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Written by: Sourajit Pal
If you have ever had the opportunity to sit and talk with any good writers, you will observe some similar traits among them, despite having very distinct personalities, thought processes, and beliefs.
As a content writer, I was privileged to be in the same room with some of the most successful writers of our time. Through my experience and observation, I can assure you that they have built a few habits over a long period of time by practicing repeatedly.
Here are the 5 most effective habits that will help you become a better writer:
As I was born and brought up in Kolkata, a land enriched with art & culture, I was surrounded by fiction and non-fiction masterpieces written by Rabindranath Tagore, Bankim Chandra Chatterjee, Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay, and other great authors. I was overwhelmed by the plethora of knowledge they had. Not only in their field of interest but in a lot of other topics as well. They sound so well-read that you could read their stories for hours, and visualize yourself witnessing their stories.
Fast forward to today, whenever I see any interviewer asking today’s writers what they do in their free time, one common habit that always pops up is reading. When you read a lot, you observe the different styles of writing and how the author molds his thought process into a paragraph. To understand and capture the flow of thoughts, you need to read great writing pieces first.
However, it might be a bit difficult for you to read regularly at the beginning. But you can start reading as little as 2 pages of any book you want—one page in the morning and one before sleeping at night. Reading more will help you become smarter, more knowledgeable, and more innovative. Eventually, all of these will be reflected in your writing.
Without proper research on your topic, your target audience, and the platform where you write, writing anything will feel like throwing darts blindfolded. Research is the engine that powers your vision and gives the ultimate structure to your content. Researching your topic is the most essential step to start with. As a writer, if you don't explore properly, you’ll always fall short of words.
All of the great writers have done an incredible amount of research before starting their work, regardless of whether they’re writing fiction or nonfiction. So they can add more details to their writing, which you might haven’t read anywhere else before. You can go and talk to people, watch YouTube videos, documentaries, and interviews, read case studies regarding your topic, and dive deep into the research.
Have you ever asked yourself these questions while writing? If the answer is no, you should ask yourself first. Otherwise, how would you determine whether your copy will be interesting or relatable to your readers or not?
No writer on earth can excel in all genres or forms of writing. Even no writer is loved by every reader. So, you need to figure out first what topic you love the most to write about. Then, how will that be beneficial for your target audience? Now, try to write that in different formats, and slowly you’ll find out your strengths and understand what delights your readers the most.
Focus on your favorite areas, but at the same time, try to broaden your tastes. You should be well informed about current affairs and current scenarios in your country, state, and city. You might be writing from a corner of your country, but your readers are spread across the world.
Try to include some relatable movie jokes, pop-culture references, and gifs from popular TV shows to make your content enjoyable for the readers.
Writer/director Cecil Castellucci says, “The best flowers are fertilized by crap.” So, you have to let the plants grow in your garden and then trim the unnecessary bushes later. Never edit while writing, otherwise, a lot of raw thoughts and emotions might get destroyed.
Always remember this and allow yourself to write a clumsy first draft. Editing is the job that should be done after completing your writing. That’s when you should start arranging the paragraphs, adding or eliminating some lines, correcting the grammar and punctuation, etc.
The last and very important habit for becoming a good writer is making it a habit. As we all know, to get better at a certain job or skill, you need to do it consistently. And writing is no exception.
Some days, you might not want to write anything, or you might find yourself lost in thoughts but can’t accumulate them properly. But you still need to write something. Practice makes perfect. If not perfect, but better for sure.
Even if you can’t find a context to write about, take your diary or open the notepad on your laptop and just write whatever you did in the past week, what went according to your plan, and what didn’t. At the end of the day, you’ll realize why I told you to write this. Because This is how life is.
Follow these habits consistently and religiously for the next six months, and watch your writing improve drastically.
Obstacles and hurdles will come your way, but always remember that they aren’t bigger than your purpose. So you continue to write and try to incorporate these habits into your daily routine. Always strive to reach your goals.
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