Methods to Improve Writing
Good writing skills are increasingly important in the workplace no matter what your job title or industry. Email is a dominant form of communication, and presentations and reports are also important aspects of office life. Taking the time to improve your writing can have a positive impact on your career growth and also help you to find a job if you are currently unemployed.
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Take a Class or Workshop
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You don't need to be pursuing a degree or take advanced classes. Many community colleges offer basic writing courses. Some may even offer writing classes in your field. Taking a course in creative writing can be just as beneficial as a course in more formal forms of writing since you will still be learning about the craft itself, and you may find your enjoyment helps to keep you motivated.
Keep a Journal
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Take some time every day to write something about your day. Regularly using your writing skills can help keep them sharp. You can learn different ways to express yourself. Try different formats for the entries, such as a poem or a list. Push yourself to expand your vocabulary by describing things in your environment. Pick one question, and write an answer for it from the perspective of different characters. You can use a tool like 750words.com or OnePagePerDay.com to keep you motivated to write in the journal every day, and you can find many resources online for journal prompts if you have trouble coming up with an idea.
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Use Resources
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Make sure to keep some basic resources handy: a thesaurus, dictionary, an Associated Press (AP) Stylebook, and Strunk and White's Elements of Style. If you're uncertain about something, don't just go with what seems right; look it up. Over time, you will learn the rules and have to check your resources less and less.
Read
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One of the best ways to improve your writing is to read more. It can help you gain a better understanding of grammar and build your vocabulary. You will also be exposed to new phrases, idioms, and expressions. Pay attention to sentence structure and style. Analyze character, plot, and theme. Join a book club, so you can get the benefit of others' analyses as well. It can be particularly beneficial to read material for your career field, so you can become accustomed to the jargon and any specialized terms in your industry.
Read Aloud What You Write
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Often, you are able to catch mistakes that you wouldn't otherwise. You can also discover if particular phrasing sounds odd and make changes accordingly.
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References
Resources
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