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What are some subjects that I could take in school/college to help me improve my writing skills?
I am a Junior, I want to be a writer, and I am wondering what subjects I could take in school/college that could help me improve on my writing skills.
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Tom’s Answer
That's a great question. My first bit of advice is one commonly given to aspiring writers: write something every day. How much should you write, and what should you write about? Let's start with the second part of that question. You should write about something that interests you. This helps you focus on writing and helps keep you motivated. At least, it does for me. The topic doesn't have to be serious, just important in some way to you.
Then comes the question: How much should you write each day? Think of writing like a muscle. When you exercise, you want to do it long enough to warm up and stress your muscles. Writing is the same way. You want to write long enough to get "warmed up" and build some writing muscle memory. I'd recommend 300 - 500 words. Sure, you could keep a journal, but I wouldn't rely on that as my main daily writing exercise.
Regarding classes you can take, see if your school offers any creative writing classes or something similar. If your school has a newspaper, get on the staff and write for it. The same holds true for college. Check with your local library to see if they offer free writing classes or seminars. My county library does this from time to time.
There is a plethora of free and paid writing courses, but I recommend waiting on those until you get some writing under your belt. One of the reasons I became a freelance writer was that I had to write a four-page monthly newsletter for my company. Our customers really liked how I wrote, saying I made complex topics easy to understand and wrote like I talked. I had never had any "formal" training beyond high school and college assignments; I just wrote about things that interested me and would be helpful to my readers.
I hope these tips help. I've added a couple of steps below that summarize my points. Good luck!
Write 300 - 500 words every day on a topic that interests you or for an assignment.
Write the way you speak. I don't know how I developed this skill, it just came about naturally.
Use the Read Aloud capability of your writing app. It helps spot awkward phrasing and mistakes.
Always supplement automatic grammar and spell checkers with the good old Mark 1 eyeball. The tools are not infallable.
Then comes the question: How much should you write each day? Think of writing like a muscle. When you exercise, you want to do it long enough to warm up and stress your muscles. Writing is the same way. You want to write long enough to get "warmed up" and build some writing muscle memory. I'd recommend 300 - 500 words. Sure, you could keep a journal, but I wouldn't rely on that as my main daily writing exercise.
Regarding classes you can take, see if your school offers any creative writing classes or something similar. If your school has a newspaper, get on the staff and write for it. The same holds true for college. Check with your local library to see if they offer free writing classes or seminars. My county library does this from time to time.
There is a plethora of free and paid writing courses, but I recommend waiting on those until you get some writing under your belt. One of the reasons I became a freelance writer was that I had to write a four-page monthly newsletter for my company. Our customers really liked how I wrote, saying I made complex topics easy to understand and wrote like I talked. I had never had any "formal" training beyond high school and college assignments; I just wrote about things that interested me and would be helpful to my readers.
I hope these tips help. I've added a couple of steps below that summarize my points. Good luck!
Tom recommends the following next steps:
Updated
Eric Scott’s Answer
I used to dream of writing music, especially rap like the hardcore legends from the '90s, such as 2Pac and Biggie. I'd spend hours in my room, coming up with rhymes that reflected my life. Writing is all about feeling. You can take classes, read books, and watch videos, but to really tell a great story, you need to focus on what you love and dive into it, no matter where it leads you.
For instance, I watched a documentary recently that I loved, and I took notes as I watched. I used those notes to write a short song that mixed real-life experiences with fiction. The show was called Long Bright River, and it highlighted the serious drug issues in Philadelphia. I took the six-part series and wrote from the heart, blending my life with elements of the story.
Improving your writing involves creativity, personal experiences, vivid imagination, and learning new words. Playing trivia games and studying history can also spark new ideas. My way of thinking might be a bit different, but it works for me. Just look at Quentin Tarantino—his wild ideas make him a genius.
For instance, I watched a documentary recently that I loved, and I took notes as I watched. I used those notes to write a short song that mixed real-life experiences with fiction. The show was called Long Bright River, and it highlighted the serious drug issues in Philadelphia. I took the six-part series and wrote from the heart, blending my life with elements of the story.
Improving your writing involves creativity, personal experiences, vivid imagination, and learning new words. Playing trivia games and studying history can also spark new ideas. My way of thinking might be a bit different, but it works for me. Just look at Quentin Tarantino—his wild ideas make him a genius.
Updated
Kari’s Answer
Depends on what you actually want to write.
For writing music or journalism articles, there are plenty of colleges that offer courses you can take on the side as well as internships that can help you on your way.
