Writing, for me, has always been the breath of life.  Everything I do, eat, breathe, centers so often around my writing.  Sometimes it’s all I think about, even.  But I would not trade the writer’s life for anything in the world.  I love it.

Here are ten tips I’ve picked up around the internet for writing better, whether you’re writing that perfect article or blog entry or even penning off a quick letter to a friend; your writing must stand out and reflect you as a person, right?  So here they are:

1. From Thomas in Daily Writing Tips

   Particiate in NaNoWriMo, the site that challenges you to write a 50,000 page novel in a month.  I thought about doing this one, but I don’t have that much time.  But if I ever do get the time, I will definately start one. Another way to do it would be to set yourself the challenge of writing a certain number of words, no matter what you write, in a month.  Just log your word count each time and then start a running tally to see how much progress you’re making.

2. Bill Harper on Daily Writing Tips

   Read more in Writing

   « Tips to Combat Writers Block

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   Try not to edit while you’re creating your first draft.  This is a no-brainer.  If you try to edit while you’re writing, you’ll just end up messing yourself up.  Writing and editing are two intrinsically different processes, and should not be intertwined.  Write first, then edit it, I always say.  I follow this guideline to the tee.

3. Jacinta on Daily Writing Tips

   Write daily for thirty minutes minimum!  I always write when I can, whether it’s an hour or thirty minutes at a time, sometimes a couple times a day, because I don’t know when I might get another chance to write, but I set a minimum of ten minutes to write every day.  This way, even if you think it’s no good or it’s another piece entirely, at least you’ve written something for that day! And who knows, you might be able to incorporate it into your main work at a later time!

4. H Devaraja Rao on Daily Writing Tips

   Avoid wordiness.  where one word can be used instead of three, replace it!

5. David on Daily Writing Tips

   Write as if you’re on deadline.  I like to set myself a time to have what I’m working on done, whether it’s a month from now or two weeks, then I stick to that judiciously.

6. Amit Goyel on Daily Writing Tips
   

   To be a good writer is to start writing every day.  I write every day, every chance I get.  Usually what I come up with is crap, but if I’ve written something, then I’m ahead of myself.

7. Jai on Daily Writing Tips

   Try to write in a simple way.  Another thing to do is cut out as many adjectives as possible.  Remember, keep it simple.

8. Mark on Daily Writing Tips
   

   Read great stories for inspiration.  I have this exercise I do where I open up a book at random, read the first sentence I see, and then write a page starting with that sentence, or a poem starting with the last couple of words.  It’s an amazing way to get rid of writer’s block too!

9. Aaron Stroud on Daily Writing Tips

   Write often and to completing by following a realistic writing schedule.  I don’t follow a regimented writing schedule, but that doesn’t always work for everybody.  At the very least, write something, anything, when you can. Sometimes that’s all the schedule you need!

10. If you’re writing fiction, it’s a great idea to have a plot.

    I’ve noticed in my experience that it’s always a great idea to have a plot, at least loosely whether you’re writing a memoir, a poem, a blog entry or a classic novel.  That way you can have a much more structured piece, whatever you’re writing.

My last piece of advice is to keep up the reading.  Remember, you are what you read, so read and write well.  And don’t forget, have fun whatever you do!