5 Steps to Better Writing

15 Steps to Better Writing Hav u noticed how bad riting has goten latly?!As a professional resume writer and an English teacher for 12 plus years, I certainly have. Between email, IM, and the fast-paced world of blogging, it seems as if the world's general ability to write well has plummeted off the scale. However, places still exist where good quality writing is needed, both in the work place and out of it. I have faith that with a little effort and guidance anyone can be a competent writer. In fact, following these 5 basic steps you will get you well on your way to becoming a better writer.The first step is to plan. You wouldn't start out on a road trip without consulting a map, planning out some rest stops and packing some food. The same goes for a writing project. A general outline will serve you well as your project "roadmap." Believe me it will save you time in the end. There are many kinds of outlines, from formal to mapping to webbing. Experiment a bit and find what works for you. The important thing is to have a basic road map for what you want to say.Once you have outlined, you need to write up the first draft. This can be a sticking point for many novices. Don't stress over the first draft, just write. Let the ideas flow. It is much easier to revise something than it is to create it. Get everything on paper, and then worry about what it looks like. You have your outline to follow. As long as you stay on track you'll have a solid rough draft.Now it is time it is time to self-edit. The first rule you should follow is "less is more." Everyone - you, me, even Stephen King - all overwrite our first drafts. Go through your work and see what seems like fluff. What is repetitive? Could something be said stronger with fewer words? Did you write that someone "slowly walked up the stairs?" Then why not say "crept" or "crawled" instead. Let your verbs do the work. Once you have pared down your draft it is time to move onto the next step: the final draft.Ideally, your outline guided your first draft. You have all of your ideas on paper. Your self-edit cleaned up your verbiage. Now it's time to write a polished final draft. If, through the editing process, you've realized the original outline was not sufficient, don't panic. That means the process is working. Take the time now to fix the outline. This will help you stay on track with the final draft. Now, take your time and put your best work forward.The final step is one that is too often overlooked in today's computer-driven culture: proofreading. I can not stress enough how important it is to proofread your work. Computer spell check does not catch all errors, and often creates just as many as it fixes. There is no substitute for a pair of eyes carefully reading text for errors. A trick I have used in the past is to actually read the document backwards, one word at a time. Sometimes when you simply read your paper through your brain will put in the missing or misspelled words. Reading it backwards helps you focus. If possible, have a friend proofread it as well.Now you are done. These five simple steps are all it takes to create clear and meaningful writing that anyone will be able to follow and appreciate. Keep the faith.