How To Become A Better Writer With 7 Easy Writing Skills

If you want to know how to become a better writer, start by looking for the quickest and easiest ways to improve.

Try to identify some flaws you may use by habit that could weaken your writing.

I’m not talking here about spelling errors, punctuation, and typos, which are always part of a first draft because they can wait until later.

A first draft is a creative process of getting the story out; a writer shouldn’t worry about errors and grammar at this stage. But there are some basic structures you can practice and improve.

How to become a better writer, quickly

I’m sure you’ve read a lot of advice about improving as a writer, and I agree with most of the points many articles and books make.

Yes, you should write every day, always use outlines, and read more. Understanding who your readers are, developing your writing style, and accepting feedback are also valid advice.

But these tips take a long time to develop and master.

Focusing on key elements in your writing that you can learn to improve quickly is a faster way to progress.

When it comes time for a second draft, good writers know they can improve by searching for frequent mistakes. Perhaps I shouldn’t say mistakes.

It is more a case of writing tics during the creative writing process. Every writer has a few bad habits.

But why wait until a second draft to catch them?

If you can identify specific elements in your writing that need improvement and learn how to change, correct, or avoid them, your first drafts will be better, cleaner, and stronger.

Below are seven critical areas you can improve by making them a new habit. It doesn’t matter if you write short stories, blog posts, articles, or a novel; these tips will always improve any piece of writing.

You might not adopt all of them by habit in one day. But in time, if you can control all of these points, you will definitely be a better writer.

1. The Passive Is To Be Eradicated

Well, I should say that you need to eradicate the passive. It is the first piece of advice all new writers need to learn.

The active voice is always more descriptive and gives much more information in any written communication.

The passive voice is quick and easy, and because of this, it very often simply slips out of a writer’s fingers in a first draft. But it is uninformative.

As soon as you see the verb to be followed by a past participle, change it as in the following examples.

I was instructed to go on a diet.
My doctor instructed me to go on a diet.

We have been told that our flight has been delayed.
The airline told us that there was a delay in our flight.

It is understood that we need to be on time for work.
We understand that we need to be on time for work.

You should be considered for the promotion.
Your employer should consider you for the promotion.

It is rare that you cannot change the passive voice.

Ninety-nine percent of the time, you can and should change passive sentence structure to active.

Even with instances such as, I was born in a taxi, it is possible.

My mother gave birth to me in a taxi.

2. This, That, and The Other

This might come as a surprise. Um, what will?

Starting a sentence with this or that is usually a bad idea because it is often an unclear pronoun.

Another problem is that it needs an extra verb. Very often, it is the verb to be.

Always try to rewrite the sentence with a more explicit connection.

I didn’t finish high school. That was because I had to work.
I didn’t finish high school because I had to work.

The government is out of control. This is why I won’t vote for them.
I won’t vote for the government because it is out of control.

We missed our flight out of London. That was why we were late for the meeting.
We were late for our meeting due to missing our flight out of London.

I felt ill this morning after all the food and wine last night. The other reason was that I went to bed too late.
I felt ill this morning after all the food and wine last night. I also went to bed too late.

3. Commas are not for taking a breath

When you use a comma, make sure you use it correctly, such as in a list, with names, after an adverbial phrase, or in a non-defining clause.

If a comma is in a sentence merely because it seems like the right place to pause for a breath, it doesn’t belong there.

Long comma-filled sentences, especially in blog posts and articles, are often difficult to read and understand. Break it up.

When I lived in France, I would always go to Paris at the weekend and wander the streets, just looking at people and taking in the atmosphere, as well as all the wonderful food in the shop windows. 

When I lived in France, I would always go to Paris at the weekend. I wandered the streets, looking at people, and taking in the atmosphere. I loved all the wonderful food in the shop windows. 

4. Out with the adverbs

You can’t get rid of them all. However, the overuse of adverbs weakens writing because they replace opportunities to use much more descriptive language.

Stephen King is well known for this quote. “The road to hell is paved with adverbs.”

Adverbs with reporting verbs are the main offenders. Always try to find a better way. You can use strong verbs to help you remove an adverb.

… he said dryly.
… she screamed hysterically.
… they yelled loudly.

… he said with a hint of sarcasm.
… she screamed and lost control of her composure.
… they yelled at the top of their voices.

5. Rewrite cleft sentences

Cleft sentences start with what or it.

The two forms are:

What I meant to say was that I didn’t agree.

It was the color that attracted me to the car.

A cleft sentence is a formal structure a politician, in particular, would use when they want to fill space and say as little as possible.

Always change it to a more direct sentence.

I should have said I didn’t agree.

The color attracted me to the car.

6. Don’t be vague

When you are writing, think about unnecessary words and phrases. One of the best writing skills is knowing when to avoid vagueness and redundancies, especially in complex sentences.

One of the common ones is the grammatical expletive. These are sentences that begin with there is, there are, or there was. Avoid them if you can.

As you know, I’m sure because it was on the local news, I have received a scholarship in English Literature.

I have received a scholarship in English Literature. Did you see it on the local news?

There is always a good reason, and therefore a necessity, to take online courses in Microsoft Word to improve your skills.

It’s a good idea to take online courses in Microsoft Word to improve your skills.

7. And, But And So

In most pieces of writing, using long and complicated linking words is too formal and interferes with comprehension.

Generally, you can use very short words for contrast, addition, and reason. And, but, and so are the most common. But be careful of your comma use with but.

However, notwithstanding, although and moreover are definitely words you should avoid using except in a formal text such as a cover letter for a job application.

If you see these long linking words, replace them with a shorter word unless you are specifically aiming for a formal style.

I wanted to go; however, I had an exam.
I wanted to go, but I had an exam.

In addition to my law degree, I have a nursing diploma.
I have a law degree and a nursing diploma.

It’s raining. Therefore, we can’t have a picnic.
It’s raining so we can’t have a picnic.

Summary

Writers get a lot of advice.

Try reading a book a week, taking a writing course, or signing up for Medium and start publishing your work to get some feedback. 

All of these are good advice. I agree that you should read a lot, practice writing every day, try different writing styles, and always be willing to learn.

But if you can learn to write with an analytical eye and react to these seven issues I have noted above, you will improve your writing in no time.

All it takes is motivation to write, a little practice, and the development of new habits that will help you improve.

Related reading: Skills A Writer Needs Apart From Writing