The bad news is, and you probably already know it, that writing an essay is challenging. I sucked at writing essays myself but I got better at it over time.

This article won’t teach you how to stop putting off your assignments till the last minute while watching Netflix, as only people with superpowers can do so. However, these ten tips will definitely shed the light on how to take your writing skills to a new level. So get comfortable and enjoy!

 

1. Get Over Yourself and Start Reading 

Sounds difficult, huh? We all know the famous saying by Stephen King claiming that spending no time reading, one won’t have time (tools) for writing. But will reading a book truly help you boost your writing skills? Well, it depends on how you read and what you read. Twitter posts will unlikely get your essay writing to the next level. Still, nodding off while trying to grasp the idea behind your teacher’s recent research paper won’t help either.

What you should do is to read smart by using deep reading. This method presupposes you get fully involved in the process by interacting with content to its maximum and personalizing with it. Try to notice various structures and figures of speech that make your heart beat faster. Keep an eye at various patterns of writing that you can then imitate.

“Mimicking one’s style, you’re playing with it and trying to develop your own voice. What is more, reading is #1 priority to make your vocabulary rock, as the more you read, the more words you learn,” explains Veronica McAdams, an essay writer who creates content for top-rated essay writing companies in the U.S. and around the world.

 

1. Try Out Creative Methods 

Nobody likes staring blankly at the screen experiencing a writer's block. What if we tell you that there’s a way not only to avoid this feeling but also to improve your writing skills altogether? Don’t be mistaken that good writers have no difficulty crafting masterpieces. It takes hard work and lots of effort. However, there’s one technique that is both effective and entertaining.

Cut out small pieces of paper, write out various words on them and put them in a box. To do this exercise you’ll have to take a piece out and make a sentence with a word on it, then take the next piece and continue the story with this word. 

Keep on going as much as you can and want. This particular method will help you boost one of the essential skills needed for great essay writing — inspiration. By having to connect the words you’re given, you’ll be learning how to think outside the box and draw unexpected connections.

 

1. There Should Always Be an Outline. Always.

A 16-year old me would definitely start arguing regarding this tip. Many consider writing an outline either a waste of time, or a way of disrupting one’s creativity. Well, in fact organizing your thoughts is the best you can do to start improving your writing. We’re not all James Joyce with his Ulysses. And it’s unlikely your teacher is eager to read the stream of consciousness. That is why you need to start outlining: clarify what your introduction should look like, what you’re going to include in the main body and how you can summarise your thoughts in the conclusion. It all matters.

 

1. Write Your Introduction Last Thing

Finally, don’t start with an introduction if you want to craft a good essay. We’re all mistaken when we’re trying to create a good beginning without writing the main body. That is why it’s always so difficult to start, and you start procrastinating. How can you persuade someone that your essay is worth reading if you haven’t written it yet? However, when you’ve already organized your thoughts, presented all your ideas, you know what your paper is about. This is how you can make your introduction convincing and grab the reader’s attention.

 

Summary of Our Tips

For all those lazy bastards who have just scrolled down to see the final words without reading an article, here’s what you should do to boost your writing skills. 

• Read, analyze, underline and write out structures, patterns and words you like.
• Always do the research.
• Never write without an outline.
• Proofread and edit your paper with modern tools.
• Look at your essay from a teacher’s perspective.
• Find the weak sides of your essay.
• Search beyond the reading list.
• Write the opening paragraph last thing

 

Alan Walker is a blogger and essay writing service reviewer at stressays. Alan loves writing insightful articles and creating educational content for writers and bloggers. Apart from his huge passion for writing, he has an interest in journalism and storytelling.