Are good writers made or born? Natural talent helps, but good writing can also be learnt (see also, How to Write Clearly).
Look around for mentors and others who are already successful in the writing field. They can provide tips and advice from first-hand experience.
Learn Writing Techniques from the Professionals
According to Landale (2006), a professional will take double the amount of time planning and less than half the time drafting as other writers. The three stages of writing include:
- The Planning Phase. This takes around 40% of a project’s time and involves brainstorming. Write down all your ideas and all your thoughts that are linked. By doing this, you can look at the entire project; connect ideas and thoughts; not worry (for now) about writing rules (for example, spelling, punctuation, and grammar); and do more brainstorming.
- The Drafting Phase. This involves around 25% of a project’s time. Of most importance in this stage is to suspend the rules of editing; run with your ideas; and start writing at any place in the publication (it doesn’t have to be the beginning). Basically, just jot down quickly what you want to say.
- The Editing Phase. This polishing stage takes up the rest of a project's time. By now, you should have planned and organized the project. All the writing has been done. Now, aim to reduce your draft by at least a quarter. Here, software for writers comes in handy. For example, StyleWriter can help you spot wordy prose and choose simpler alternatives. Improve your writing further by remembering that your writing must maintain the audience’s attention. Do things that promote prolonged interest, such as editing long sentences to short sentences. Substitute, where possible, nouns with action words. These are power words that spark the reader’s attention (Landale, 2006).
Following a writing plan can also help your writing. If you have a basic formula every time you begin a project, you will save time and effort and your writing is less likely to steer off-track.
References
Landale, A. (2006) ‘Cutting the bull: an effective business writing approach’, Industrial and Commercial Training, 38 (6): 317.