How to Improve Your Writing

“No matter what anybody tells you, words and ideas can change the world.”- N. H. Kleinbaum

Writing is hard work. While writing often feels like thunder storms and blizzards instead of roses and sunshine, it is crucial to success. As a writer, I often spend more time glaring at my keyboard and being distracted by the Internet than actually writing anything. Many people don’t like writing, and few appreciate it as well. However, that happens because early on students are not given the right tools to be successful and are thus left asking how to improve their writing.

Why writing is important

Let’s think on that for a minute however… writing is kind of awesome.  When trained to write well, a person can sit down and, out of their imagination, invent an entire world. How awesome is that?! Stan Lee did it and look at what he’s created: Spider-Man, Iron Man, Captain America, The Incredible Hulk, Thor, Hawk Eye, The X-Men, The Fantastic Four… let’s face it even if you don’t know who Stan Lee is you know what least one of those things mentioned above. People like J. K. Rowling helped shape my life, and in turn they’ll help shape my children’s lives.

Human beings are filled with words, thoughts, idea, problems, gifts, sadness, etc. Your writing doesn’t have to be perfect (that’s what editing is for) so there is no need to be scared of it! Pour out whatever is in your heart and let it stay there on the pages.

Here’s how to get started

• Practice with Mad Libs (there are many different types of Mad Libs online to find)
• Write your own fairy tales, folk tales, comic books, etc. (whatever your child may be interested in write about that! All of our thematic lesson plans have writing exercises in for younger students, but our Tall Tale lesson has many writing activities)
• Look for writing contests (such as “my hero” contests where the children can write about someone they look up to)
• Free writing (give them free reign to write whatever they want)
• Use the computer to have an at home typing class
• Make it into a game (turn vocabulary words into a game by making word cards and playing hide and seek)
• Contact us to see when our next writing workshop will be or for our private writing classes

It could make you feel better if you’re full of thoughts and don’t know how to release them, and it could also make your children feel better! If you are asking how to improve your writing, try any of these tips to start your path to success.