The sheer terror that a blank page can instill in a marketer asked to write a blog post is unparalleled. Many would prefer wrestling with data or even dangerous wild animals than facing the dreaded cursor. What is it about writing that inspires such fear?

Good writing is a skill that can be learned. Content marketing is becoming increasingly essential, so honing your writing skills can boost both your career prospects and your company’s website traffic. While many find writing daunting, especially those who don’t do it regularly, the good news is that it doesn’t have to be excruciating. With dedication and a willingness to learn, anyone can become a better writer. Ready to improve? Here are 16 practical tips to enhance your writing skills immediately.

Contents

• Ways to improve your writing skills
• Resources to improve your writing
• Exercises to improve writing skills
• More tips to improve your writing skills and grammar
• Summary: how to improve your writing skills

These exercises will help you become a better writer quickly:

1. Master the fundamentals

Before crafting compelling content, you need a solid grasp of writing fundamentals. This doesn’t require an expensive degree, but a firm understanding of grammar and spelling is crucial. Every writer should have “The Elements of Style” by Strunk and White on hand. This concise yet invaluable book comprehensively covers correct grammar usage and other helpful writing advice. For readily available online resources, bookmark Grammar Girl and, of course, Merriam-Webster.

2. Make writing a habit

Improving any skill requires practice, and writing is no exception. Sadly, there are no magic shortcuts to becoming a brilliant writer overnight. Even the most gifted writers honed their craft over years of dedicated work. It’s even more challenging when you factor in SEO and driving traffic to your post. Writing regularly, even if no one reads it, helps overcome the fear of the blank page and develop a unique writing style. Practice makes perfect, so keep writing!

3. Read voraciously

Exceptional writers are also avid readers. Consistent reading is a simple way to enhance your writing skills. And don’t limit yourself to blog posts; diversify your reading list. Challenge yourself with more complex material than you usually read. Pay close attention to sentence structure, word choice, and the overall flow of the writing.

The more you read, the more attuned you’ll become to what makes writing effective and what mistakes to avoid.

Resources for improving your writing are everywhere. Here are a few examples:

4. Find a writing buddy

In any company of decent size, there’s likely at least one other person seeking to become a better writer. While writing is often solitary, even the best writers seek feedback on their work. Ask a coworker or friend to review your work; they might catch errors you missed. Having a writing partner also provides accountability and motivation.

5. Join a workshop or take a class

The thought of presenting your work to strangers can be daunting, but joining a writing workshop can be incredibly beneficial and enjoyable (if you find a good one).

You don’t need a half-finished novel to join a workshop. Content marketing meetups and professional development groups are increasingly popular. Explore LinkedIn’s content marketing groups to connect with fellow writers or search for local writing workshops on websites like Meetup. Choose a topic, write something, get feedback from the group, and revise. Repeat and improve!

6. Analyze writing you admire

Most people frequent the same blogs or websites because they enjoy the content. However, not everyone understands why they find these blogs so appealing. Choose a few recent blog posts you love and print them out. Like your high school English teacher, highlight what you like: impactful sentences, interesting phrases, or even entire paragraphs. Determine why you like these elements, and identify any common threads in your favorite reading material. See how writers transition between ideas. Then, try incorporating these techniques into your own writing. Let’s examine a powerful and memorable piece from Copyblogger as a prime example:

Morris’s opening immediately grabs your attention. You’re compelled to read on and discover what happens next. The pacing is excellent, and most importantly, it keeps you engaged. This piece, originally published in June, is still etched in my memory. Read the full post here to see how Morris skillfully connects a band named Death to the art of content writing.

Use these exercises to enhance your writing skills:

7. Emulate writers you admire

A quick disclaimer: imitation is not plagiarism. Never steal someone’s work. Just as you have favorite blogs, you probably also have favorite writers. Identify what you enjoy about their style and see if you can incorporate those elements into your own writing. Does a writer you like use humor to make dry topics more engaging? Give it a try. Do they use pop culture references to make their writing both entertaining and informative? Experiment with that too. When I started writing, I emulated some of my favorite nonfiction writers and essayists like Joan Didion, Truman Capote, and Bill Bryson. I also attempted (unsuccessfully) to imitate writers like Dave Eggers and Dan Kennedy but soon realized I wasn’t funny enough. Over time, I developed my own style, but reading these authors and analyzing their work significantly helped me grow as a writer (see tip #3).

8. Embrace outlines

The blinking cursor on a blank page can intimidate even seasoned writers. Before you start writing, create an outline of your intended content. Think of it as your battle plan for conquering the blank page. Very few writers start without a solid plan.

Your outline doesn’t have to be complex. A simple framework listing the order of sections with a few sentences describing each section’s content can be sufficient. If the topic is more complex, your outline might need more detail. Having an outline before you start writing is like having a roadmap for a road trip. If you feel lost, consult your outline and get back on track. Let’s look at a real example - one of my outlines: Introduction Brief summary of the post Section 1 - What is Brand Voice? Paragraph(s) explaining the key elements of brand voice (style, tone, messaging) Examples of each element Section 2 - Developing Brand Voice with Content Explanations of how to develop brand voice using different content types (written, visual, video) Considerations for content creators/marketers to keep in mind when producing content (strategy, goals, overall brand messaging) Section 3 - Examples of Content That Builds Brand Voice Several examples (three or four) of content that effectively aligns with marketing positioning and branding of well-known brands Conclusion Wrap-up This outline evolved into my recent post about brand voice. While I strayed slightly from my initial outline, the overall structure kept me focused.

