What are steps to becoming an articulate writer ?

Question

What techniques do you find most effective to increasing your ability to write, read and elevating your sense of grammar and vocabulary ?

Answer 1

Only one step: Write.
Do you know there are tons of people who actually write well enough to be best sellers, but aren't because they don't sit down and write. Writing takes discipline. When you write for eight hours a day, you get better and better until you become great. All writers start out exactly like you. The persistent ones are the successful ones. Rejected manuscripts are just hurdles to jump, that's all. If they can do it, so can you. It's a journey.

Answer 2

Read great authors and pay attention to how they use the language. Make sure you understand all of the vocabulary they use. A big dictionary is invaluable.

Answer 3

Read. A lot. Read writers that you admire. Read Faulkner. Read Conrad (for whom English was a third language). Then read some more.