not every writer starts off as exceptional, there is always room for improvement. It suggests that reading extensively, like billionaire Warren Buffett's habit of reading 500 pages a day, can enhance a writer's abilities. The piece encourages writers to embrace the struggle, dedicate time to their craft, and not shy away from the hard work required to achieve greatness. It also stresses the necessity of marketing one's work, as writers must also act as their own promoters in a world with billions of potential readers. The author, who has transitioned from military writing to more creative forms, shares personal experiences about overcoming rejection and the value of constructive criticism. The article concludes by urging writers to read more, learn from others, and be prepared to put in extra effort to elevate their writing.

Opinions

  • The author believes that reading is fundamental to becoming a better writer.
  • Persistence in writing and paying attention to detail are seen as key to moving from mediocrity to greatness.
  • Publishers' expectations highlight the need for writers to refine their work and go beyond the average.
  • Marketing one's article is as important as the writing itself, with the author suggesting a proactive approach to sharing content across various platforms.
  • The author suggests that success in writing comes from continuous effort and self-promotion, not just from producing a certain number of articles.
  • Constructive criticism is viewed positively, as a means to improve and learn in the craft of writing.
  • The article posits that storytelling is a powerful tool in engaging readers and that a writer's ability to paint a picture with their words is crucial.
  • The author reflects on their own journey, implying that adapting writing styles and being open to change can lead to improvement.

9 Ways to Be a Better Writer

Not everything is your fault — but there’s always something to improve

Photo by Tyler Franta on Unsplash

One of the greatest investors of our time, billionaire Warren Buffett, reads 500 pages a day. If you read even a fraction of this every day, wouldn’t that help you?

There is a lot you can learn by reading. As a writer, this could be one area that can help your writing. You may be an average writer and I know you want to get better. We all do.

I read a lot. I average between 15 to 20 books a year plus several magazines a month. Then I read various blog articles, poems, and haikus. Every day I learn something new.

Reading stories or articles gives me new ideas on what to write about. We all try to think of the next big idea for our article.

Afraid to Fail

Honestly, I’m not the best writer. I still make mistakes. Editors correct my work. Publishers literally laugh at my articles that I think are the best thing ever. So yes, I still need to keep writing and pay attention to detail.

Publishers look for the right word in your story or are looking for that one thing they can use to publish. Sometimes they want a little more out of you. This is when it comes down to becoming a mediocre writer or a great writer.

Are you willing to put in the work to give the publishers what they want?

You could easily quit and think it’s not worth it but you won’t hurt their feelings. They have other writers they work with. It’s one of many decisions you’ll have to make as a writer.

To be a Better Writer, You Should…

If you want to be a better writer, you should learn from those who have gone through the trenches to get to where they are now. They were once sitting in your shoes trying to figure out how to get more eyes on their work. Then one day, they figured it out. Nothing happens overnight.

Writers struggle and wonder who will read their work. You have to start from ground zero like everyone else. You don’t get any special treatment. You need to put in the time.

You Have 24 Hours in a Day

We live in a society where we have to have it now. For writing, it doesn’t work like that. You need to practice your writing. Unless you’re a John Grisham, you have to put in the work.

Because you slapped an article together in 20 minutes and published it, you’re not done. You need to review the article again.

Ask yourself what can you do to make it better?

This is when you need to put in the extra work. Make time work for you. As a writer, you have to do a little more. If you want this to be your lifestyle one day, it’s time to step it up another level.

Take Time to Market Your Article

For the time you put in to write, edit your article, and find the images, you also need to spend time to market your work. You are your own publisher. Even though you share your article with a publisher, you still need to spend some time to market your work.

There are billions of people online and you have probably only captured a small percentage of them. If no one is reading your work, it’s not their fault. It’s your fault.

Don’t be ashamed to share your work. I’m sure you’re proud of your work. Once your article is published you need to spend at least three to five minutes sharing your blog. Notice I said three to five minutes. You can share your blog in a few seconds, but you need to take one more step and keep sharing.

What other platform or group can you share your article on?

There are several platforms, but you also don’t want to overdo it in some cases. Vary your posting schedule. Think about who else needs to see what you wrote. In a sense, you are the writer, the editor, as well as the marketer.

Your Grind Time Is Now

Right now you are not the most famous writer. So you have to put in the work to become a famous writer one day. This is your time to grind. This is your time to do the hard work. This is your time to put in an extra hour or two of planning, writing, editing, and finding the right image.

No one becomes a famous writer because they wrote 20 or 30 articles. You need to write a lot more as well as promote your work. You may have to find your voice. Figure out what your audience wants.

No one said this was going to be easy. Just because you see some writers making $1,000s a month, doesn’t mean you can get there in a month from now. You have to put in the work as they did.

My Writing Articles Scored Low Reading Percentages

You would think some of my recent articles on writing would get a lot of reads but they actually don’t. I can’t determine who reads the articles — writers or readers. That’s one thing that’s hard to figure out since I’m sure I get a combination of the two. But if you’re a writer, hopefully, you would want to improve your writing by seeing what other writers are saying.

Of my four articles on writing, only one had a 70% read rate while the others had about a 50% read rate. I have done fairly well over four months and I don’t think I’m an expert writer. If a writer wanted to improve their writing, I would think they would want to get tips from other writers.

Does that make sense to you?

Constructive Criticism

Just as in sports, new players usually learn from older players on how to get better. They want to learn tips to be a superstar. Writing should be the same way. Maybe to some writers, this is an art they don’t completely understand.

I learned from professors and other editors who corrected my work with their red ink. It’s not fun but I learned as they did that. Even on this platform, some writers point out little mistakes I made. I learned from it and hopefully, this has made my writing a little bit better.

Don’t take criticism as a bad thing but as a learning opportunity. When someone makes a correction, don’t be offended. They want to help you get better.

Read the “How to Be a Better Writer” Articles

Some of the “how to be a better writer” articles are my favorite articles to read. I want to see what this writer did that set them apart. How often did they write? Is there something unique about their article or topic? Did one of their articles blow up, making them a superstar?

These are questions that will always be in the back of my mind, but I may find something that I could also do. These little tips will only make you a better writer.

Telling a Story

When I was in the Army, a person in my position who could tell a story usually did very well. They were able to present the facts while also relaying the information to their colleagues in a story-like fashion. Basically you’re trying to paint a picture for your readers to understand. The same applies to writing. If your writing is a story that your readers can relate to, then you have won them over.

Do your stories paint a picture for your readers?

Am I the Problem or Is It You?

I’m a relatively new writer. I don’t have years of writing experience. I was in the Army for a while and had to change how I wrote. The Army writing style is very unique and not like the writing you see here. In Army writing, there isn’t a lot of fluff. I had to learn to write in the Army way.

If you want to be a better writer, maybe you should read a little more. Yes, I know you want to jump to the next article but you just may miss some key words you really need to read. Just as Warren Buffett can read 500 pages a day, I’m sure you can read a few paragraphs that could drastically change your future.

Are you ready to take your writing to another level?

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