If you search Google for writing tips, you’ll find a lot of big promises.
The truth?
There’s no magical writing tip, idea, trick, strategy, or hack that turns bad writing into good writing.
But if you’re trying to get better, a few solid tips (plus a lot of reps) can take you pretty far.
Here are 15 of our favorites.
1. Find your unique voice
If we all listen to the same experts and follow the same writing advice, how does anyone actually stand out?
A lot of newer writers fall into this without realizing it. They try to sound like someone they admire, thinking that’s the shortcut.
It’s not.
Even if you pull it off, you end up sounding like everyone else doing the same thing.
There’s only one you. Your hopes, thoughts, and dreams are unique. Even the face you make when you accidentally walk into a spider web is unique.
If you want to stand out, stop trying to sound like other writers. Just sound like yourself.
2. Make your words burst to life in readers’ minds
If you aren’t using power words or sensory language, your writing is probably flatter than you think.
Good writers pay attention to word choice. They pick words that carry weight, not just ones that get the job done.
You see it everywhere. From Shakespeare to Stephen King to Hemingway… the writing sticks because you can see it, hear it, feel it.
That’s not an accident.
If your writing feels lifeless, this is one of the fastest fixes. Swap in stronger words. Be more specific. Give the reader something to picture.
3. Edit like crazy
Most first drafts are clumsy, sloppy, and harder to read than we think. That’s true for almost everyone (even experienced writers).
The difference between something that works and something that gets ignored?
Editing.
Finishing a draft isn’t the hard part. That’s where the real work begins.
If you want your writing to improve, you need to spend just as much time tightening it as you did getting it down.
It’s ruthless work. It’s kind of boring. But it’s vital.
4. Write subheads people actually read
Most readers don’t stick around for long.
They click your headline, scan the page, and decide in a few seconds if it’s worth their time.
That decision usually isn’t based on your writing.
It’s based on your subheads.
A strong intro helps. But your subheads are what pull people down the page. They give structure. They create momentum. They make the next section feel worth reading.
If your subheads are weak, people leave.
If they’re strong, people keep going.
5. Write faster (like that guy you know who types way too fast)
No matter what you’re writing, time is usually the constraint. There’s only so much of it, and most of it’s already spoken for.
So if you want more time to write, you’ve got three options:
- Say goodbye to your family and lock yourself in a room
- Invent a time machine
- Learn how to write faster
The first one probably won’t go over well.
The second one requires plutonium.
The third one? That’s actually doable.
6. If your headline fails, nothing else matters
Jon Morrow recommends spending at least 20% of your time on the headline.
That’s not a typo.
If you spend 10 to 20 hours writing an article, a few of those hours should go to the headline alone.
Here’s why:
If your headline doesn’t work, no one’s going to read the rest.
Everything else depends on that one line.
So practice. Write more of them. Rewrite them.
Get good at it.
7. Avoid weak, filler words
Too many writers weaken their writing with words that don’t do anything.
Worse, they chip away at your reader’s attention, one flabby phrase at a time.
Find them. Cut them.
8. Write with rhythm
Short sentences and short paragraphs work well online.
But if everything is short, it starts to feel flat.
If everything is long, it gets heavy fast.
You need both.
Vary your sentence length. Let the structure shift as you write. That’s what keeps things moving and easy to read.
9. When you’re stuck, do this
Staring at a blank page for an hour will make writer’s block feel unbeatable.
It isn’t.
Writers who get past it don’t wait for inspiration. They have a few go-to moves they use every time they get stuck. Sometimes it’s as simple as turning off distractions. Sometimes it’s putting on the same song and writing through it (looking at you, “I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles)” by The Proclaimers).
They don’t sit there. They do something.
Find a couple techniques that work for you and use them when you need them.
10. Be funny
Some writers won’t like this…
But teaching alone isn’t enough. Your writing has to be interesting to read.
If it isn’t, they’ll go read someone who can do both.
If your natural style leans more serious, this might feel like a stretch at first.
So start simple. Add a little humor where it fits. Loosen things up. Let some personality come through.
You don’t have to be a comedian. Just don’t be boring.
11. Write with clarity
It doesn’t matter how clean your grammar is or how polished your sentences feel.
If your writing isn’t clear, none of it works.
If people can’t follow what you’re saying, it might as well be written in another language.
Here’s a simple test:
Could you explain your idea in one short sentence?
