Monday, March 26, 2018

How to Improve Your Skill as a Non-Fiction Writer

 

It doesn't matter if you're writing a business proposal, writing a memo, inquiring after a grant or writing a blog post.

Check out these 25 tips, and see your non-fiction writing skills improve.

1. Start Reading Great Writer's

In order to be a really good writer you need to learn from the best.  This means taking advice from the best authors who know what they're talking about.

Here are some of the reasons you need to start reading today:
  • Discover your inspiration.
  • Get a better understanding of language.
  • Appreciate language and all its complexities.

No unlike the point mentioned above, reading is a key part in improving writing skills.  Start simply and slowly by reading books by authors you enjoy, then start making notes on writing style, and how the author brings the text to life.

3. Find Your Own Voice

As a writer you need to stand-out from the crowd, by finding your own voice you'll slowly start to grow a loyal following.

4. Extend Your Vocabulary

One of the simplest ways to develop your vocabulary is to learn a word-a-day.  You could start by reading a dictionary.

5. Write Regularly

In order to be good at something you need to be doing it on a regular basis.  Create a writing schedule that works for you, and get into the habit of producing quality work on a regular basis.

6. Write With Confidence

What you write and how your write lies in your hands, make it count.

7. Be Well-Informed about Your Subject Matter

Know enough to write about your chosen subject intelligently.  Do you have enough knowledge to be able to write a good book?

8. Understand Why You're Writing

Start by asking these questions, what is your goal, aim and purpose for writing?  What is your final objective?

9. Select Your Tone

Your sentence construction and choice of words will decide the tone of your writing.

10. Start with an Outline

Write an outline, this is your mental plan of action.  The basic foundation for this is say what you're going to demonstrate, demonstrate it and then reveal a conclusion.

11. Write Using Your Subconscious Thoughts

Use your subconscious to guide your thoughts, this way the words will flow naturally.

12. Use the IBC Strategy

All ways write with an introduction, body of text and conclusion.

13. Find Your Writing Angle

You need to hook your readers with a catchy title, and awesome introduction.  Then start reeling your readers in. 

14. Choose Your Words Wisely

The French phrase that best describes this is le mot juste, choosing the right word.

15. Be Short and Sweet

To stop your readers becoming bored try right different sentence lengths.  Sentences should be around 20 words long.

16. Try to be Pithy

If you can take words out and still make sense, then do it.

17. Abstain from Using Big Words

Your average newspaper keeps their headlines to that of an eighth grader.  Long and ambiguous words can turn easy to understand into a nightmare for your readers.

18. Just be Yourself

Sounds really simple but write like you're talking to someone, this way you get right down to your audiences' level.

19. Develop a Curiosity for Words

Understand and respect what words mean.

20. Let Your Thoughts Flow Naturally

When you start writing the words should flow naturally.  With every word and sentence developed in a logical manner.  Each paragraph relating to the body of the essay you're writing.

21. All Paragraphs Should be Well Written

A well built paragraph is the foundation of anything you write.  All of your paragraphs should be centred around your chosen topic.

Follow these basic tips when writing your paragraphs:
  • One idea per paragraph.
  • The single idea should be expressed by the paragraph that has been written.
  • Each paragraph should have supporting sentences with details, examples and instructions.
  • There should be a clear changeover from one paragraph to the next.
22. Polish Your Work

Sounds weird but what this means is make your writing readable, with depth.  Every diamond needs a good polish.

23. Use Capitals Correctly

Find out how you should be using capitals, and use them properly in a sentence.

24. Use Suitable Punctuation

When we write a sentence we need to explain what we mean.  Here are some of the most misunderstood punctuation marks: colon; semi colon; dash; and comma.

25. Eliminate Needless Modifiers

A simple example of this is "free gift", instead write "gift".  Greatly improve your writing by bypassing these qualifiers and intensifiers: quite, rather, really, very, kind of, actually, basically, practically, virtually and unique.

In Conclusion

There's a writer in everyone, use your writing skills and think big, don't just write one book, write lot's of books.  Use as many writing mediums as you can.

Happy writing!
 
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