Most people consider the writing process as a creative function. This is true even for non-fiction topics. You might say that someone was “born to sing” or “born to act on stage” because he or she seems to perform effortlessly. Many people say similar things about authors. Have you read a book and thought, “Wow! This author was born to write.”? The truth, however, is that writers are “made” not “born.” You can become a writer by learning about the process and tapping into various resources to help you improve your skills.
If you’ve been telling yourself that you can’t become a writer because you do not possess a “natural ability” to write, you might want to reconsider after reading this post. Writing is a craft. Good writing occurs when a writer has refined his or her skills. Some writers are better than others—this will always be true. Just don’t let a lack of natural talent keep you from trying to accomplish your goal if you want to be an author.
Become a writer by improving your skills
Even the most prolific authors sometimes must write and re-write a paragraph, page or chapter to polish a story. All writers have room to grow and to improve their skills. If you hope to become a writer, there are several things you can do to improve your talents. The following list includes several ideas to help you get started:
- Become an avid reader.
- Write every day or, at least several days per week.
- Write the same story in several different ways, such as by changing the ending or the climax.
- Improve your spelling, grammar and punctuation skills.
- Seek feedback from experienced writers and editors.
- Practice writing in various ways, such as with pen and paper, on social media platforms, by sending letters via snail mail, and more.
If you implement these ideas on a regular basis, you can lay a strong foundation from which to build upon to become a writer. Excellence comes with time.
What does reading have to do with becoming a better writer?
Many people fail to make the connection between being an avid reader and improving writing skills. Reading a vast array of genres by various authors lets you observe other authors’ work. You can learn a lot this way.
If you want to become a writer, don’t let lack of experience or skill keep you from achieving your goal. It will take time and a lot of effort, but you can do it. Dream big and work hard.