3 Things You Need to Do to Become a Better Writer

Singapore has been the home of many great writers over the years. Poets Yeow Kai Chai and Lee Tzu Pheng, and fiction author Catherine Lim are only some. But writing, even for these greats, is not a straight road to glory. It is a rough path that takes time to improve on. Given that, here are 3 great things to remember to improve as a writer.

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1. Read

Being good in writing is a skill that is complicated and cannot be easily taught. This is because writing is as unique as the writer himself. Everyone has his/her own way of writing.

Reading comes in the picture because it basically teaches you how to write. Reading different genres and pieces from many different writers can show you which style of writing you want to achieve. Initially, you might want to copy a certain style from a famous writer you like and later put your own twist into it. Reading can also help to get inspiration. When you feel stuck and don’t know how to continue your writing, read. You might find some words or phrases that you could use as inspiration.

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• Accept criticism openly

A good writer admits to the fact that he needs feedback from others. To become a better writer getting comments from others is just as important as the writing process itself. More than that, it should be from someone you can trust. The last thing you want to hear are superficial and careless comments.

You would want to try and get criticism from experienced writers and those who barely write at all. The difference between both is that the former has an “eye” for writing and the latter wants to read something they can relate to or that can appeal to them. The great thing about this is that experienced writers will be harsh with their comments because this way they know you will improve. People who barely write, on the other hand, may shower you with compliments when you give them something they actually want to read.

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• Write every day

When you are learning something, it’s best if you can do it repetitively. You can only get better at something if you familiarize and immerse yourself in it. You should develop the mindset of writing every day as practice to become a better writer.

You have about 12-15 waking hours a day to write about something. Don’t worry if in the morning you can’t think of anything to write, afternoon will come. And if you can’t think of anything in the afternoon, there’s still night. By the time night comes and you still have nothing, then just write about how your day went. Constant writing will help you grow creatively. Just by writing every day, you will notice that even if it’s just a little, you have improved as a writer.