9. Edit ruthlessly

You’re writing regularly and feeling more confident about your work—fantastic! Now comes the time to become your harshest critic.

Editing is a challenging skill for new writers to master because they highly value the time and effort invested in their initial draft. However, a significant part of writing involves rewriting. This is where a keen editorial eye becomes invaluable. Learn to eliminate unnecessary words (more on this later). Resist the urge to be overly descriptive and focus on getting to the point. If you’re unsure about a paragraph, it probably needs work. Be critical of your own work and know when to delete or revise. Your writing will be much stronger for it.

Here are additional tips for improving your writing skills and grammar in the long run:

10. Accept that first drafts are rarely perfect

The best writers make writing seem effortless. It’s easy to envision your favorite bloggers effortlessly producing fantastic content with minimal effort and then spending the rest of their day reading obscure books in a charming cafe. Find comfort in knowing that this isn’t how writing works in reality.

First drafts are often rough, and that’s perfectly acceptable. Don’t be discouraged if your first attempt isn’t a masterpiece—it probably won’t be. Get your ideas down on paper first, and then refine them. Writing is an iterative process. Even the best writers spend considerable time revising material they were initially hesitant to share.

11. Find a good (and patient) editor

Whether you’re pitching a content strategy or want to guest blog, finding and collaborating with a good editor is invaluable for improving your writing. Having worked with numerous editors, I’ve found the best ones explain why something doesn’t work instead of simply stating it doesn’t work.

Allowing others to critique your work can be challenging, especially for new writers. However, it’s essential to develop good habits early on and learn to accept constructive criticism. Remember, writers need reassurance, but you’ll need thick skin if you’re serious about your craft. A good editor is essential for developing resilience.

12. Cut the fluff

Another common mistake among new writers (and some experienced ones) is writing overly complex sentences to sound more authoritative. In many cases, concise sentences have a greater impact. You might be familiar with the six-word story attributed to Ernest Hemingway: “For sale: baby shoes, never worn.” Whether Hemingway wrote this or not, the power of these six words demonstrates that brevity, when used effectively, can be a powerful tool. Not every sentence needs to be complicated to convey your message.

Let’s examine another real example from one of my posts, my very first for nexus-security. This long sentence could benefit from some serious editing, even though I tried to spice it up with humor. I’ve edited the sentence to illustrate how you could edit a similar line in your own writing (additions italicized). “Whether you’re a newcomer to Google Ads (formerly known as AdWords) or have been running PPC campaigns for years, you’ve probably given a great deal of thought to about which keywords will result in more clicks and higher conversions – not to mention that vacation home in Lake Tahoe you’ve been dreaming about.”

13. Review your past work

I’ve been writing professionally, in some capacity, for ten years. Looking back at my early work makes me cringe. I don’t do this out of self-deprecation but to remind myself of how much I’ve progressed. Writing should be enjoyable. Besides the thrill of seeing your name in print for the first time, witnessing your growth as a writer is incredibly rewarding. Every so often (but not too frequently), revisit your earlier work and appreciate how far you’ve come. Be proud of your hard work!

14. Share your perspective

Most online content is bland and boring because too many writers rehash the same information without adding their own opinions. While it’s important to avoid libelous statements, that doesn’t mean you can’t or shouldn’t express your thoughts.

Once you’ve discovered your writing “voice,” don’t be afraid to share your opinions. It makes for more interesting reading. Don’t be contrarian for the sake of it, and avoid being deliberately offensive. However, ensure your personality shines through in your writing to make it worthwhile for your audience.

15. Do your homework

Besides plagiarizing, nothing damages your credibility faster than sloppy research. In their haste to finish a blog post (or even a major news article), many writers cut corners with facts. This can range from misquoting statistics to being careless with sourcing and attribution. This can lead to trouble with your editor or manager and makes you look unprofessional.

Everyone makes mistakes, so you don’t have to spend weeks verifying every statistic (see the next tip). Use common sense; don’t rely solely on websites like Wikipedia. Whenever possible, use current, primary sources for your information.

16. Strive for completion, not perfection

While you should strive to write well, thoroughly proofread and edit your work, and ensure your writing flows logically, it doesn’t mean spending weeks on a single piece. No piece of writing will ever be perfect - learn when to let it go. This is particularly crucial in content marketing, as you rarely have the luxury of crafting exquisitely beautiful blog posts. As you gain confidence, the act of writing will become easier and faster. However, never forget that deadlines and editorial calendars are just as important as any manager. As for me, I’m going to follow my own advice and call this post complete. I hope these tips prove helpful, regardless of your writing experience.

Here’s a recap of the ways you can improve your writing skills:

1. Master the fundamentals of writing, grammar, and spelling.
2. Establish a regular writing routine.
3. Read extensively to develop an eye for effective writing.
4. Collaborate with a writing partner for feedback.
5. Participate in a workshop, meetup, or writing class.
6. Analyze writing you admire to learn from the best.
7. Emulate the styles of writers you admire.
8. Use outlines to structure your writing.
9. Edit your work thoroughly and objectively.
10. Embrace the fact that first drafts are rarely perfect and require revision.
11. Seek feedback from a patient and skilled editor.
12. Eliminate unnecessary words and phrases.
13. Reflect on your past work to track your progress.
14. Infuse your personality and opinions into your writing.
15. Conduct thorough research on your chosen topics.
16. Prioritize completion over striving for unattainable perfection.