9 Ways to Become a Better Writer

Last Updated on September 27, 2020 by Nathaniel Tower

Being a good writer isn’t easy. While some people seem to be naturally good writers, every proficient writer has to develop their skills through years of practice. On the other hand, some people seem like bad writers who just can’t craft a good sentence if their life depended on it.

Fortunately, everyone can become a better writer, but it’s something that takes a lot of practice and hard work—just like anything else in life.

Do you want to become a better writer? Here are nine tips to help you get there:

1. Become a grammar expert

You can’t be a good writer if you don’t understand the rules. Yes, good writers break the rules all the time. We’ll get to that later. But good writers also know all the rules inside and out. They understand proper sentence structure. They know which words to use and when to use them. No, they probably aren’t sitting around diagramming sentences for fun, and they might not even know what a past perfect participle is, but they understand grammar well enough to piece it all together so there is no confusion for the reader.

2. Always write with perfect grammar

Okay, now that you’re a grammar expert, don’t take any shortcuts. It doesn’t matter what the situation is. You should always practice writing perfectly. Whether it’s a text message, a Facebook comment, an email, or a silly writing exercise, do it the right way. No misspellings. No abbreviations. Just do it the right way. Sure, you could say it doesn’t matter if you send off a text message with the wrong “there/their/they’re” or if you write a quick Facebook post that breaks every rule in the book. But remember the old adage, “You play like you practice.” Think of all the daily writing you do as your practice. If you don’t write well in practice, you won’t be a good writer when it’s time for the big show.

3. Read (a lot) more

I always told my creative writing students that the fastest way to become a better writer is to become a better reader. Of course, you have to read the right things in order for this to work. That doesn’t just mean you need to read the classics. You need to read a wide variety of work by professional writers. Novels, short stories, poems, journal articles, listicles, etc. Become a voracious reader of everything you can get your hands on. But don’t just read on the surface. Dissect what you read and study how each sentence is crafted. Well, maybe not every single sentence. Just make sure you aren’t skimming through things and that you’re paying attention to how they are writing and what makes it special. It will make a huge difference in your own writing.

4. Write as much as you can

Notice I didn’t say you have to write every day. While it’s important to practice your craft on a regular basis, you don’t have to force yourself to sit down in front of a computer and pound out a certain number of words per day. In fact, taking some days off might help to improve your writing skills. Think of it as muscle recovery. Weightlifters aren’t straining the same muscle groups every single day. You need a break sometimes, and forcing yourself to write when you don’t feel like it can be frustrating and cause you to churn out some real garbage that can lower your self-esteem as a writer.

5. Pick apart your writing

You should reread everything you write. As you reread, you should always look for ways to make your writing better. Don’t just look for the obvious errors like typos and improper comma usage. Where could you cut out words to make it more succinct? How could you improve the word choice? Does what you’ve written say exactly what you want it to say in a way your audience will clearly understand? Your first draft is never good enough. Neither is your second. You need to be your own harshest critic.

6. Don’t be too hard on yourself as a writer

Beating yourself up as a writer isn’t going to make you a better writer. Now we’re into the psychological aspect of becoming a great writer. Yes, I just told you to be your own harshest critic. That doesn’t mean you should find fault just for the sake of finding fault. And you definitely shouldn’t tell yourself that you suck as a writer. As with anything else, confidence and a positive attitude will make you better. Remind yourself that you are a good writer, especially after you’ve had a difficult writing session or you’ve just reread something that was particularly underwhelming. You’re not going to be perfect all the time. Every famous writer produced plenty of crap on their way to creating their masterpieces.

7. Get help from other writers

While writing is typically an individual effort, you can’t be great by isolating yourself from the rest of the world. You need to interact with other writers and get their feedback on your work. Join some writers groups. Share your work with writers you trust. Get honest advice and put it into practice. Have you ever read an acknowledgements page in a book you really enjoyed? The author always thanks other writers for their help and support. You need help from other writers if you want to be great.

8. Submit your writing for publication

It’s really hard to be a great writer if no one has ever heard of you. So let’s change that. Take the writing you’re most proud of and send it out to be published. Shoot high, and don’t worry about being rejected. You’ll likely be rejected plenty of times before you get published. Submitting your writing will help you become a better writer for several reasons:

• Rejection will help you better understand what you are doing wrong. While many publications send form rejections, you’ll likely get some personalized feedback from professional editors. Even if you don’t, a few dozen form rejections will give you a good reason to go back and try to figure out what’s wrong with what you’ve written.
• Once you get an acceptance, working with an editor will help you learn how to put the finishing touches on a piece of writing.
• Getting published will make your confidence soar, causing you to write more and take more risks with your writing.

9. Create your own rules for being a great writer

Once you’ve done everything else on this list, it’s time to carve out your own special qualities as a writer. Creating your own rules doesn’t mean just doing whatever the hell you want. You still need to follow basic rules for writing. This is your chance to develop a truly unique voice that will set you apart from everyone else. Name any ten famous writers. Notice how each of these writers has a certain style that no one else can replicate? If you want to be great at writing, you need to do the same. You can be technically proficient and really good without accomplishing this step. And that’s okay. But remember, you can always become a better writer no matter how good you get.

One more thing: if you want to become a better writer, you need to pick the right ideas to right about. For example, if you want to be a great short story writer, then you need to find the best ideas for short stories.

The first step to becoming a better writer is admitting you aren’t a perfect writer while acknowledging that you can become a better writer. Once you’ve done that, then you’re ready to go back to the beginning of this list.

What tips and advice do you have for becoming a better writer? Share your thoughts in the comments below, and don’t forget to share this post on your favorite channels.

How to become a better writer FAQ

Can I become a better writer?

No matter how good (or bad) you are at writing, you can always become better. By developing good grammar habits, practicing your writing, and reading a lot, you can definitely become a better writer.

How long does it take to become a great writer?

Becoming a great writer isn’t something you can do overnight. You’ll need to put many, many hours into your writing before you can even be a good writer. Writing takes talent and skill. It’s also an art form. Like any other art, it takes years to master.

Am I a bad writer?

Writing is subjective, but there are certain things that can make your writing objectively good or objectively bad. You might be a bad writer right now, but that doesn’t mean you can't become a good one. You’ll need to practice a lot and develop your skills. Not everyone can become a great writer, but everyone can become better.

What if I never get better at writing?

If you practice enough and work hard, you will get better at writing. It’s just like anything else in life. Whether you want to be a better singer, a better runner, a better parent, or a better driver, you just have to put your mind to it and do all the little things. If you never seem to get any better, then you need to try a different approach.

Can anyone become a good writer?

Since writing is a skill that takes a lot of practice, it is possible for anyone to become a good writer. However, you have to be willing to work at it, and you have to be committed to understanding the technical skills necessary to be a good writer. Being a good writer doesn't mean you will be a successful novelist, best-selling author, or even a professional writer. Becoming any of those things is much harder than being a good writer.

What makes a good writer?

There is no single thing that makes a good writer. Being a good writer is a combination of factors that includes a proficient understanding of grammar, mastery of syntax and structure, and the ability to choose the right words to use. Additionally, a good writer has the ability to resonate with a particular audience.

Do I need formal training to be a better writer?

Outside guidance always helps when you are trying to improve any skill. However, you don't necessarily need formal training or advanced education to become a better writer. That doesn't mean you don't have to study the craft of writing. It definitely helps to take courses, study with others, or participate in workshops. You probably aren't going to become a great writer completely on your own. But you don't need to get an MFA to become a good writer.