6 March 2018
by Journalist Sheetal Cross

How to be a better writer.

Let me start off by telling you an absolute fact, no one is born knowing how to drive. Let that sink into your mind for a moment. Think about what it really means.  One obvious deduction simply put, is that we are all born with a clean slate and eventually learn the skills we achieve in life.

I have been a print media journalist for over a decade and can honestly tell you, that writing is no different.  There will always be some tasks that you have to work harder at and sometimes, others that you have a natural ability for.  If writing happens to be something that you are not naturally successful at, then here are some tips on how to improve.

1. Start a journal.

This is one of the easiest ways to get started with writing, whether you’re a newbie, seasoned writer, have writer’s block or just trying to improve your writing. This is always a great way to self-reflect. Journaling allows you to express your deepest and most personal thoughts without fear of ridicule. Most importantly, talking about everyday experiences or mundane ones, can sometimes ignite your imagination or creative side.

2. Start a blog.

If you haven’t established an outlet for your writing or a publishing platform with a reputable media agency, try your own. There are many professional people in this world who have a wealth of knowledge in a specific area, which would be valuable to others. Starting a blog would be a great way to express yourself and impart knowledge.

3. Start with what you know.

You don’t have to be a genius to write about a particular topic, simply start with what you know and work from there. Once you get into the flow of writing, it will become easier to explore other titles and alternative areas of interest.

4. Research

Journalism has one severe rule, fact check and verify everything! Often in writing or news reporting, a journalist will:

• Start with a selected topic or person of interest
• Research information about that particular topic or person
• Set up interviews in relation to uncovering more information related to that topic or a direct interview with the person of interest
• Verify information from those interviews and then, write the story.

This process is a little more clinical than an opinion piece or a blog. However, it may be a very helpful method when writing technical information or wanting to learn more about a specific topic.

5. Proof-read your work

No one takes literature seriously if it is riddled with grammar or spelling errors. You can use free platforms or digital tools to help you. I personally like to write up my blogs on a general digital document and spell check or use my free www.grammarly.com account.

If you would like to know more, you can leave a comment on the site.