6 Effective Tips to Improve Writing

Deb Peterson wrote a great article on tips for improving your writing. Whether you are in high school, college, or have been out of college for years now, everyone should know how to write. Writing is something that we are around each and every day. In this article, Deb gives us 6 effective tips to improve writing.

1. Keep a Journal
Practice writing short essays about the things that happen to you during the day, feelings that you experience, and thoughts you have. Journaling serves as cheap therapy and improves your writing in a place that nobody but you will see.

2. Write Morning Pages
In The Artist's Way, Julia Cameron advocates writing three pages long hand first thing every morning, without stopping. This kind of writing is called "stream of consciousness." The idea is to keep your hand moving even when you don't know what to write.

3. Read
Read. Read. Read. Read the newspaper in the morning, magazines in waiting rooms, fiction, nonfiction, whatever you want. The more you read, the more easily you will recognize good sentence structure, proper grammar, and punctuation.

4. Browse Writing Books
Books on writing can inspire, teach, and boost your confidence. If you are worried about cost, browse the books in your local library. You can try several different books, choosing the one that speaks to you the most. It's okay if not all of them do.

5. Choose a First Reader
A first reader is the person you choose to be the first and only one to read your work before you do your editing. You need to choose someone you trust that is honest and kind. Choose someone that knows good writing and will give you feedback. When you get feedback from them do not be defensive, take it as constructive criticism.

6. Join a Writing Group
Sometimes people choose a "first reader" that doesn't want to hurt feelings. This shows that they are a good friend but it doesn't help your writing at all. Find a group of people that are honest but respectful and will help you grow as a writer.