5 Ways to Sharpen Your Writing Skills
I shouldn’t have to say this, but I will anyway: if you want to be a good Public Relations professional, you need to have strong writing skills.
I am not saying this just because I am a Writing major, I promise. I am saying this because almost everything PR pros do will, at one point or another, require placing pen to paper or fingers to keyboard. Press releases, social media updates, blogs, and even everyday e-mails all require being able to communicate effectively through writing.
Maybe you think that your writing skills are just fine the way they are, and that there are plenty of other more important skills that you can be sharpening in the New Year. I am here to tell you, as a Writing major, that writing is a skill that will never go out of style, even as mediums change.
Here are a few simple ways that you can improve your writing skills in the coming semester that won’t take up much time, but will help you stand out later.
1. Visit the Writing Center
Writing tutors aren’t just there to help point out grammatical mistakes in your papers. They are trained to help you to become a better writer by identifying your weaknesses and giving your strategies to improve on them. Having comma problems? They’ve got tips for that. Having trouble figuring out how to organize your papers? Let them help you talk through it.
2. Look at Your Graded Work
Depending on the professor, returned work can contain a variety of clues to help you understand your writing strengths and weaknesses. I know that it isn’t always fun seeing a professor dissect a paper that you spent so much time working on, but using their experience and insight can be extremely helpful. Taking advantage of chances to redo assignments, even if only for a few extra points, can also help you work through some of your weaknesses.
3. Develop a Daily Writing Habit
Setting a word count or writing time goal for each day can help you flex your writing muscles and develop your own writing voice. The topic of this writing doesn’t matter. If a daily journal doesn’t appeal to you, try blogging. Try writing a haiku about grocery shopping, a quick summary of your day, or an in-depth analysis of your favorite Netflix show.
4. Read Widely
Try reading something outside of your comfort zone, even if it is just a post on a blog that you aren’t familiar with. Exposure to a variety of voices can help you understand your own, and taking the time to dig into how others’ writing works will allow you to adapt your writing to different circumstances.
5. Get a Grasp on Grammar
Commas are tricky little creatures. Fortunately, there are many resources online to help you learn how to use them correctly, and help you learn the difference between “who” and “whom,” as well. Getting into the habit of looking up tricky grammar or word choice questions can have a dramatic impact on your writing. If you’re not sure where to start, I would recommend checking out Purdue Owl, Grammar Girl, and GrammarBook.com to start. If you just need a second pair of eyes on your emails before you send them, Grammarly has a great web app that will help you catch basic mistakes.
These small and easy steps are a great way to begin sharpening your writing skills. This foundation will help you explore other ways to improve all of your writing endeavors.
About Nicole
Nicole Clark is a senior at GVSU, where she is majoring in Writing and minoring in Public Relations. She is excited to be GrandPR’s Firm Editor and Blog Manager. She is also an intern at Rogo Marketing and Communications. In her free time, she enjoys listening to podcasts, learning about social issues, and teaching herself new skills. She is excited to use her extensive understanding of storytelling and grammar to help other firm members, and to learn new skills that will help her after graduation.