How to Write Better: Tips to Improve Your Writing Skills

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. wrote history’s one of the most important letters from jail.

The letter helped change the course of American history in 1963.

In 2025, we are not writing to change history, but writing well is a kind of survival skill. 

A well-written cover letter can land you a job (or cost you one)

A compelling assignment can bring clapping praises for you (or leave your hard work unnoticed.)

On the flip side, writers who master the skill earn big, with a technical writer earning an average of $88,300 a year.

“But can’t I just master prompt engineering and let ChatGPT do the heavy lifting?” 

Sure, you could. 

But what happens when you’re sitting in your principal’s office, needing to explain yourself?

Or when you’re in a job interview, expected to write on the spot? 

You can’t nail any of the impromptu situations if you don’t know how to write.

The Difference Between Good and Great Writing

Good writing: It has correct grammar, and clear structure, and gets the message across. 

Great writing: It engages emotionally, uses vivid language, and flows as naturally as a conversation with an old friend.

For example,

Good: The product works as expected.

Great: This product just made my life 10x easier.

Feel the difference?

Great writing which paints a clearer and more relatable picture.

According to recent studies, 60% of professionals admit their writing lacks persuasiveness. 

But just like any other skill (cooking, or learning a new language), great writing is a skill which can be learned.

In the coming sections, we’ll break down the step-by-step approach to writing better. 

By the end, you’ll know how to write better for creative tasks, emails, social media captions, blogs, or any business or formal writing. 

Let’s go!

How to Write Better

Step 1: Understand Your Audience and Purpose

If you have read the Harry Potter series, you’ll notice how the complexity of themes evolves throughout the series.

The first few parts are the children’s stories and then the theme transitions to complex themes of death, love, and sacrifice.

That’s how you understand your audience and write for their level. 

# 1 – Create Audience’s Persona 

Who’s the reader of your writing?

For example, if you’re writing an email about a project delay, there’ll be three types of audience.

• CEO wants the bottom line 
• The team needs specific details and the next steps
• Client wants solutions

Same information, but the approach changes for different audience types.

# 2 – Understand Reader’s Needs 

Warren Buffett writes his famous annual shareholder letters with two audiences in mind.

1. Sophisticated Investors
2. His Sister, Bertie

Some readers need the logical aspects of things while others take the decisions emotionally. 

Understand your audience’s needs by asking yourself:

• What do they need to do after reading this?
• What might confuse or concern them?
• What would make them feel understood?

Step 2: Organize Your Ideas Before Writing

It’s the “empty the closet” phase of writing.

Your brain is an overstuffed closet at this point.

You can’t organize it until you take everything out first. 

Here’s how to do it:

# 1 – Brain Dump Phase

• Set a timer (15-30 minutes)
• Write everything that comes to mind
• Ignore the red squiggly lines
• Let ideas contradict each other

The only rule is: Don’t edit. Don’t correct. Don’t judge. Just write.

# 2 – Organizing Phase

It’s time to organize your written scattered thoughts.

• Read through every word you wrote
• Look for recurring patterns
• Group related ideas together
• Identify your main argument or central point

The goal isn’t to use everything from your brain dump. Look for valuable pieces that support your main message while setting aside the rest for another time.

Step 3: Write Concisely and Clearly

In a world where TikTok has trained our brains for 15-second content bursts, clear writing is a survival.

Every word should earn its place. 

If you can’t explain why a word, sentence, or paragraph needs to be there, it probably doesn’t.

For example,

Before: “Due to the fact that our team made the decision to implement new procedures, we are currently in the process of making changes to our existing systems.” 

After: “We’re updating our systems with new procedures.”

Same meaning. Eight words instead of twenty-seven. That’s clarity.

Follow these steps…

# 1 – Change passive voice with active voice. 

How would it feel if we say “Going to the moon has been chosen by us.” 

Instead of “We choose to go to the moon,”? WEIRD.

# 2 – Break Down Complex Ideas 

• One main idea per paragraph
• Short sentences for important points
• Bullet points for lists (but only when necessary)

# 3 – Read Your Work Aloud

# 4 – Ask “Would this make sense to my grandmother?”

Step 4: Strengthen Your Sentence Structure

No one wants to read sentences that all sound the same.

That’s why ALWAYS…

# 1 – Include various sentence structures 

As David Foster Wallace says: 

“Sometimes you read a sentence. Then you read a longer one that builds upon the first, adding layers of meaning and complexity to the idea. Then, for impact: You stop.”

See what happened there? 

The varying lengths create rhythm. 

They keep readers engaged. 

They make writing memorable.

# 2 – Parallel Structure

Parallel structure is the repetition of a grammatical pattern to create balance in a sentence.

For example,

Strong: “Government of the people, by the people, for the people.”

Now imagine if he’d said: “Government of the people, that’s run by people, and it should work to benefit people.”

Same meaning. Less impact.

# 3 – Position for Power 

Where you place words matters. 

