Simplest answer: 1. write, 2. write, 3. write. We become better writers by writing. But there is more to it than writing. If we don’t assess our writing habits, learn ways to improve, and assess our progress, it is likely we will not improve.
To assess your skills you can find free assessments online, as well as tutorials to help build your knowledge and skills. Here are two to try:
Take advantage of other opportunities to hone your skills, which could include a full course, a one-time webinar, or a self-study. When I was teaching at Purdue, I audited a writing course at the same time I was teaching writing to nutrition students. We can always get better.
Follow these 3 steps to improve your writing:
Read – Good writers are prolific readers. Reading improves your vocabulary and your knowledge base. It provides the facts, figures and ideas needed to support your main points. Read with a discerning eye and appreciate good writing. Aspire to emulate excellence.
Write – Every. Single. Day. Challenge yourself to write every day, even if only a Tweet of 140 or #280characters, or a bit longer 100-word paragraph with a clear and concise message. The more you write, the easier it becomes.
Revise - Never accept your first draft. Solicit feedback from colleagues. Solicit feedback from your target audience. Be your own critique. For best results, allow ample time to elapse between writing and reviewing. Read what you write from your audience’s perspective. Proofread critically. Revise. Write it better.
“We are all apprentices in a craft where no one ever becomes a master.” —Ernest Hemingway
Need help with your writing? I’d love to help. Visit my coaching page and sign up for a free call: https://www.nutritioncommunicator.com/one-on-one-coaching