For writing fiction, however, there are very limited options. Some colleges offer Creative Writing courses but few do and even if they do, that might be the one and only course outside of your standard English courses that you can take unless you actively go looking for a college that specializes in it. When I last looked for a college that did, sadly the only one I found was in Pennsylvania. Though that was back in 2003. There may or may not be more colleges that do now, so classes for writing fiction are far and few between. Most fiction writers are self-taught... meaning they go find 'how to' books either at the local library, book store or even just online.
If you want to specialize in a specific kind of writing without shelling out a lot of cash, I suggest websites like Fivver or Skillshare to help you with that without costing you thousands of dollars.
For writing music or journalism articles, there are plenty of colleges that offer courses you can take on the side as well as internships that can help you on your way.
For writing fiction, however, there are very limited options. Some colleges offer Creative Writing courses but few do and even if they do, that might be the one and only course outside of your standard English courses that you can take unless you actively go looking for a college that specializes in it. When I last looked for a college that did, sadly the only one I found was in Pennsylvania. Though that was back in 2003. There may or may not be more colleges that do now, so classes for writing fiction are far and few between. Most fiction writers are self-taught... meaning they go find 'how to' books either at the local library, book store or even just online.
If you want to specialize in a specific kind of writing without shelling out a lot of cash, I suggest websites like Fivver or Skillshare to help you with that without costing you thousands of dollars.
Updated
Joanne’s Answer
Danny,
You are already there. School offers so many ways to communicate, especially writing.
Find ways to write as much and as often as you can. In this case, you want to support your studies, and you can also support your interests.
If you don't have a special hobby or skill, start developing a passion for something, from sports to nature, music to history.
Good writers are generally curious about a lot of things, but are also experts in something. That something is the speciality they hone and offer to the world.
Find ways to do your current assignments by researching, reading, and writing, even if you do not turn it in for grades!
Also, does your school have a newspaper, a broadcast? Contribute!
Find a writers club or book club, online or in person.
One thing I tell my students: If you want to write, write! There is nothing stopping you!
Find the outlets you trust and do so.
You are already there. School offers so many ways to communicate, especially writing.
Find ways to write as much and as often as you can. In this case, you want to support your studies, and you can also support your interests.
If you don't have a special hobby or skill, start developing a passion for something, from sports to nature, music to history.
Good writers are generally curious about a lot of things, but are also experts in something. That something is the speciality they hone and offer to the world.
Find ways to do your current assignments by researching, reading, and writing, even if you do not turn it in for grades!
Also, does your school have a newspaper, a broadcast? Contribute!
Find a writers club or book club, online or in person.
One thing I tell my students: If you want to write, write! There is nothing stopping you!
Find the outlets you trust and do so.
Updated
Rebecca’s Answer
Thank you for your question. I am glad to hear that you want to become a writer.
Below are my suggestions:
1. Read more re classic novels
2. Attend English writing communication classes
3. Start writing shirt stories. Share it with your teacher to seek comments. Write more.practise makes perfect.
4. Publish your story and articles online to seek for comment
Hope this helps! Good luck!
May Almighty God bless you!
Below are my suggestions:
1. Read more re classic novels
2. Attend English writing communication classes
3. Start writing shirt stories. Share it with your teacher to seek comments. Write more.practise makes perfect.
4. Publish your story and articles online to seek for comment
Hope this helps! Good luck!
May Almighty God bless you!
Updated
Faith’s Answer
Hello, I hope your day is going splendid! To improve your writing while you are in school, you can do these things.
1. Read because knowledge is powerful
2. Buy a modern grammar book and read and use the rules while writing to improve your skills.
3. Make the website Purdue Owl your best friend.
4 Ask fellow peers who are writers to review your work and see if improvements are needed.
1. Read because knowledge is powerful
2. Buy a modern grammar book and read and use the rules while writing to improve your skills.
3. Make the website Purdue Owl your best friend.
4 Ask fellow peers who are writers to review your work and see if improvements are needed.
Updated
jose’s Answer
I recommend taking courses where you get assignments to write reports on. That will give you the opportunity to practice your writing skills while also exposing you to topics of your interest or outside your comfort zone. Whether it's classic literature, the natural sciences, humanities or administrative classes, seek assignments where you can take chances on your writing.
the cliches have kernels of truth to them: Practice makes the master. Writing is rewriting.
the cliches have kernels of truth to them: Practice makes the master. Writing is rewriting.
Updated
Charnelle’s Answer
Hello,
Thank you for your question Reading is a good one it helped me tremendously with grammar and punctuation, and intro to English are useful. Best of luck!
-Csl
Thank you for your question Reading is a good one it helped me tremendously with grammar and punctuation, and intro to English are useful. Best of luck!
-Csl
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