Everyone who starts writing looks forward to tips and ways to enhance their writing skills. And anybody who writes and enjoys it, is a writer. To be a writer, you don’t need to write a book and have it published. All you need is some ideas and something where you can put them gracefully.

Starting anything is usually difficult and writing is no exception. Some people say, “Writing cannot be taught. Writers are born writers.”

Yes, it cannot be taught but it surely can be learnt. So, here are some tips that will help a beginner in becoming a better writer.

Every expert was at first a beginner

“Every master was an amateur first.” This quotation has been around since a very long time. No child learns to walk right away. Every child at first crawls, so does a writer. Every great writer you read had to first write dozens of pieces that were not very close to being great. Only then did he come up with a piece of writing that he could confidently show others.

We all learn from our mistakes. If you feel that your writing is not so good, don’t be ashamed. Just keep practicing and never lose hope. So if at first you are not satisfied by your work, don’t worry, keep trying and writing more.

Improve your vocabulary

“Everything should be made as simple as possible, but not simpler.” These words by Albert Einstein apply perfectly to writing.

Your writings should be easy to read but not so simple that they make no impact on the readers. Nothing strengthens your writing as much as a strong vocabulary. A wide range of words is a great tool for a writer.

If you have good vocabulary, you’ll never fall short on explaining your thoughts clearly. You’ll be able to present your ideas effectively and make an impression on the readers. Try to have an extensive vocabulary. So from now on, wherever you find a new word, try to learn its meaning and usage. Make the dictionary your friend.

Read a lot

To teach something you need to study it first. To teach someone for one hour, you need to study for at least two hours. The same situation is with writing. For you to write one essay, you need to read at least five. That’s how you learn to write better.

Reading a lot of books will increase your knowledge and insight, and will help you be a good writer. You will come to understand the syntax. Take out some time to read daily, even if you don’t write every day. So bear in mind — every writer is a reader first.

Make drafts

Every animator or painter at first designs some rough sketches/paintings. For writers, drafts are just like rough artwork. Always start your work with a draft, this way you can adapt your work as you move on.

After making a draft, edit it. Edit it very seriously. Edit it like you are given someone else’s paper to check. Don’t ignore even a single mistake. Only a single spelling or grammatical error is enough to degrade your work. Never underestimate the power of correct grammar.

Handling writer’s block

Sometimes it happens, even with good writers, that they try to write something but the words won’t come. This is called writer’s block, it is a temporary inability to write and is pretty common in writers. So if you face something like this, don’t worry, face it.

Writer’s block has many solutions. Don’t take it very seriously, in fact some writers believe it is a necessary part of their writing process. It can usually be solved by paying a little more attention to your work. Even if it doesn’t help, go on a walk, take some fresh air or get some rest. Usually most of us write when sitting at a particular place, changing the place where you write can sometimes be the solution to writer’s block.

In the end, your dedication towards writing counts. You don’t write because you are obliged to, but you write because you like it. And the thing that will enormously improve your writing skill is your persistence. Your everlasting effort will one day pay off. “Try, try and try again”, keep this in mind whenever your work goes unrewarded or unpublished.

Never throw away anything you write

Never ever throw any of your creative writings. You should save all your creative writings, whether they are finished or not, whether they are good or not, keep them. This way you can always look to them and edit them. You may be able to build something new with them. There is always a chance of rewriting it as something great.

The piece of story that you didn’t like and never finished, might someday prove to be an amazing foundation for your next project/writing.

Published in Dawn, Young World, February 27th, 2015