Writing an academic college essay, paper, book, story, novel, content, summary or an article can sometimes become the most difficult task to accomplish. Even if you are a good writer who always gets good remarks regarding your writing, you may always have the urge to write better than your previous work.
So how can you take your writing to the next level every time you take a project or a new assignment?
Here are 8 smart writing tips that can help you become a brilliant writer.
1) Grammar matters
Let’s say you have this big idea in your mind, but the sentences that you are writing are confusing, unclear or their meaning is quite uncertain. How will you then be able to connect with your readers? If you want to communicate your ideas effectively to your readers, it is crucial that you pay attention to the grammar. It not only makes a sentence readable but can turn it into an interesting one as well. So, make sure you are writing in Standard English. Basic grammatical errors, poor sentence structures, misplaced punctuations, or improper verb tense can take away the strength of your writing.
2) Clarity above everything
Choose your words wisely. Many times people think that using long words frequently in their writing will increase its quality. But, it can rather sometimes make it difficult for the readers to understand your perspective. Hence, choose simple words to convey your thoughts. Similarly, writing long sentences can be misleading sometimes. Short sentences are comparatively easier to understand and absorb.
3) Write with a purpose
Do not write forcefully. Firstly, be clear with what you want to put across your readers. Forced writing may appear meaningful, but it delivers no value to the reader. Therefore, choose a topic in which you are comfortable to write. If the topic that is provided to you is a little unfamiliar, take your time to gather sufficient knowledge about it so that you can write in a convincing manner and express your thoughts or opinions freely.
4) Find time to read
Reading someone else’s work can give you better insights about how to write. Therefore, start reading more often if you want to enhance your writing style and efficiency. Try to read a range of materials such as articles, blogs, newspapers, magazines, books, and journals that are related to your subject area or interests. Moreover, do not just read but analyze the writing. For example, you can ask yourself some questions such as what did you like about the writing. Were the arguments clear? What techniques that the writer used to express their views?
5) Specify and attract the readers
Are you being specific in your sentences? It is always said that a good writer is the one who not only tells a story but rather shows it to their readers. For example, consider the sentences:
- The sky looked beautiful at sunset.
- The sunset filled the entire sky with the deep colors of red, setting the clouds alight.
Which sentence engaged you more? Hopefully, you agree that the second sentence is more interesting and engaging. This is so because it is specifically describing a scenario. The first one, on the other hand, is quite generalized.
6) Enhance your vocabulary
Do you feel that you go out of words sometimes when you start writing? Maybe a vocabulary boost can help you here. When you start using accurate words, it becomes easier for you to communicate your ideas in a clear and concise manner. Thus, take out time to learn new words every day. Read more articles, essays, or books related to your subject area to learn the key terms of that subject. Refer a dictionary or thesaurus whenever you are writing or try an online tool that can help you ramp up your vocabulary.
7) Revise, edit and review
Give yourself ample time to revise and edit your writing. It is sometimes suggested to take a short break after you complete writing a long paper or essay so that you can allow your mind to relax before you start revising the same work. Also, you can always take feedback from others about your writing. Consider the reviews that you may get and see if you can improve your writing. Moreover, feel free to edit your work. Delete unnecessary sentences, rewrite the unclear ones and or shorten some to make your writing easy to read.
8) Do not fear
Believe in yourself that you can write and express your views or opinions clearly. Many times we over-judge our self and fear the failure. Let go of any such dilemma or restrictions that are there in your mind. Just make a start. Moreover, remember that there is no harm in taking additional help if you anytime feel that you are unable to do everything on your own. Whether it is editing, proofreading, or getting help with the nursing assignment, having someone else to look over your work can save a lot of your time and some vague efforts.
Just remember that writing is a creative activity that can be enhanced with time and practice. No one expects you to be a perfect writer from day one. In fact, there is no rulebook of perfect writing. But, we can always improve ourselves and enhance our writing skills by applying these simple yet smart tips. Wait no more, just start writing with your heart and you will be surprised to see the results.