We can all find ways to improve our writing and writing practices, right? Check out these tips to write better and earn more money writing.
Tips to Write Better & Earn More
1. Brush Up on Grammar and Punctuation Rules.
Many people fancy themselves a writer, and they have amazing thoughts in their head. Grammar and punctuation, however, are not everyone’s best suit. Whether you simply are unsure of the rules in a specific situation or you forgot something along the way, you can easily find info and usage examples online. I know I find myself doing a quick Google or two from time to time.
Keep in mind that grammar and punctuation are essential for getting your point across clearly. They also help your readers flow through your writing. A misplaced comma or poor grammar makes a reader pause and try to understand what you are saying. It’s disruptive for the reader.
2. Using Grammarly and Hemingway App.
The good news is that you don’t have to Google everything. After all, stopping to research grammar rules is disruptive for the writer’s creative flow.
Both Grammarly and Hemingway App are excellent resources available for free to writers. Simply copy and paste your completed work into the application to immediately see writing errors and recommendations.
3. Inject Personality.
As important as grammar and punctuation are, it’s important to inject personality when a project allows it. Take some creative liberty to utilize your words and sentence structure to convey your meaning with your personal perspective.
Remember, readers don’t want to read something bland. They want you to hold their attention through text that is enjoyable and interesting.
4. Don’t be Overly Verbose.
Using the Hemingway App, you can see what school grade level your writing is suitable for. Unless you’re writing a technical piece, the writing should generally fall in the 8th to 10th grade level. Of course, your readers can comprehend college-level text in most cases. However, writing to a lower grade level is much easier to read and allows your readers to follow along without pausing for comprehension.
5. Speak to Your Audience.
Readers have busy lives. They want to make the most out of their limited time. They want you to get to the point and not drag on. In many cases, your readers want to gain insights, tips and information that they can apply to their own lives. They want to feel like they used their time productively by spending a few minutes reading what you have to say.
6. Create a Writing Oasis.
Where you write in your home impacts concentration and creativity. Find a spot that is comfortable for you to sit in for a few hours at a time. Your home office area should have minimal to no distractions. Wear your pajamas. Put on a button-down and shoes if you want. Do you.
7. Be Professional.
One of the reasons why I’ve been able to pay my bills entirely from writing for 16 years is because I write A LOT. There’s more to being a professional writer than writing. If writing is your job, treat it like a “real” job.
What does this look like? Create a professional presence on social media platforms. Make a writing portfolio and a professional resume. You also should have a professional website with a blog for your freelance work.
8. Create a Schedule.
Regardless of the type of writing you do, creating a schedule is essential. A schedule enables you to break up your projects into small, manageable tasks. It helps you set goals and stay on track. Decide what you want to accomplish for the week or month. Then, break it into manageable daily tasks.
A schedule also helps you to avoid falling behind. By looking at your daily schedule over a week or two at a time, you can better determine how much you need to get done today on a specific project. You’ll know if you can take on more work or if you need to work a few extra hours to stay on track.
9. Don’t Be Afraid to Make Mistakes.
Writing is something that isn’t ever “perfect.” I could rewrite each of my works to exhaustion, and they still would not be perfect. Give yourself some grace. Do your best. Proofread it. Set it aside for an hour or two if that suits your schedule and project deadline. Read it again. Then, submit it.
You likely will get many revision requests in your early years as a writer and even as an experienced writer working for a new client. Rest assured that you’ll get the hang of it and can work at a faster pace down the road.