How Can I Practice Writing? Five Steps to Learn as You Write
How does one go about practicing writing as an adult? Outside of the classroom, we don’t usually have structured spaces where we can work on this essential skill — so it can feel like running into a wall when you get a professional role that requires a lot of writing output.
Here are some of Nasim’s suggestions based on how she improved her writing, especially during the years she didn’t even live somewhere where people spoke English!
1) Set a goal.
Is your issue that your sentences are too long? That your “voice” isn’t professional enough? Spelling? Punctuation? You may already know your weaknesses, or maybe you need to ask a friend or coworker. Identify what these are and set a goal for yourself.
2) Research on the fly.
You don’t have to read a book to work on your goal (although reading definitely helps!). A short article from Grammar Girl or Purdue Online Writing Lab (also known as Purdue OWL) can give you quick answers to questions like, “when should I use semicolons?” or “when should I write out a number with letters?” But knowing is one thing—actually putting that knowledge into practice is another.
3) Be conscious of what you’re reading.
Everything you read has an effect on your inner vocabulary. If you read books like Jane Eyre or Wuthering Heights in quick succession, you might find that you start to think in language a little similar to the Brontë sisters’. So if you want to pick up a certain tone or style, surround yourself with that tone or style. It’ll have a powerful subconscious effect!
4) Write mindfully.
You may not be aware of how much writing you actually do during the day. Whether it’s writing an email, answering texts, or even planning out your groceries, you write a lot—you just aren’t writing “mindfully.” Make a point of incorporating your new goal into your writing. Make an extra effort to use semicolons correctly; or try to keep your email more succinct than you usually do. Try and write out a social media post in a different style than you usually use.
5) Get feedback.
We all need a cycle of feedback to help us get better. The ideal version of this is an editor friend or coworker, but they aren’t always available. Sometimes, automated tools can help with the little things: Use Microsoft Word’s autocorrect feature to see where you can improve, or Grammarly, which provides personalized feedback as you write. Recent advancements with AI offer a wide variety of writing bots that can help you get practice.
For more in-depth, structured practice, consider investing in a writing course, such as Word Conscious’ modules, or even a college course available in your area (look for “professional writing” or “business writing”). More structured content helps build consistent writing habits, which can go much further than independent research.
What are some other methods you’ve used to improve your writing?