How do you become a better writer? Is it something you’re born with or can you learn the skills that are needed. According to Paula Pant, you can get better. Here’s how.

1. Become a
Better Writer
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How to
from an interview with Paula Pant

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GET INSPIRATION
STEP 0:
take in lots of ideas and information
from outside sources.
A big part of the writing process is
“synthesizing many different thoughts and
ideas that you learn from the outside world,
and pulling that all together and
contextualizing it within your own
framework.” - Paula Pant

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GET INSPIRATION
STEP 0:
take in lots of ideas and information
from outside sources.
A big part of the writing process is
“synthesizing many different thoughts and
ideas that you learn from the outside world,
and pulling that all together and
contextualizing it within your own
framework.” - Paula Pant
Read a lot, and listen a lot.

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BRAIN DUMP
STEP 1:
Allot a particular time each day to
brain dump your ideas.
Not everything in your brain dump will
get published.
Good writing is a combination of
three things: reading, writing, and
editing.

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SHELVE IT.
STEP 2:
Set your brain dump aside for at least
24 hours.
Stepping away before editing allows
you to look at the piece with fresh
eyes. You’ll see it more clearly.

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START EDITING
STEP 3:
Know what you are looking for.
If you have access to a talented
editor, send your articles to that
person before you publish them.
Read books about how to be a better
writer and then consciously apply
those tips during the editing process.
Edit more than once.
ED
IT

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EDITING TIPS

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"KILL YOUR DARLINGS"
1.
Just because you’ve spent a lot of
time working on something doesn’t
mean it should get published.
- Stephen King

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GET RID OF ADVERBS
2.
He shut the
door quickly.
He slammed
the door.

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BE JUDICIOUS ABOUT ADJECTIVES
3.
Twelve rescue
ambulances stood by to
rush injured people to
nearby hospitals.
Twelve ambulances
stood by.

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REMEMBER THE FUNDAMENTAL SENTENCE STRUCTURE
4.
WHENINDOUBT
STICKTOTHEBASICS
*subject,verb,object

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DON’T START A SENTENCE WITH A DEPENDENT CLAUSE
5.
is a part of your sentence that can’t stand on its own.
It wouldn’t be a full sentence if you ended it with a
period instead of a comma. It depends upon the rest
of the sentence.
A dependent clause

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DON'T EDIT DURING YOUR BRAIN DUMP
6.
ED
IT
X

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RECOMMENDED BOOKS TO READ

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