Ready To Get Better At Writing?

1, 2, 3…

START writing.

The first step in getting better at anything is to start. This advice is true no matter the career or discipline. This is especially true when you want to become a writer.

In life, you won’t get better if you don’t actually start. For in this minimal effort comes the lessons — big or small that you take with you as you develop.

When you start something on the premise of getting better, you open yourself up to trial, error, and growth. Which in return can be gruesome at first, I must admit.

However, in the pain, the stretching, the movement begets life, lessons, and understanding. If you keep going, you will eventually find all that you seek.

The second step (which is sometimes overlooked) is to track your progress. Make sure you are documenting, tracking, and managing your writing. This takes time and patience.

Ask yourself simple questions first: What is working for me? How do I know? Look at the stats and see what it is that is moving you closer to your goal. Take your writing apart and see what you uncover.

For example, pretend your writing is a mystery and you have to uncover it with data, questioning, analytics, and probing.

Ask yourself: Who is my audience? What do they want? When is the best time to publish? Where do I publish? Why should I write? Sit with your questions and see what you discover.

What did you find?

The third and final step comes after some time. After writing multiple articles — at least a decent amount you are free to share what you have learned.

Go and teach others what you have uncovered.

Rome wasn’t built in a day…but they were laying bricks every hour.

— John Heywood

By teaching others what you know, you will inevitably grow as a writer. Yes, you may still be a novice, but even novices know a thing or two.

When you teach others how to define a problem, search for a solution, target an audience, or write for the joy of it — you also get better during the exchange.

Iron sharpeneth iron; So a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.

Proverbs 27:17–20 King James Version (KJV)

It doesn’t have to be a lecture on writing, or even a masterclass on the subject.

Begin by encouraging other writers, recording and sharing your experiences, and being honest about where you are as a wordsmith.

So in short, remember to be brave and do it — start writing. It’s calling you, now is the time to answer. You will be so glad that you did — that you took that first step.

Next, once you get in the flow of things, track your progress, record your findings, keep improving. Finally go and teach someone else how to do it.

For there is a teacher and a student in us all, right?