If not, it’s probably too complicated. Simplify it.
12. Make your writing flow
If your sentences don’t connect, readers feel it immediately.
They slow down. They lose the thread. Sometimes they just leave.
Good writing moves. One sentence leads naturally into the next.
That doesn’t happen by accident. It comes from small choices, like using transitional words and phrases to guide the reader forward.
If you want people to read all the way through, you have to make it easy to keep going.
13. Sleep with your readers
Remember when I said subheads should create curiosity? This is a good example.
The headline gets attention.
But the idea behind it matters more.
What’s your reader thinking about when they can’t sleep? What problem keeps coming back, even when they try to ignore it?
Write about that.
14. Just start (then keep going)
Starting is usually the hardest part.
You’re staring at a blank page and trying your darnedest to get it right on the first try.
Don’t.
Open the document. Write a sentence. It doesn’t have to be good.
Once you start, things get easier. The next sentence comes faster. Then another. And before you know it, you’re in it.
Momentum does most of the work.
15. Don’t write in order
You don’t have to start at the beginning.
If the intro isn’t working, skip it. If you know how the ending should sound, write that first. If one section feels clear, start there.
Writing doesn’t have to be linear.
Trying to force it that way is often what slows you down.
Move around. Fill in the parts that come easiest, then connect them later.
It’s faster… and usually better.
What you do next matters more than what you read
Most people will read a list like this, think “yeah, that makes sense,” and then go right back to writing the same way they always have.
Reading about writing is easy. Changing how you write is the hard part.
So don’t try to apply all of this at once.
Pick one or two of these writing techniques and actually use them. In your next draft. In your next paragraph. In your next sentence.
The more you practice them, the more natural they become. And over time, your writing starts to feel sharper without you having to think about it as much.
Hello Kevin,
I enjoyed reading your post, ’14 Tips to Up Your Writing Game in 2019′.
I think finding your unique voice is key, especially for newer writers. I’ll definitely check out your interview on Biz Mavens’ podcast.
Learning how to write faster and more accurately (first time) would be a gamechanger. Work in progress. Thanks for great tactics on becoming a better writer.
All the best,
Michael
Hi Michael,
Thank you! I’m glad you enjoyed it.
My podcast interview for Biz Mavens should go “live” any day now. Hopefully everyone will be able to understand me with my accent (and overuse of “ums”). 🙂
Appreciate you stopping by and commenting, Michael. Have a great day!
Hi Kevin, thanks for all those timely reminders and super-useful links all in one place. I’m going straight to Linda’s post on how to speed up your writing because that’s something I always struggle with.
Love your work! Cheers, Mel
Hi Mel,
You’re welcome! Glad you found them so useful.
Yes, increasing writing speed is a good one. “Editing” is the big one for me. The more I edit my posts, the tighter (and, usually, more successful) they are. That’s probably not a coincidence. 🙂
Appreciate the kind words, Mel (especially coming from such a talented writer as yourself)!
Hi Kevin,
A really nice, simple, short post.
I definitely clicked out a few links to check out.
I think it’s also worth clarifying (!) that making a bad writer write good(er), is not impossible, only that quick tips and hacks won’t get you there.
Learning how to write well is like anything. It takes a lot of practise and hard work.
Tips and hacks are what give you and edge.
But learning to write is a serious undertaking.
Great post. Always happy to click through your emails.
Hey Geoff,
Thanks! Back in the day, easy-to-read posts with bite-sized nuggets of info (aka list posts) were my calling card. I hadn’t done one in a while, so this was a fun one to write.
Good clarification. Hard work is vital. And, it’s absolutely possible to go from bad to good if you put in the work. (I slightly tweaked my intro to make sure this point isn’t missed. Thanks!)
Always appreciate your support, Geoff. Thanks for stopping by and commenting!
Hi Kevin,
Thanks for writing the useful post, The difference is that you make your point without promising anything BIG. I completely agreed with you if we improve our writing 5-10%, it would be amazing.
Also, finding a unique voice as a blogger can create HUGE impact on your blogging style and help you enhancing viewership. This will certainly keep you away from the league and help you establishing a unique blogging brand.
Thanks again Kevin, have a wonderful weekend. cheers ????
-RajatChauhan
Hey Rajat,
Thank you! I’m so glad you liked the post and found it useful.
