5 Tips to Become a Better Writer by Caroline Blaha-Black

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EugeniuszMosz
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Re: 5 Tips to Become a Better Writer by Caroline Blaha-Black

Post by EugeniuszMosz »

karolinka wrote:5 Tips to Become a Better Writer
By Caroline Blaha-Black


There are many things that can make a wannabe scribe a better writer, and many of those are too numerous to list. I will, therefore, concentrate on five tips that have worked for me over the years in my writing career, and in general when writing my books and articles.

1) Read other authors. One of the most obvious for those who are going to call themselves a writer would be to read other writers. Writers are readers first, and good readers usually make good writers. I started my writing career by reading everything I could lay my hands on, mostly fiction and the classics, in addition to getting a subscription to a couple of writing magazines. Don’t limit yourself only to novels, though, but read writing-help books, and non-fiction as well. Get a good idea of different writing styles by reading classics, for example Hemingway and Asimov and also modern fiction, like Tom Clancy and James Patterson. Highlight similarities and compare the differences.

2) Go to writing conferences and take writing courses. It never hurts to take a grammar refresher or a course in freelance writing. Writing conferences require some investment at first, as they can be expensive, but they’re worth every penny. You can take workshops, network with other writers, meet industry insiders, even pitch your book idea to a literary agent. When I go to these, often I come home motivated and energized to do more writing, and sometimes I actually secure an assignment or two while there.

3) Join a writer’s critique group. These groups usually meet in your local library or Starbuck's. Approach them with an open mind as you’ll be asked to provide constructive criticism on each other’s work. The members of the group have no vested interest in your work, so they can provide unbiased comments as to what works and what doesn’t in your novel or article. It takes guts to join a critique group, but with a bit of luck and a positive attitude, they can help you address those problem areas in your work.

4) Try your hand at freelancing. Before you write your next bestseller, make sure you can actually sell small articles and stories before going big. Write a few short stories that are related to your book and pitch them to a magazine or two that might have interest in your work. Or, offer your work to writing contests or literary journals, and see where you stand from the crowd. I try to enter contests that offer constructive feedback for my submissions- even if I don’t win, at least I will know what to improve.

5) Be active on social media. LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter offer a treasure trove of writing advice, links, contacts, feedback from readers, and more. Not sure if a part of your book makes sense? Post it on Facebook for your friends (and potential customers) to see, and ask for their feedback. See what they liked and what didn’t make sense. Do they want more? Does the story hold their attention? Use their suggestions to make your story better.

There are many more ways to improve your writing craft, but the above five points are a good place to start. Writing every day beats them all, so make sure and squeeze a little bit of writing into your everyday schedule!


Aww thank you for this very interesting article.. I enjoyed reading, very helpful!! I'm hoping for more kind of this soon.. :techie-studyingbrown:
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Post by Amagine »

That was an interesting article and I agree with the first tip the most. In order to become a better writer, you have to become a better reader and read all types of different books. That's why I'm glad I joined online book club because now I'm reading books that I would have never glanced out. I feel like the development of my reading skills will help improve my writing.
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Post by CHL »

Thank you for these sound pieces of advice. I'll practice each one of them to finally come up with a nice book. It is one of my dreams.
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Post by gaporter »

Thank you for the tips. I've always been a little curious about trying my hand at writing, I'll keep this advice in mind. Great article!
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Post by Afuglsan »

Thank you! I want to be an author, but there are times when I struggle with motivation and self-doubt. I'll take your advice to heart.
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Post by Cedar »

Nice tips, they are still relevant today for any one that wants to be a success in writing.
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Post by Mallory Whitaker »

Thank you for these amazing tips!
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Post by EmunahAn »

I liked the idea of trying various writing platforms before going big. I will definitely be trying out this.
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Post by Cloe101 »

Sound advice
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Post by AHMED SSENYONJO »

You more than smart and thank you
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Post by riojun18 »

Great article. Thanks for sharing these 5 steps to become a good writer. Now I know where to start with.
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Post by Shayaree Chanda »

A different article to read. Not including those clichéd tips which is repeated in most of the sites. Thanking the author a lot for this.
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Post by Lincolnshirelass »

Interesting article. I was once in a Creative Writing group where the leader banned us from saying 'I want to be a writer'. It was fine to say, I want to be a better writer, or I want to be a published writer, or a more successful writer or whatever, but she insisted that we already WERE writers and should bear that in mind.
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Post by Insightsintobooks729 »

I liked this article and agree if you want to be a writer you need to be well read as well.
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Post by Paul78 »

Five quick points that I have learnt before I go back to sleep. Thanks for the article.
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