Writing is quite simple, isn’t it? You read, write and critique. But there is something missing – the hard work that goes into it all. Newbie or old-hand, you cannot and should not avoid deliberate practice. Over time, writing will become easier but you should never stop practicing. How? Check out these three tips to help you become a truly great writer – over time.

Read

All writers read and there are two ways to do it:

Deep – master your craft the way the masters do. Understand more than the basis; go deeper and learn to master them. Upgrade your talent by reading classics and then re-read them. Work through a list of books that teach you how to master the writer’s art.

Wide – read all genres, good books, and bad ones. Stores and stores of creative ideas are there for the taking, there for the learning. Even the bad ones will teach you something.

Write

The more you write, the better you will be.  

First drafts – so much fits here – ideas, emails you write but don’t send, a favorite passage from a favorite book that you hand-copy. This the 90% of the iceberg that sits beneath the surface, the words that nobody gets to see but you. These are your stepping stones on the road to perfection.

Revisions – only about 10% of what you write must be there for all to see. If you want to be seen as a professional, you must publish something and that something must be honed to perfection, trimmed, rewritten several times if necessary. This is what separates the would-be’s from the definitely-will-be’s.

Copy – hand-copy a page from a favorite book. Memorize paragraphs and poems, take in their style and learn it.

Everything else – become obsessive. Write all the time; if there are no opportunities, find some. If you need to make a phone call, write a script. Got a speech to deliver? Draft it out. Email your family and your friends. Focus a set amount of time on writing – ignore everything else but writing.

Critique

The most important part of being a great writer is constructive criticism. It is what helps you to see and mend your mistakes. It isn’t easy but you must do it and, over time, you will become more objective. Use others to bounce ideas off too:

Friends – get an honest friend to read your work, someone who will be truthful with you and not gloss over mistakes.

Critique groups – there are lots of writer groups so join one that has a mixture of talent. Listen to what feedback comes your way, whether it is from a pro or a newbie. Evaluate it all with an open mind and take note of the good, ignore the bad.

You should also pay attention to the way people react to what you write. Are they reading it? Do they share it with others? Do they recommend you?

Given time, you will learn how to be your own judge. You will learn how to determine the best from the worst and you will learn how to be a little bit ruthless.