| Want to quickly improve your writing skills? You | | | | as you write. This is impossible to do, because |
| can do it. Just follow these four simple tips. | | | | writing and editing use different parts of your |
| 1. Read More | | | | brain. |
| The simplest way to improve your writing skills is | | | | You can't edit what you haven't written. If you sit |
| to read more. Although it doesn't matter much | | | | staring at the computer screen, it's because |
| what you read, choose to read books, rather | | | | you're trying to do two things at the same time. |
| than reading online. | | | | When you're writing, just write, as if you were |
| The more you read, the more comfortable you | | | | speaking to someone. Don't worry about whether |
| will become with the written word. Read for | | | | it "makes sense", or is "good writing" -- that's |
| pleasure, as well as for instruction. | | | | what editing is for. |
| 2. Learn an Easy Way to Outline | | | | Follow your outline, and get words onto the |
| If you hate to outline, it's because you've never | | | | computer screen. |
| learned an effective method. Think of an outline | | | | A day later, you can revise. This is where editing |
| as a simple list of material you want to cover. | | | | comes in. |
| Your outline may be a list of words, of sentences, | | | | Professional writers are professionals because |
| or of questions. | | | | they do one thing at a time. You can do this too. |
| Consider using outlines in two ways. Firstly, create | | | | You'll be amazed at how your writing improves |
| an initial outline (remember, it's just a list) of what | | | | once you learn to separate writing and editing. |
| you want to cover in the piece of writing. | | | | 4. Read Your Writing Aloud |
| Secondly, create an outline once you've finished | | | | Once you've completed a piece of writing, read it |
| the piece. | | | | aloud, preferably into a voice recorder. |
| Outlining work you've completed will help you to | | | | You'll spot awkward phrasing, jumps in logic, and |
| see lapses in logic, as well as to spot the things | | | | much more -- even typographical errors. Try it. |
| you've left out. | | | | Improving your writing skills is basically just a |
| 3. Separate Writing and Editing | | | | matter of practice. Use these four tips, and you'll |
| If you can talk, you can write. If you find writing | | | | be practicing the right things. |
| difficult, it's because you're trying to edit yourself | | | | |