How do I improve my writing skills?

Answer 1

Read novels that have good written style so you can see what someone who has real mastery does with the language. -- If you get a really good writer, you will be able to tell by reading why it is good because it is so good. I was once told by a professor that Truman Capote's 'In Cold Blood' was one of the finest examples of prose narrative style in American literature.

The first line:
The village of Holcomb stands on the high wheat plains of western Kansas, a lonesome area that other Kansans call 'out there'.

I will never forget the next paragraph or so, where he describes the Kansas grain elevators looking like Greek temples. Another great stylist is F. Scott Fitzgerald.

Answer 2

I am not sure how old you are, but if you are participating in a high school, community college or regular college, being part of the newspaper staff can make a huge difference.

I struggled with grammar and writing in school. I couldn't even write a book report. I joined the newspaper staff and later on became an editor. It turned my understanding of writing, language, and grammar around 100%. It truly changed my life. At some point, my competence and writing skills became phenomenal. Deadlines and an advisor who really set high standards made it all happen. Without the pressure, it would not have worked. Classes alone don't have the kind of leverage a publishing deadline and a leader with my respect had.

Answer 3

Begin with topics that interest you. If you are visual, begin with interesting pictures and write a descriptive paragraph, then another picture and then two paragraphs, etc. If you are the type who is interested in a particular topic do some reading on the toipic and write an informtaional paragraph or essay. If you are a fcontroversial person, do some reading on many of the controversial topics facing you in school, in your community, state or country. Take a stand and write a persuasive essay on teh topic. If you are comfortable with the compyuter, sit at the comcputer and compose as you think. It helps the fluency to write as you are thinking, and if you can type failry well you can keep the fluency going. Then the compuyter can help you with the grammatical, puncltuation and spelling. IT can even help with vocabulary. If you are not good at the computer, compose on paper, and then type your information. Then you can edit, by adding more information, using spell check, thesaurus, gram check, etc.

Answer 4

Improvement comes with practice. Not so much practice as is time. But always write about things you love. And use words that you have learned from authors you love to read.
But the most important thing is to write with true love and honesty to yourself. Don't hold back anything. Our mind and the questions that slow us down really hinders our writing. Do what is called Free Writing. Let yourself go. Enjoy what you are doing and you will reap the rewards. You know you are doing well, when you love reading what you have written. You will read it over and over again and smile every-time.
Hope this helps.

Answer 5

Practice

Answer 6

find something of an intrest within your writing...it doesnt matter if you spell it right or anything...when thinking about something just make a list or write what you are thinking about at the moment...then get your idea and expand it with details...have fun with your writing even if no one really does show that they do....i dont like writing but once you get into deep within the writing you get better and better^_^...find your motive to continue to strive on to improve your writing skills

Answer 7

What we teach our fourth graders:

1. Write a topic sentence
2. Three supportive sentences(this goes with you topic sentence first paragraph)
3. First(second paragraph)
4. Next(Third paragraph)
5. Then(Fourth paragraph)
6. Conclusion(re-write your topic sentence and the three supportive sentences). We call this the zinger sentence.

This is our formula that we give the children for their FCAT writing test and it works.

GOOD LUCK!!!! Start out simple.

Thanks,

Beverly Smith

Answer 8

Write, write, write, write, write, write, write, write, write, write, write, write, write, write, write, write, write, write, write, write, write, write.

And if that fails, try writing.

A brutal critic who is willing to read and mark up your copy will help almost as much as the practice.

Good luck, and BTW, the creative process is the real art, grammar and spelling is a relatively small part of the equation.

Answer 9

Take a writing class and practice practice practice.

Answer 10

A good command of the English language, vocabulary, word meaning and punctuation would be a good start.