7 Tips to be a Better Writer
Whenever I tell people I am a writer they usually respond by saying something along the lines of, ‘I wish I was a better writer.’ While I was in college I was hit with this all the time. A lot of people I knew were skilled in subjects I was pretty horrendous at like engineering, chemistry, and accounting. But they usually had basic to poor writing skills. I haven’t done extensive research on this topic, but the dip in the average citizen’s writing capabilities might be correlated with the advent of email and text messaging. Regardless, I wanted to provide a list of my seven practical recommendations you can use to become a better writer.
Spoiler Warning!
(I’m not claiming to be the best blacksmith in Whiterun, but I do think I’m pretty decent.)
1. Avoid ‘Things’
Avoid excessive use of words like ‘things,’ ‘it,’ ‘stuff,’ and ‘this.’ Your reader is not living inside your mind. They don’t know what ‘it’ is even if you do. Find ways to rephrase ‘it’ to keep the reader from becoming numb to the word. If you are confused when you should use words like ‘this’ or not just wait for anytime you start a new paragraph or a new idea, then restate the ‘thing’ by name.
2. Use More Metaphors and Similes
Never underestimate the usefulness and range of a well-placed comparison. Even when sending an email or writing an informal letter. People’s minds comprehend complex subjects better when they are compared to simpler subjects. Similes and metaphors are especially handy for fiction where characters live in worlds totally unlike our own. Plus, the more creative a comparison, the more likely the reader will remember it.
3. Count How Many Times You Have Used However
I once read a guy’s paper and found that he started every sentence with ‘however.’ If every single one of your sentences starts with ‘however,’ ‘although,’ ‘nevertheless,’ ‘regardless,’ ‘notwithstanding,’ then you are effectively not making any sense. Your writing will also not look aesthetic and be painful to read.
4. Avoid Tone Switching
Your reader will find it incredibly jarring when you transition from using ‘bro’ in one sentence to ‘sir’ in another. Don’t switch between formal and informal, especially when writing something that is supposed to be one or the other. When you are using tone in a story, or language that constitutes a genre, transitions happen all the time depending on the direction of the plot. Say when a comedic scene turns into a sudden horrific scene. That being said, overindulgence in tone transitions will make your writing ridiculous and unserious, unless that is the purpose.
5. Use Both Long and Short Sentences
If you have a complicated idea and you think it won’t fit into one sentence, split it into multiple sentences. I can’t recall how many times I have been editing someone’s writing and all it needed was a couple of periods here and there. If your writing is nothing but long-winded, run-on sentences over and over again, it can become exhausting to read. Sprinkle in some short sentences to make your writing clearer and cleaner.
6. New Subject New Paragraph
This point is similar to the previous one. Paragraphs, like sentences, can become too long and repetitive if not chopped up appropriately. Paragraphs don’t need to be five sentences, as long as separate ideas are confined to their own paragraphs it will make your writing easier to follow and generally more aesthetically pleasing.
7. If Something is Big, Don’t Say Colossal
I am copying C.S. Lewis here, but as the title implies, use adjectives sparingly and aptly. If you describe something that is just ‘big’ as ‘colossal’, what happens when you need to describe something that is actually colossal?
