by Katherine Hutchinson-Hayes, Ed.D. @khutch0767

Daily we write even when it’s unaffiliated with our author careers. We write emails, texts, school notes, social media posts, and work documents. When we sit down to write professionally, we tend to believe our work here is what counts. But suppose we took all our writing seriously. We could create a consistent pattern to help make writing easier, helping us accomplish our writing goals. Our writing represents our personal and professional identity, so it’s worth it to develop our skills.

Here are ten writing tips to sharpen our skills and help us communicate better:

Set goals

Despite our best intentions, sticking to the plans we form in our minds is often tricky and unreliable. Without specific goals, we find ourselves confronted with heaps of unfinished projects. We usually keep putting off our dreams until “one day.” It doesn’t matter if the plan is to start a new blog, organize our writing space, give up sweets, lose weight, or find the perfect publisher. It all comes down to having the proper focus and dedication.

Develop the practice of daily writing

Life is busy and filled with challenges that compete for our time and attention. But if we discipline ourselves to write each day, it’ll help us to achieve our goals, even if it’s one paragraph at a time.

Do our research

Before beginning a writing project, do some investigative reading. Take notes on the subject material. Ideas often form as we complete research.

Keep our tools on hand

Inspiration usually hits at unexpected times. We shouldn’t leave fascinating ideas, poetic sentences, or catchy titles to our memories. Keep pens and pads handy when computers are unavailable (think about stashing these in bathrooms & vehicles). We can also write in a dedicated notebook or create note files on our phones.

Experiment

Sometimes, we get in a rut by staying in the same genre or general writing field. One of the best writing tips for writers is to use prompts. There are endless writing prompts online suited for various genres. Additionally, we can pick a genre to experiment with, even if we return to our usual genres. This will help stimulate our imaginations and encourage us to get creative.

Outline

An outline is a blueprint for our writing. They list the topics/chapters we plan to cover and their order. Outlines are usually broken up into paragraphs, along with supporting details like data or evidence. When writing the first draft, we can follow the outline to know what to write about and in what order. Outlining helps us to organize ourselves from the start.

Write when we’re fresh

Whether we’re a morning, afternoon, or nighttime person doesn’t matter. Whenever our minds are fresh, we should dedicate time to writing.

Say no to cliches!

We should develop the habit of rereading through what we’ve written. When we do this, we need to examine our work for overused phrases that can be expressed freshly and uniquely. This is one of the most popular writing pieces of advice but also the most ignored.

Step away from our writing before editing

Whenever possible, we must avoid editing while writing. After we’ve finished writing, we should take a break and review with fresh clarity. Even stepping away for fresh air, exercise, or a cup of coffee can help us shift gears from author to the editor.

Write in an active voice

Writing in an active voice animates our writing as the subject is acting on its verb. An active voice reads as confident and self-assured; it’s also an effective strategy to eliminate unnecessary words from our writing.

When we don’t reach our writing goals, we often blame our follow-through on a lack of resources, time, or motivation when challenges and distractions interrupt our plans. But by applying these simple tips, we can attain our most ambitious writing aspirations!

Author, speaker, educational consultant, and editor–Katherine Hutchinson-Hayes, Ed. D. has had her hand in leadership for many years. She loves speaking to groups and delivering messages with a quick wit and real-life stories. Katherine is a freelance writer/content editor, a content editor/writing coach for Iron Stream Media, and a sensitivity reader for Sensitivity Between the Lines. She is a review board member and contributor to Inkspirations (an online magazine for Christian writers), and her writing has been published in Guideposts. Her work in art/writing is distinguished by awards, including the New York Mayor’s Contribution to the Arts, Outstanding Resident Artist of Arizona, and the Foundations Awards at the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writer’s Conference (2016, 2019, 2021, 2022). She was a finalist in the Genesis Contest ACFW (American Christian Fiction Writers/Romantic Suspense 2022). She is a finalist for the Claymore Award 2022 (Thriller Division) for the best-unpublished manuscript. She is a member of Word Weavers International and serves as an online chapter president and mentor. She belongs to FWA (Florida Writers Association), ACFW (American Christian Fiction Writers), CWoC (Crime Writers of Color), AWSA (Advanced Writers and Speakers Association), and AASA (American Association of School Administrators). She serves on the board of the nonprofit organization Submersion 14 and is an art instructor and virtual exhibition specialist for the nonprofit organization Light for the Future. Katherine is the host of the podcast Murder, Mystery & Mayhem Laced with Morality. She has authored a Christian Bible study for women and is currently working on the sequel and prequel to her first general market thriller novel, “A Fifth of the Story.”