You finally finished your first draft (or rough draft) of writing. Yay! Now it’s time for the revision process to begin. Though revising, editing and proof reading your writing can be an intimidating task… you can do it.
Below you will find some tips to help you make your writing even better.
1. Keep it Simple
Try to keep your messages simple. When learning a language, it is always your tendency to write the same way in your new language as in your native language. Unfortunately, it takes a long time to develop advanced writing skills.
Since English is not your native language, it is best to work with simple sentences. By keeping your writing simple you will ensure that it is written correctly and is easily understood.
If you try to use complex academic language or structures in your writing, you are bound to make some mistakes. That means you may have to cut down a long run-on sentence into two or three short sentence. That is perfectly fine. Try to keep it simple.
Try to keep your messages simple. When learning a language, it is always your tendency to write the same way in your new language as in your native language. Unfortunately, it takes a long time to develop advanced writing skills.
Since English is not your native language, it is best to work with simple sentences. By keeping your writing simple you will ensure that it is written correctly and is easily understood.
If you try to use complex academic language or structures in your writing, you are bound to make some mistakes. That means you may have to cut down a long run-on sentence into two or three short sentence. That is perfectly fine. Try to keep it simple.
2. Hook Readers from the First Line
Does your first line or paragraph grab your reader’s attention? Does it make them want to keep reading? Try to make the beginning of your story or essay interesting.
Some possible ways to begin your writing are with: a definition, a quote, a statistic, an anecdote, or describing/setting a scene.
Does your first line or paragraph grab your reader’s attention? Does it make them want to keep reading? Try to make the beginning of your story or essay interesting.
Some possible ways to begin your writing are with: a definition, a quote, a statistic, an anecdote, or describing/setting a scene.
3. Spice your Words Up
Do you use vague, plain words? Or do you use descriptive words that really make your writing stand out. Don’t use words like said, good or bad. Add more descriptive words to your writing that makes it stand out.
Instead of said; you could use: declared, uttered, cried or replied.
Instead of good; you could use: enjoyable, pleasant, wonderful or lovely.
Instead of bad; you could use: horrible, awful, appalling or dire.
Do you use vague, plain words? Or do you use descriptive words that really make your writing stand out. Don’t use words like said, good or bad. Add more descriptive words to your writing that makes it stand out.
Instead of said; you could use: declared, uttered, cried or replied.
Instead of good; you could use: enjoyable, pleasant, wonderful or lovely.
Instead of bad; you could use: horrible, awful, appalling or dire.
4. Move or Remove Parts that Don’t Make Sense
If after rereading your writing something does not seem right; change it! Try moving sentences or even paragraphs around to make your writing more consistent. If you just can’t find the right place for something, remove it! If you don’t want to completely delete it, move it to another document (or page) where you can easily copy and paste it later and add it in; if you find a new place to put it.
If after rereading your writing something does not seem right; change it! Try moving sentences or even paragraphs around to make your writing more consistent. If you just can’t find the right place for something, remove it! If you don’t want to completely delete it, move it to another document (or page) where you can easily copy and paste it later and add it in; if you find a new place to put it.
5. Read Your Writing Out Loud and Backwards
How many times have you thought your final draft of writing was done, only to find more errors? It happens to me all the time.
Start at the last line of your paper or story. Read the last sentence out loud. Are its mechanics correct? Does it have a capital and punctuation? Is everything spelled correctly? Does it make sense? Now, move on to the sentence before it.
By starting at the end of your paper and working up to the top you are forced to look at each sentence in isolation and make sure it is correct. This is a helpful way to check your mechanics and sentence structure and find any errors that you may have overlooked.
How many times have you thought your final draft of writing was done, only to find more errors? It happens to me all the time.
Start at the last line of your paper or story. Read the last sentence out loud. Are its mechanics correct? Does it have a capital and punctuation? Is everything spelled correctly? Does it make sense? Now, move on to the sentence before it.
By starting at the end of your paper and working up to the top you are forced to look at each sentence in isolation and make sure it is correct. This is a helpful way to check your mechanics and sentence structure and find any errors that you may have overlooked.
6. Ask Someone for Help
Find someone that is willing to read your paper and give you feedback and/or look for errors. Tough it may be difficult to share, the more people that read your writing and give you ideas and feedback; the more refined your writing will become. Don’t be embarrassed to show your work to others… remember your goal is to have an awesome final draft. Getting some help along the way will make you a better writer. All published authors have editors that go through each draft and find errors, pose questions and give feedback.
Remember, you don’t have to take all of the advice someone gives you about your writing. You can pick and choose which of their ideas is best for your work.
Find someone that is willing to read your paper and give you feedback and/or look for errors. Tough it may be difficult to share, the more people that read your writing and give you ideas and feedback; the more refined your writing will become. Don’t be embarrassed to show your work to others… remember your goal is to have an awesome final draft. Getting some help along the way will make you a better writer. All published authors have editors that go through each draft and find errors, pose questions and give feedback.
Remember, you don’t have to take all of the advice someone gives you about your writing. You can pick and choose which of their ideas is best for your work.
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