Absolutely… everyone’s looking to hit a 5-run homerun. “Do this one thing and you’ll be a superstar.” Getting into the top 1% of writers doesn’t happen that way, though. You get there by making a lot of small, incremental improvements.
Work hard, get 5% better. Repeat again and again. 🙂
Hope you have a wonderful weekend, too, Rajat. Thanks for the great comment.
Kevin, I feel the same way here. My hunch is, as you suggested, Work hard, get 5% better. Repeat again and again. Of all your suggestions, I think ‘Sleep With Your Readers’ is most effective.
Also, there is lot to learn from your commenting style and the engagements you create. AWESOME.
I believe engaging with commenters could be the most effective tip for receiving comments.
Moreover, when can we see a new post on ‘Be A Better Blogger’.
Thanks a lot for useful tips.????
The two things i took away from this article was
spend just as much time editing your words as you do creating them.
Most readers stick around for fewer than 15 seconds.
that is going to change my process and thinking quite a lot
Hey Matt,
Yes, those are two important takeaways. Those two tips can change the game for a lot of writers!
Thanks for the advice, Kevin.
A very detailed and helpful post you have here.
Do you know of a blogging course that teaches these in-depth?
Looking forward to the best one because I can’t wait to sharpen my ax.
Regards,
Jeremiah
Hey Jeremiah,
You’re welcome! Glad you enjoyed it.
Absolutely. Smart Blogger has several courses that could be great fits. If you’re not already on it, be sure to sign up for our mailing list (any of the various optins or popups we have on the site will do the trick). Then keep an eye out for our next enrollment period.
If you have specific questions, please don’t hesitate to ask.
I just wanted to show appreciation for all the help that i have received after reading your blogs. I realize that success with SEO doesn’t happen over night, it takes time and patience. The new blog helps us focus on the areas we are lacking as a Advertising and Marketing agency in Pune we would love to read more blogs like this in the near future. Excellent job!
You’re very welcome, Mohana.
Hi Kevin, excellent writing tips, and really loved them all. Getting better ideas for writing is always a daunting task.
As you suggested, learning SEO is a great way to come up with a ton of ideas to write about.
Also, I often get ideas whenever I’m reading blogs in my niche. I also do keyword research using tools like Semrush as it helps me find hundreds of keyword ideas within a few minutes.
Thanks for sharing the tips.
I think, using more infographic is becoming so crazy to catch user. Instead of writing many words, we should represent in image form in an effective way. I got a lot of better ideas for content making.
nice article
Hey, Kevin. Infographics certainly have their place, and I know a lot of marketers who swear by them.
Honestly i am not good at reading but your article is really easy to read and it helps in a lot of ways.
Thanks for creating this helpful article.
You’re welcome, Mike. Glad you found the post easy to read!
In today’s world everyone wants to be a photographer and a writer. I must say, with smart technology it is much easier to be a photographer than a writer. Writing is a skill and while everyone should be encouraged to write, not all that writing has to go out into the public eye. I read so much rubbish on the internet and while this article is good in telling people how to improve their writing, I don’t believe everyone can or should write. Sometimes, we should just leave it to the professionals! Not everyone is professional. Saying that, write a diary!
Hey Kevin, thanks for the awesome flashbacks!
I can swear on this- none of the gems you’ve mentioned beat the pants off number 3, it’s an art I can offer to preach daily to writers to use and turn whack content to sizzling copies and attract better clients.
Here’s why
I’m a self-taught freelancer and once got lucky to bag a client offering me consistent work throughout the year.
I always did my best though doubted whether my copies used to meet her standards.
Curious, I took some articles I had written for her, copied and pasted their first paragraph on Google to confirm if they were ever posted.
My heart sunk. I was rudely shocked and felt like I wasn’t good enough when copies I found posted were improved versions of the piece I wrote for her, pure magic!
And I started envisioning going broke when she reduced the number of tasks she sent until she sent no longer sent any despite our contract being active.
Predictable, right?
Maybe she found a better substitute? Or I was in the process of moving out. I had to either go hard on freelance writing or go home.
I desperately schemed through several blogs, changing keywords, opening more tabs hoping to land on at least one gem serving as a leg up to my freelance writing career.
Through Jon’s awesome post on Problogger, Smart Blogger fished me out from the site and Shane was the first person to welcome me home with his masterpiece!
The rest is history, never looking back!
Best,
Antony
Hey, Antony. Thank you for the great comment, my friend.
