Two Tips to 10x Your Writing Skills
Two pieces of advice I received early on in my career that helped me become a full-time freelance writer.
I was recently asked a question directly on Quora that I’ve been asked before:
This is a fantastic question. The first sign of a great writer is the desire to be a better writer.
As someone who has always loved writing and storytelling, the act of putting pen to paper has always come naturally. However, this didn’t mean that what I wrote was good or worth reading.
For aspiring writers hoping to see their writing skills increase quickly, finding practical and habitual methods to boost your abilities to reach and engage readers is critical.
I received two pieces of advice early on in my writing career that have helped me learn how to hook a reader and draw them into my writing.
Here are two tips that have now become daily habits for me — and lead to exponential returns on a relatively small investment:
Tip #1: Read Every Day
One of my favorite quotes about reading is attributed to former US President Harry Truman, who said that “Not all readers are leaders, but all leaders are readers.”
What is true for leadership is true for your writing. If you want to make a difference through your writing, you need to be an avid reader.
Expand your horizons by reading different kinds of books from various genres and authors. Read blogs, emails, articles, tabloid magazines, novels, kid’s books, manuals — you name it.
Plain and simple: The more you read, the more you will see how words and phrases create worlds and engage minds.
Over time, you’ll learn how to craft your words in ways reminiscent of the authors and thought-leaders that inspire you — with a dash of your creativity and voice.
Tip #2: Write Every Day
Not only do you need to read every day, but you should be writing every day as well. It doesn’t have to be writing that you publish either.
Just write something. Anything. Somewhere. Every day.
I have a small journal where I write out small ideas, titles, and outlines. I have an entire folder on my computer of drafts that I have written up and never published.
The key is not to let yourself be paralyzed by the fear that your writing isn’t “good enough” or won’t be accepted by readers. This is a fear that kept me from writing for others for years. Decades, in fact. What a loss!
You just need to write, a little bit, every day. Soon, just like physical exercise or meditation, you’ll see those daily habits start to come out in your writing in tangible ways.
So there you have it. Two tips to help you 10X your writing skills. No, they aren’t flashy and life-hacky. But they are effective.
Start reading and writing every single day, and you’ll be amazed at how much you begin to impress even yourself with your writing skills!
(Plus, you’ll love how much you fall in love with the world of literature!)
