The first thing that pops into my mind for your question is this: read. Here’s why. Reading exposes you to either various ways of writing or that one goal you’re seeking in your own writing.
For instance, let’s say that I want to write clearer and powerful sentences. The writing of James Baldwin might be a perfect stop for me. His sentences are clear, straightforward, but profound at the same time. The way that he writes seems very intentional, right down to the punctuation. If that is my goal—not to mimic James Baldwin’s style but to adapt a few of his writing approaches to mine—, then I might read more of him and others who write with similar qualities.
Now, here’s the next step. Reading is nice and all but might be empty without intentional application. Let’s return to my example of James Baldwin. As I read James Baldwin’s “A Letter to My Nephew,” I come to a sentence that I like. Its structure is clear and interesting. I wouldn’t mind having that structure in my bag of writing tricks.
So, I write that sentence verbatim in a journal or a Google Doc. Then, I write my own sentence, imitating that structure. This first attempt might not be worth much, especially if you use a random topic. There’s no context to give it substance or define its parameters, but that’s fine. This first imitation works to give you a feel of that structure. Walk around in it a little to see whether it’s the type that you can grow into. If so, as you prepare your next written piece, return to your journal of collected sentences and challenge yourself to use one or two of those structures, this time within your own context and content.
Through this process of reading, imitation, and experimentation, you expand your writing boundaries. Read and focus on what you need—style, punctuation, grammar, etc. Then, practice and slowly grow as a writer.
This process is similar to getting physically fit. If you want to change your body composition, you take in certain foods that will help. If you and I have different goals, what you consume might differ from what I consume. Nevertheless, each of us would need to focus on what we need to reach what we want. Likewise, if you want your writing to grow in a certain direction, feed your mind the things that will support that growth. While I might focus on how sentences start and end, you might focus on the use of semicolons, commas, and dashes. Whatever the case, we’re both on the same road to writing improvement.
So, continue to focus on what you want in your writing. With reading and focused experimentation, your writing should improve little by little, and you’ll witness your writing transform from being “horrible” to “strong.”
