Chances are if you're reading this, you're a writer. You wouldn't label yourself that way, and you might not write for money or on a full-time basis, but let's face it:if you're a blogger, a business owner, a teacher, a marketer, a creative, or even just a person with a Facebook profile, you are a writer. You may not feel like a “writer”, but you write every day. Here are three easy ways to take your skills to the next level.
The first step is not to think about it too long.
For some reason, most of us consider writing some kind of difficult activity. By that, we mean we want to do the best we can, and worry about sounding polished and making sure we have the right grammar. The problem is that communication just doesn't work this way.
Can you imagine thinking about every conversation the way you think about writing an email? Or what if every time you spoke out loud you had to check your sentence to make sure the grammar was correct? Communication would be exhausting. Nobody would want to do it.
The truth is, good writers aren't really good writers (shh...don't tell). They're just great editors. They get the words onto the page without much thought – just like you would if you were talking to a friend over dinner – and then they edit the text later.
Remember that writing and thinking are two separate activities. Think before you write, but if you're going to sit down to actually do it, don't overthink it. Just put the words on paper.
A practical tip you can use is to set a timer while you are writing. Give yourself 45 minutes to write a 700-word blog post. It won't take longer than that.
The second step is to have a formula.
Too many people hesitate at the idea of a formula for their writing (“I want it to be authentic and profound!”), but here's a hint:the best writing isn't authentic and profound. The best writing is simple and clear. If you're trying to write without outlines, it's no wonder it takes you hours to get a few hundred words on paper. It's like a blind man trying to hit a moving target. You don't even know what you're aiming for. Formulas help guide our thoughts and extract the words.
Having a formula to start with helps to keep things simple and straightforward. Before you write, ask yourself, “What is this piece of writing trying to do?” Is it meant to entertain? To inform? To get people to buy? To connect? You might ask, “What do I want the reader to think, know, feel, or do by the end of this piece that he couldn't do before reading it?” Good writing does something. It moves. There are millions of formulas you can use. Find a story structure or other formula and practice with it.
The third step is to use fewer words.
It's easy to get stuck thinking you need a lot of words to get your point across – which isn't always true. You can often say what to say much faster. Ask yourself:what does the reader actually need to know? If not needed, take it out. Your reader will thank you. And you'll thank yourself if you don't spend hours writing a piece.
