We'd all like to hope we're always getting better at what we do – whether that's our day job, parenting, a
hobby, or indeed our writing.
But are you improving as a writer?
How to See Your Growth as a Writer
When I look back at some of the fiction I was writing years ago, it's obvious that I've improved. My writing is more fluent and engaging; my characters more complex; my plotting stronger; my descriptions ... well, okay, those still need work sometimes.
It's the same with my
blog posts. If I read some of the ones I wrote back when I started freelance blogging back in 2008 – well, they're competent. But there are always parts of them that I'm itching to edit!
If you've been writing for a while, look back at some of the writing you did a few years ago. Hopefully, you'll be able to see how far you've come.
Three Ways to Improve as a Writer
What if
you don't see much improvement (or, worse, you feel like you've backslid)? Well, sometimes you're just too close to your current work to treat it objectively. But if you want to improve faster, some great ways to do that are:
#1: Take a Course or Class
Whether you're struggling with writing great dialogue, having trouble getting to grips with blog post structure, or getting nowhere with marketing your
novels, there'll be a class or course out there that can help.
Some courses, like degree courses or high-profile online training classes, can be really pricey ... but you may also find smaller or local classes at a fraction of the cost. You could also look for a good, practical book that includes exercises (make sure you do the exercises)!
#2: Share Your Work and Get Feedback
Letting other people
read your writing can be daunting, especially if you're actively inviting them to critique it. But probably the single biggest factor in my own growth as a writer has been receiving feedback from writing peers. I was in a writing group throughout my teens which helped immensely, and when I took my MA in Creative & Life Writing in my early 20s, the ongoing peer feedback and support was just as valuable as all the expert tuition.
Where can you turn for feedback? Try
local writers' groups, online forums, or even your friends and family (if they're writers or at least avid readers).
#3: Submit Your Work for Publication
I know how scary this can be (and I've got the rejection letters to prove it ... see
http://www.aliventures.com/rejection-and-bouncing-back). But if you send your work out for potential publication, you'll be pushing yourself to do better. You'll finish it to the best standard you're capable of, and if you do get published, you'll be able to get a sense of
what goes down well with your audience.
Over the past ten years, quite a bit of my writing has been published by other people: I've written articles for well over a dozen different blogs and a couple of magazines, and I've also had a non-fiction book published (Publishing E-Books For Dummies). I've had two short stories printed in magazines too.
While I'm a keen advocate for self-publishing (all three of my novels are self
published), I think that submitting at least occasional pieces for publication can really help you grow as a writer. Just having to write to a word count limit, or having to stick to submission guidelines, can help you pay more careful attention to your work.
Ultimately, if you feel completely happy with where you are with a writer ... that's fine! Keep doing what you're doing, and don't worry about whether or not you're getting any better
at it. But if you're at a point on your journey where you know you still have further to go, seek out ways to push yourself to improve (and look back and celebrate what you've already achieved).
