Let’s be real: writing is hard. While there may be few courses on the art of writing or how to write correctly, good writing remains a hard-to-achieve craft. Writing is often seen as a generalized skill but correct and engaging writing is a rare find. Especially in the age of single-tone AI content, making your writing stand out is pivotal to success.
With increased digitization and tools for mass content production, the number of blogs and articles has multiplied. The quantity of content makes gaining an audience harder, with the competition being both real and artificial intelligence. For beginner writers, understanding how to write correctly can be hard. From proper grammar and punctuation to finding your genre and publishing rules, it’s a complicated field.
Self-publishing on columns or blogging can be a good way for writers to develop their skills and consistently refresh their work. Especially when starting out, getting on high-authority or crowded platforms can be trying. So finding niche and beginner-friendly blogging sites such as HerConversation can be the best accelerator for your skill development.
This article covers some key things to keep in mind for writers who want to understand how to correct writing and refine their pieces before sending them out on the internet.
Checklist for Bloggers Before Hitting Publish
Be Unique
Research is a writer’s best friend. Read as many articles on your theme as you can. Look at the data and then list down your key points. While going through other articles on the topic, try to find a ‘research gap.’ Ensure you are adding value by addressing information or a perspective on the theme that has not been covered before.
Being unique can mean presenting new insights with empirical evidence but it can also mean adding subjectivity. Add stories of lived experiences to connect with the audience and/or give them proof of work. This can mean case studies for businesses or quotes and stories from community members when talking about social issues.Proofread
Once you have written your initial draft, check for proper grammar and punctuation. You can use tools such as Grammarly and QuillBot to spellcheck, look for missing commas, or wrong use of apostrophes.
Proper grammar and punctuation mean that your writing is readable, improves quality, and prevents road bumps for the reader. By proofreading and correcting common mistakes in your writing, you can ensure that small errors don’t impact your credibility.Zoom out and edit
Next, give your piece a rest. Take a break of a few hours or a day to allow yourself to look at your writing from a fresh perspective. Then, zoom out from looking at the small grammar and punctuation. Correct your writing from a reader's perspective. Look for structural consistency in lists and headings. Avoid redundancies or repetitions in word choice or ideas. Ensure the tone of your writing for a first-time reader is consistent and intended.
Looking for both structural and grammatical correctness is key to a good blog. Hemingway is a good tool that helps writers improve their readability and dissect problem areas.Tie up the ends
While correcting your writing for structural integrity, look at each section. Read them to ensure you answer all questions that a reader may have and don’t repeat arguments. This means justifying any statement you make with adequate reasons. Avoid making generalized statements and ensure coherence between the title, introduction, and body. If you promise the reader something, make sure you deliver it by the end of the blog.Accuracy
As you approach the end line, recheck all your facts. Make sure you are taking data and statistics from credible sources which have backing evidence. Link to all relevant studies or external sources to help continue the learning for readers.
Following these five steps can help you streamline your writing and editing process. Not only does this help correct your writing but also write quality content that is informative and engaging.
More than technicalities, writing is about creating a bridge between the one who holds the pen and the reader. Your aim as a writer should hence always be to get your point across with clarity and conviction. Ensuring you tie up your message and remain consistent in your style can help build that writer-reader connection more easily. After correcting your work yourself, getting a second opinion from a friend or mentor is another good way to ensure your writing makes sense from a reader’s perspective.
Start your blogging journey today and pick a theme you connect with. This helps you write with passion and also remain consistent in creating new content. Tell your story and share your unique narrative. As Toni Morrison said, “If there's a book that you want to read, but it hasn't been written yet, then you must write it.”
Your words have power, and your thoughts fuel them. Write one line each day till you get where you want to be. You can do this!
