Want to become a better writer in just 30 days?
Here's how to do it. Thread!
Here's how to do it. Thread!
1. Create a daily writing routine.
If you want a daily writing habit to stick, you need to bake it into your daily routine.
Pick a consistent time every day and hold yourself to it. It can be 10 minutes, 30 minutes, an hour—whatever feels most realistic to you.
If you want a daily writing habit to stick, you need to bake it into your daily routine.
Pick a consistent time every day and hold yourself to it. It can be 10 minutes, 30 minutes, an hour—whatever feels most realistic to you.
2. There WILL be days that you either don’t feel like writing or have no clue what to write.
That’s okay, but you need to stick to the routine if you want to become a better writer.
@maneszjt uses a spreadsheet to track his daily writing practice:
That’s okay, but you need to stick to the routine if you want to become a better writer.
@maneszjt uses a spreadsheet to track his daily writing practice:
https://twitter.com/maneszjt/status/1345253299788812288?s=20
3. Draft internally.
While you’re out doing something passive (like walking, driving, washing dishes, folding laundry, etc.) use this time to work on a mental first draft.
Authors like @JoyceCarolOates are known for using exercise for this very purpose:
While you’re out doing something passive (like walking, driving, washing dishes, folding laundry, etc.) use this time to work on a mental first draft.
Authors like @JoyceCarolOates are known for using exercise for this very purpose:
https://twitter.com/kaleighf/status/1366393763992584197?s=20
4. If it’s helpful, record some voice notes or tap ideas into your phone that you can come back to later (so they don’t float out of your brain to be lost forever.)
@louisnicholls_ uses this approach:
@louisnicholls_ uses this approach:
5. Hold off on editing
When you sit down to write, resist the urge to make everything *perfect* the first time. Perfectionism will cripple your writing (and might even keep you from improving.)
Write an ugly first draft: kaleighmoore.com/blog/2018/2/26…
When you sit down to write, resist the urge to make everything *perfect* the first time. Perfectionism will cripple your writing (and might even keep you from improving.)
Write an ugly first draft: kaleighmoore.com/blog/2018/2/26…
6. Dabble in other writing styles
Pushing yourself outside of your writing comfort zone can make you a better writer.
Spend the bulk of your writing time working on your main medium, but also set aside some time each week over the next month to write something different.
Pushing yourself outside of your writing comfort zone can make you a better writer.
Spend the bulk of your writing time working on your main medium, but also set aside some time each week over the next month to write something different.
7. Use helpful tools
My faves:
@Grammarly combs through your writing to find common grammaical and editing mistakes you might have overlooked
@Copy_ai helps generate ideas when you’re stuck on different facets of writing
My faves:
@Grammarly combs through your writing to find common grammaical and editing mistakes you might have overlooked
@Copy_ai helps generate ideas when you’re stuck on different facets of writing
8. Read what you write out loud
Ask yourself: “Is this how I’d say that to my co-worker?”
If it’s not, explain to yourself (or call your co-worker and explain it to him or her if you want, and record the conversation.)
Then write it down. THAT’S your voice.
Ask yourself: “Is this how I’d say that to my co-worker?”
If it’s not, explain to yourself (or call your co-worker and explain it to him or her if you want, and record the conversation.)
Then write it down. THAT’S your voice.
9. Study writing
If you want to become a much better writer, you need to step back from writing and study work you and other people have already done.
If you want to become a much better writer, you need to step back from writing and study work you and other people have already done.
10. Work with an honest editor
When looking for an editing partner, seek out someone who is kind, patient...and ruthless.
It’s important they be honest about problems they see without beating you over the head with them and making you feel stupid.
Here's how @Julian does it:
When looking for an editing partner, seek out someone who is kind, patient...and ruthless.
It’s important they be honest about problems they see without beating you over the head with them and making you feel stupid.
Here's how @Julian does it:
11. Get better at self-editing
Are there things you’re doing wrong over and over? Those are simple fixes. Make notes and remind yourself what to look out for as you write.
kaleighmoore.com/blog/2018/3/8/…
Are there things you’re doing wrong over and over? Those are simple fixes. Make notes and remind yourself what to look out for as you write.
kaleighmoore.com/blog/2018/3/8/…
12. Read every day
If you want to become a better writer this month, you should step away from the keyboard and pick up a book for a few minutes every day.
This can be fiction, non-fiction, poetry...you name it. @authorkate summed this up well:
If you want to become a better writer this month, you should step away from the keyboard and pick up a book for a few minutes every day.
This can be fiction, non-fiction, poetry...you name it. @authorkate summed this up well:
13. The next 30 days can be the sprint where you focus on your #writing and step up your skills.
Create a daily writing practice, try some new approaches to writing and editing, and increase your reading time.
More tips and insights here: kaleighmoore.com/blog/2021/3/1/…
Create a daily writing practice, try some new approaches to writing and editing, and increase your reading time.
More tips and insights here: kaleighmoore.com/blog/2021/3/1/…
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