3 [Free] Ways to Become a Better Writer

Whether you are a beginner or a proficient writer, there are always new ways to become a better writer to ensure your content stands out. These three ways provide you with value and insight so you can improve your copywriting or content marketing skills right away – and for free!

In this blog post, learn how to easily become a better writer from becoming an avid reader, using technology to your advantage, and becoming curious about the content you see. 

Become an Avid Reader

Let’s start simple. The more you read, the more aware you become of your own writing. Reading the work of other writers benefits your writing because it mirrors what you are doing well, gives you ideas for improvement, and shows you what not to do. 

Consider reading any and all kinds of genres as research, regardless of the type of writer you are. Trust me, you will gain so many new ideas! For example, I have been paying attention to how authors structure their chapters in books because one day I hope to write a book of my own. 

Some authors will start with a story, and out of that story comes a lesson or nugget of wisdom that the rest of the chapter is spent talking about and making more practical for the reader. In other books, authors give a month of action items and then the background in short digestible chapters. 

See how reading gives me ideas for my own writing? The same can be true for you, too! Whether you like to read magazines, articles, blog posts, history, non-fiction, or fiction, consider it to be part of your craft to become a better writer. Even if you don’t feel like writing something today, read something (literally anything!) and that will expand your writing skills and hopefully give you some inspiration.

Use Technology to Your Advantage

Technology makes it so easy to download a plug-in to your browser and start learning from it. Two of my favorite plug-ins that read and edit your writing are Grammarly and Hemingway.

Grammarly reviews your writing and makes suggestions to make your writing better. A step above Grammarly is Hemingway because it goes deeper and gives suggestions such as when to break your sentences into shorter ones if using too many complicated sentences, or removing adverbs when they aren’t adding value. It’s not about having a crutch that edits your work or changes your voice, but it is about having something that teaches you and helps you think through their suggestions. 

With this technology, I can review my writing easier. Every time I see 10 complicated sentences in a blog post, I think more critically through these questions: Am I getting too long-winded here? Is there a way to say this in two sentences instead of one? Can I use five words instead of 25? How can I choose more direct, action-oriented verbs? 

Both Grammarly and Hemingway are really great to prompt you to think through that lens. They teach you how to write in an accessible way that you may not have considered before and you will continually improve upon. That’s a win in my books!

Observe and Become Curious about Content

Similar to reading, observing is another way to become a better writer! All you need to do is pay attention. For example, when I receive an email, I become curious about which subject line makes me want to open that email or send it to the trash bin. Once you start to see patterns, you will be able to write in that way and add to your stockpile of tools, strategies, and tactics you can use to create more openable and digestible emails. 

Not only observe the subject line, but check out the actual layout of the email and notice what makes you want to click that buy now button or download link. Is it that they included images? Is it that the text was really short and to the point? Or is it that it was a long story but it really touched you? There are so many ways you can take this further. Is the CTA button flashing? Is the font big or small? Are the colors strong? Is there a gif? Looking through this lens will start to make you a better writer (and a better marketer as well!). 

How can you do the same with your audience? Test out different ways to create and market your own content. More examples would be to check out different headlines in blog posts, and see if subheadings make it easier to read. See if adding videos or graphics help to keep your interest, and see which videos you actually click on. Observing all of that takes it a step beyond just being a reader, but instead becoming a consumer of content and seeing what resonates as that consumer and reader. 

By becoming an avid reader, using technology to your advantage, and observing marketing content, you will become a better writer. 

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