Whether you have just begun working as a freelance writer or have been involved in the writing business for some time, it is always helpful to examine the qualities that make all writers successful. Good writers develop certain characteristics that help them write better, get their work out to the public, and get noticed faster. So let’s take some time and examine what these qualities are.
- Write every day
Writing is your craft. And if you want to improve your craft, it is important to practice it every day. What should you practice exactly? Begin with freewriting, which is a process in which you just write down whatever comes to your mind. It doesn’t matter if your ideas do not make sense or if you are jumping from one scene to another. Freewriting is an opportunity to brainstorm new ideas for future stories. If you always want to have content available to write, be sure to spend some time freewriting every day. You should try to find a place in time in which you can consistently write each day too. Once you get into the habit of writing every day like this, you will notice that your imagination will expand and you will spend less time in writer’s block. As a result, your stories will be much more vivid and compelling.
- Share your work with others
Writing is generally a solitary practice, but sharing your work with others can greatly help you improve your stories. Fellow writers can give you very useful feedback on how you can improve your characters are make your central plot more compelling. Be sure to ask about specific feedback about how your reader felt when reading your work and what you can do to improve it. And do not worry about someone else possibly stealing your work. Fellow writers are generally not likely to do this. You have much more to gain by sharing your work with others rather than guarding it close to yourself.
- Practice different forms of writing
As a writer, it is important to have a specialty. However, it is also important to practice writing in genres that you are not as familiar with. Believe it or not, this will actually help you in your own specialization! For example, fiction writers can benefit from the interviewing techniques used by nonfiction writers, especially when they are interviewing a particular person in order to develop a character in their story. Therefore, don’t be afraid to experiment, trying out other writing genres will help you in your particular specialization. But be careful—write in other specializations to improve your own. Do not try to write in every writing specialization, it is not practical to try to become the jack of all trades!
Keep these three tips in mind while you continue to hone your craft as a writer. These three tips will guide as you continue in your career. Good luck throughout your writing journey, and remember to always reach out for help when you need it!