Glad you enjoyed the post and found it to be so beneficial. (And, yes, tip #3 is a great one.)
Don’t write and edit at the same time, I edit my work the following morning and then resume writing again later in the day. This is to offset the uncertainty of making a mistake.
Hey, Ekin. Editing later is a good tip. In fact, it’s one of the strategies we suggest in the “how to write faster” post mentioned in tip #5 above. It works well for a lot of people.
Hello Kevin,
Thank you for sharing this post. I am a new blogger and currently writing a blog about air cargo services and with the tips that you have mentioned above, I will surely use those as my guide on my future blog. Thank you
Hi Kevin,
Thank you so much for your information about article writing. I have a blog. I hope your tips and tricks will help me a lot.
Hi,
Great tips! Writing is the core skill of every blogger and everyone needs improvement day by day. After reading this post I am so confident that my next post will give a 5-10 per cent boost to my blog. Thanks for sharing!
I enjoyed reading your article about writing tips Kevin.
I will have to humbly disagree with you on number 5 though. You do not need Plutonium for time travel.
Did you know that there is a substance on Io, one of the moons of Jupiter that can be used to open a wormhole for time travel?
Thank you for writing an interesting article on writing tips.
R.G. Ramsey
Hi Kevin,
Thanks for providing these amazing tips.
I am going straight to Henneke’s post to beat Writer’s Block.
I love permission to be funny and challenge yourself to write in a weird space.
They’re refreshing points and give me permission to be myself and not stick to the mundane “don’t distract your reader with humor” and “have your workspace, write there every day” or you’ll fail mindset.
Funny things happen when you go to weird places, so I like permission to write about them!
Thanks, Kevin.
Lyn
Hi Kevin,
It’s a wonderful piece of content.
Although I am not a writer, I am trying to practice writing every day. And I will definitely follow your instructions.
I know SEO and I have a blog also. I just want to know should I higher a writer and concentrate only on blogging strategies or I should write myself only?
Thanks
Dipanjan Biswas
Hi Kevin,
Thanks for this very extensive list of advice, tips and insights. Keep it up.
Regards,
Amna Hafeez.
I am doing really hard to writing blogs. As I read this blog I found I am doing many mistakes.
These are really unique tips for writing a good blog.
Thanks for sharing
Regards,
Kishor Sasemahal
Lots of great tips. My favorite is to BE UNIQUE! Everyone else is already taken.
Hey Kevin,
Great article, as much from the format as the content. I’ll reference that later. I just wanted to say how much I enjoyed a couple of the tips you shared in the podcast over on Biz Mavens.
I’ve heard many times that, as a beginning writer you need to find your own voice. I’ve heard many times to write like you talk. But the most interesting tip, for me at least, is the concept of Easter Eggs.
Whether in video games or Marvel movies (I’ve always been a Marvel guy), I love finding Easter eggs that refer back to the original comic books or other movies in the MCEU.
Or in video games when the developer has some obscure reference to another game they’ve developed.
That’s fun for me as a fan and therefore a great way for me to add my interests & personality to posts without trying too hard to be “funny”.
In addition to adding my own personality to the post, Easter eggs are great way to ensure I don’t sound like Jack Nicholson, Christian Slater or William Devane. 😀
Now for the structure of this post. I’m saving this post as a reference because of the structure as much as the content. Here’s why I think its ingenious:
1. Its a list post – possibly the most popular type of post far and above all others.
2. By including the additional SmartBlogger resources in the footer of each list item, you increase audience engagement and make Google very happy. Improving your ranking for the niche. Even though SmartBlogger no longer really needs that.
3. A few of the additional resources link to external blog/sites. This establishes SmartBlogger as an authority and leverages the other sites popularity and introduces SmartBlogger to their audience. Again, SmartBlogger is so huge, you really don’t need the other sites audience.
But its cool to see that SmartBlogger still uses those same techniques even as a behemoth in the blogging niche.
Thank you for wonderful tips. Really appreciate all the mentioned points. Very useful for any blogger , writers, or content strategist.
You have told in a brilliant way about how to become a successful writer. Awesome information. Thanks for sharing this post.
This list shows writing is not for everyone… 🙂 But someone like me can continue trying and learning … Thanks for sharing..
Thanks for the tips! Enjoyed reading it, I also find it useful 🙂
Hi Kevin,
Thanks for creating this helpful article! Enjoyed reading it, I also find it useful ????
