Become A Better Writer With 4 Simple Tips

I remember when I was 5 years old, I wrote a short story that my dad happily showed off to others while remarking on how I had so much talent in putting words together. Being a freelance writer now, I look back and realize that it wasn’t really so much of talent, but the environment I put myself in that developed my writing skills. From my personal experience, here are some pointers on how to become a better, more fluid writer.
Read, Read and Read Some More
There is honestly no better way to develop your language skills than to increase your exposure to words, sentences and content. I used to read lots and lots of books, and today all that reading has paid off in me being a successful freelancer despite not having a formal degree in language or writing. Though I might have to say I was a tad bit influenced by the film Matilda perhaps, to read as much as I can!
Listen to Music, but Only The Right Kinds
I am an audio-based learner, so whatever I hear gets engraved in my mind faster. Listening to music has developed my language skills (it’s still second to reading though) to an extent, as the poetic language used in songs usually means you’ll encounter words you don’t come across in everyday conversation. This adds to your vocabulary making you a better writer as you will have more words to use in your writing. However, be sure to select the songs you listen to carefully, as most rap and hip-hop based songs use informal language that might not be suitable for article writing or formal writing.
The Dictionary is Thy Friend
From a very young age, I constantly looked up words that were unfamiliar to me, or I asked my dad (who would be very honest if he didn’t know). Have a dictionary around at all times so you can look up a word while reading the newspaper, or when you hear a word you don’t know the meaning of in a song. Trust me this helps!
Practice Makes Perfect
The only way to be an excellent writer is to write often and give your pieces to a language professional (or a friend who’s really good at the language) to proofread. They will correct your language-based mistakes, and perhaps give a comment or two on your style of writing based on the topic being written about. Write to newspapers and magazines whenever you can. You never know, you may see a piece of yours in tomorrow’s paper!
I hope these simple tips will help you become a better writer. These tips can be used when writing in any language, whether it’s English or otherwise. Improve your language and practice expressing yourself through writing. You will definitely be happy you did!