6 Tips to Help You Become a Better Writer

Let's define success for a writer as either getting paid what you want or feeling proud of what you do. Or both.

Having something to say and having a unique voice are both important. But in addition, there are some basic skills you should have if you want to be the best writer you can be. Unfortunately, there is many a writer out there neglecting these areas. Honing your skills is a way to set yourself apart as a writer and present your work as well as possible.

1. Learn to Type Well
This one should be obvious to any writer. If you're still using the two-finger typing technique, I beg you to please take a typing course. It may not be exciting, but I promise you it's worth the effort to become an efficient typist. As a writer, you really can't afford not to. Here's a free site to both test your current speed and learn to type better.
http://www.learn2type.com/TypingTest

2. Use Proper Grammar
Errors here make a writer sound at best amateurish and at worst, incomprehensible. It can sometimes seem overwhelming to learn good grammar, but it's worth the effort. You don't have to know how to diagram a sentence, but you do need to know how to match pronouns and verbs (you do know what those are, don't you?). Here's one suggestion for a web site with great information:
http://www.learningcommons.uoguelph.ca/ByTopic/Writing/WritingMechanics/Fastfacts-ImprovingGrammar.html

3. Spell Correctly
If you're a writer who relies on a spell-checker tool to catch any spelling errors, you could be hurting your writing in a big way. Spell checkers are great, but they only get a writer part-way there. For instance, they won't catch it if you use the wrong word as long as it is a real word. For instance, are you using their, they're and there correctly? To and too? How about affect and effect? Spell checkers also have limited built-in dictionaries, so you'll need to be able to know when to correct a word or simply add it to your spell checker's dictionary.
http://www.harmonize.com/Probe/aids/manual/spell.htm

4. Learn good punctuation
This is another important area that I see a lot of writers neglecting. When do you use a semi-colon? When does the apostrophe go after the word? Your writing can't shine unless punctuation is used effectively.
http://www.correctpunctuation.co.uk/

5. Have a good vocabulary
You probably don't want to write with too many long words where it's not necessary, but having a good pool of words to draw on can make your writing compelling. Be wary of using words you're not certain of the meaning for. Use on-line dictionaries to be sure you know the correct meaning of a word and use an on-line thesaurus to increase your choices of words.
www.dictionary.com
www.thesaurus.com

6. Proof-read Your Work
Be sure to proof-read your work. Errors creep in from time to time for even the most experienced writer. It can be hard to spot every mistake in your own work, but if you don't at least try, it'll probably cost you money. If you can, having someone else proof-read your work is a great tool.

Most of us don't have that luxury. For us a good alternative is to let the piece "rest" for a day or two once we think it's done. Coming back to it with fresh eyes is sometimes enough to catch what we couldn't see before.

You may not be born with it

Writing well is not just about natural talent. You can affect your bottom line by investing in some crucial writing skills.