Tips to Strengthen your Writing
As writers, we are constantly working to improve our work. We want to keep up with trends, develop new topics, fulfill new ideas and create work that has a lasting impact on those who read it. Here are my top five tips to help strengthen your own writing.
Read, read, read.
One of the best ways I have found to strengthen my own writing is to read. Whether it be books, articles, journals, online publications, blogs or even just social media, reading keeps the mind agile. It also fills you with new ideas for your own writing and allows you to develop your own writing style.
Take intensive writing classes.
Although your major may only require a select number of intensive writing classes, I have found that taking more than the required number really helps develop your skills. Having different professors teaching you and critiquing you gives you a larger set of eyes on your work. You will be surprised how fast your writing will develop and length will soon seem like no struggle at all after these classes.
Get help.
Many students stray away from the resources at their schools — but use them! Ask other students to proofread your work. Go to the writing centers. Get a writing tutor, even if you are good at writing, to get new ideas. Become friends with bloggers and editors to get other insights. A piece can never be proofread or edited too many times.
Practice.
Like any sport or skill, I found that literally practicing my writing was one of the most enjoyable ways to develop it. This is also one of the best ways to develop your writing style. Write about topics that interest you for fun with no deadline. Write just to write. Utilizing a journal can help with this.
Get recognized.
Create your own blog or write for another publication. Submit your own work to your local newspaper, you never know who might feature you or how others could benefit from your work. You are putting forth the effort to strengthen your writing — you deserve to be recognized for it. This will inspire you to continue it and will fill you with a feeling of satisfaction and completeness.
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Laurie Vazquez is a senior at Indiana University Northwest. She is IU Northwest’s Intern Queen Campus Ambassador and a member of the PRSSA National Industry News and Current Events Subcommittee. She is also a part of Phi Theta Kappa and the National Society of Leadership and Success.