Thanks Kevin for sharing this informative article. I am working on my writing and this will definitely help me that. Will work on this.
i write a lot and use a tool Grammarly to improve the grammar and also for proofreading to know if i wrote something that doesn’t make any sense.
Hey Kevin,
Amazing article.
My biggest struggle with publishing my writing is imposter syndrome. Seth Godin’s work has helped me a lot with that.
I will apply these tips to my own writing. I think these will help me gain some confidence in my writing style.
Thanks a lot!
Hi Kevin
Thank you for brilliantly providing everything I was suppose to learn in my grade school English/Language Arts classes in one awesome convenient post. I unquestionably need to review all of these 🙂
SharlaAnn
After reading this I can write a better article. Thanks
Hey Kevin
Wonderful post indeed.
One of the best ways to improve your writing skills is to write on a daily basis, you will see some improvement if you.
Thanks for this piece of information.
It was a wonderful time while going through your article and I’ve got what I was looking for
I’m so glad you chose to share this article. It’s given me a ton of great information that I need for myself, but it was just too hard trying to find everything on Google.
For beginners, this is a well-defined and quite instructive site. Thank you for sharing this information in such a straightforward yet beautiful manner.
Wish you all the best for your future endeavours. Once again, thank you for your valuable tips and ideas helping freshers like us. I will surely share this beautiful piece of article with my peers and people who actually need guidance.
Over the last few years, I’ve experienced an upgrade in my writing skill. I think I’m still around the maiden version but hell… it feels better. I’ve learnt to cut out passive voices, avoid weak words and sentences, and ultimately… I’ve found my voice (still mastering the flow). Writing with clarity makes it so much fun and meaningful. Thanks Kevin. Personally, this is a push and an eyeopener for me.
Hey Kevin,
This article is very informative. It boosted my confidence because I am a beginner in blog writing.
The tips you shared is awesome and helpful for every writer.
But I have a little problem. Whenever I start to write than my mind is stuck in between what should I write and what not.
So, please share something related to my problem. It will help me increase my writing skill.
And, thank you for this amazing piece of content.
Hi Kevin. I often have problems in crafting that perfect title for my article; should I stick to SEO or write a thought-provoking headline?
This article is very informative. It boosted my confidence because I am a beginner in blog writing.
The tips you shared is awesome and helpful for every writer.
But I have a little problem. Whenever I start to write than my mind is stuck in between what should I write and what not.
So, please share something related to my problem. It will help me increase my writing skill.
And, thank you for this amazing piece of content.
Hi Kevin,
You have put an interesting and useful list of writing tips. I will try to use a few of them.
Thanks once again
Hi Kevin, Best writing tips for beginners and Pro.
rightly said, learning SEO helps you brainstorm ton of ideas to write about.
Kudos!
Thanks for sharing the tips.
Excellent post Kevin. The tips you have mentioned are especially useful for freelance writers who want to transition into a full-time blogger. Now-a-days a writer with SEO knowledge is always preferred as brands look to get more content published with minimal editing (SEO-wise). Writing in a funny, informative style is also something that comes with practice, thanks for taking the time to write this informative post.
Hi Kevin!
Thanks for this helpful post!
I liked the “edit like crazy” and “learn seo” part.
Most of the time we generally forget to change/update older posts.
Thanks for posting such an amazing blog and the introduced content is exceptionally virtuous. will surely share with my friends.
I really didn’t see myself years ago being full-time into this today. while I’ve never had the intent on being a writer in terms of earning a living, now I see value in this today.
It’s a good thing to know that today, anyone can use a self hosted WordPPress blog and consistent writing to earn healthy streams of passive income.
I want to start a blog where I can share my thoughts with my readers, but I am not a good writer, I have a lot of ideas in my mind but I fail to transfer them to a writted articles.
Thanks, Kevin for posting such a nice blog,
I am working on my writing skills and this will definitely help me with that.
Thanks, Kevin for posting such a nice blog,
I am working on my writing skills and this will definitely help me with that.
Finding your unique voice is itself a challenge. But only those who have a passion for reading and writing can overcome this challenge.
I am a blogger not only because I want to make money but because I have had the habit of reading more and writing more since childhood.
The more I read, the more I understand, and the more I can write.
Thanks for sharing these writing tips in detail.
Really very helpful tips and information to write a good article.
I especially like ” Write Like Superman”
thanks