7 Tips for Good Writing

Good writing is a fairly subjective concept. What I think is good writing, you might think is total crap. But subjective opinions aside, there are some ways you can make your writing better. The following 7 tips are things I’ve picked up over the years that have helped to improve my own writing. By no means is this a complete list, and heck, you might even disagree with some of the tips I offer here. With that in mind I tried to make these as general as possible, so they can apply to the essayist as easily as they can apply to the short story writer or even the novelist. Hopefully, you can at least find one of these useful.

1. What is the purpose of writing? This question seems so basic, it’s almost not worth asking. But I think a lot of people forget the purpose of writing by focusing too much on the technical and creative part of the job. But all writing boils down to is to communicate an idea or concept. That’s it. That is the broadest way I can think to word it. This definition can apply to anything you write. Stay focused on the answer to this question and your writing will be tighter, and with much more purpose.

2. Keep It Simple, Stupid (aka Kiss). I’ve read so much writing where the author tried to hard to write fancy prose with long words and complicated adjectives. The result: stilted writing that’s hard to read. I’m guilty of this myself – I think everyone is at one time or another. The best style you can adapt, especially when just starting out, is to keep your writing simple. Use everyday language. Put things in your own words. Your writing should feel natural to you and it shouldn’t be a struggle for it to "come out" (this is much different than writer’s block).

3. Write Something Every Day! Practice does make perfect, especially when it comes to writing. That’s the only way to find your own writing voice. It doesn’t really matter what you write either; journals, short stories, blogs, letters, graffiti on the wall (okay, maybe not). The point is to just write. Don’t worry about creating a masterpiece, just have fun.

4. Read until your eyes pop out. Aside from actually writing, reading is one of the best things you can do for yourself as a writer. By reading, you’ll develop an "ear" for what good (and bad) writing sounds like. You’ll develop a taste for the kind of writing you like and dislike. And when I say you need to read, I don’t just mean a book or two here and there. Read everything you can get your hands on; books, newspapers, magazines, etc.

5. Turn off your internal editor. If you’ve written anything at all, then you know what I’m talking about – that little voice inside your head that says what you’re writing is crap. Turn that voice off! A rough draft is no place for editing. That will only stifle your creativity and could make your writing seem dry and unoriginal. Leave the editing for later. Remember, nothing you write is set in stone!

6. Learn basic grammar. I know this seems obvious, but you’d be surprised at how many "writers" struggle with basic grammatical concepts. Even a misplaced comma can change the entire meaning of a sentence. And nothing will turn a publisher off to your work faster than run-on sentences, sentence fragments, or a misused semi-colon. The bookstore (or even your library) is full of grammar-made-easy type books. Pick one up and study it. Heck, take a class if you need to. Grammar is important!

7. Proofread. Edit. Repeat. This is where the magic happens. Go over your finished rough draft with a fine-tooth comb and clean it up as much as you can. Don’t be afraid to cut out chunks of your work that appear out of place or don’t advance the plot. This also means that you should give your manuscript to a second pair of eyes to read it, as they will probably catch things you never saw, no matter how many times you edited a draft.

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