Compare these: “Eventually, the company went bankrupt due to poor management.” versus “The company went bankrupt. Poor management killed it.”

The second version puts the punch at the end. 

# 4 – Create Logical Flow 

Good sentences set up the next. 

For Example: “Practice isn’t the thing you do once you’re good. It’s the thing you do that makes you good.”

The first sentence sets up an expectation. The second flips it. Perfect flow.

Step 5: Improve Word Choice and Vocabulary

“Any word you have to hunt for in a thesaurus is the wrong word.”

This means use the simple words instead of showing off your vocabulary.

If you think that using fancy words would make you “more professional” or “more literary”, that’s wrong. 

Best writers, from George Orwell to Joan Didion, have precise, purposeful word choices. 

Step 6: Edit and Revise Like a Pro

“Write drunk, edit sober.” Ernest Hemingway once famously said.

No, he wasn’t advocating for alcohol-fueled writing sessions. 

It means letting your creativity flow freely first, then returning with a critical eye to refine your work. 

Even bestselling authors like Neil Gaiman admit their first drafts are rough.

One of the timeless technique of editing a written draft is the “24-Hour Rule” 

Save your first draft, close it, and set a calendar reminder for tomorrow.

When you return tomorrow, convert your document to a different font and size and read it in a different location than where you wrote it (move from desk to couch)

This method is extremely effective for picking your own mistakes.

Step 7: Proofread for Grammar, Spelling, and Readability

Nothing puts a writing off more than a grammar or spelling mistake.

Whether you’re a native English speaker or not, this mistake is non-negotiable for all writers. 

Implement this two-phase editing process to ensure your writing remains error-free.

• First Pass (Context Check): Notice and correct the context’s relevance. 
• Second Pass (Sound Check): Read your text aloud and look for the natural speaking patterns.

How to Write Better for Different Types of Writing

• Academic Writing: Structuring Arguments and Citing Sources

For academic writing, start with the PEEL structure for every main paragraph.

P – Make your Point

E – Provide Evidence

E – Explain its significance

L – Link back to your thesis

For example:

However, most writers face challenges in integrating the research. For this, you can use the research matrix. 

1. Create a simple spreadsheet of your sources in rows and the main idea in columns.

1. Fill each cell with relevant findings.

Follow the 80/20 rule when using sources in your writing.

80% of content = Analysis and Paraphrasing

20% of content = Direct quotes.

• Creative Writing: Developing Style and Narrative Flow

Who’s your favorite fictional character? 

It can be Tyron Lannister’s wit, Jane Eyre’s resilience, or Money Heist Professor’s cleverness. 

We develop such strong connections with fictional characters because we find them living, breathing people on paper. 

That’s exactly what you need to do with your writing. 

# 1 – Create Character Voice 

Readers don’t just want to see your characters – they want to hear them.

Ask yourself:

• What words would this character never use?
• What’s their go-to phrase when stressed?
• Do they speak in metaphors or straight facts?

For example, Jesse Pinkman from Breaking Bad has the character voice when he says “Yo” and “Science, bitch!”.

# 2 – Build Scenes

Great scenes have the right atmosphere, interesting people, and enough tension even on paper.

To create a visual imagery of the scenes, follow this 30-second Rule.

Readers should know where they are, when they are, who’s there, and what’s at stake in the beginning.

But add these details naturally. 

# 3 – The Sensory Symphony

Humans have five senses, but most writers only use one to two in their writing. 

Add at least three to four senses in the scenes.

• What does the air smell like?
• What sounds fade into background noise?
• What textures would your character notice?

# 4 – Character Development: 

Always apply the Inside Out Approach since most of the substance lies beneath the surface.

Every compelling character needs:

1. A defining fear (what keeps them up at night?)
2. A driving desire (what gets them out of bed?)
3. A contradiction (what makes them human?)

Your goal is to create memorable characters. Perfect is boring. Flawed is fascinating.

• Business Writing: Writing Emails, Reports, and Proposals Clearly

A board member has 10 minutes to review a 40-page report…

A potential client is comparing five different proposals at a time.

That’s why you need to convey your message in a way that gets the attention.

1. Follow the “3-5-7 Rule” for the emails.
   1. 3 lines per paragraph
   2. 5 bullet points (maximum)
   3. 5 words per subject line

2. Follow “Harvard Education” guidelines for executive summary writing.

3. Answer the “Why us?” question for proposal writing.
   1. Mirror client’s language
   2. Make skimming easy
   3. Show, don’t tell

• SEO and Content Writing: Writing for Online Readers

In today’s digital world, “Content is King”, but SEO is the kingdom it rules. And to dominate this kingdom, you need to master both.

If you’re a skilled SEO writer, you likely already know this. But if you’re not, don’t worry.

Everyone (including your competitors) is using AI, and you can too.

Here’s how it works:

Step # 1 – Go to AI SEO Writer and log in with your Google account. Once logged in, you’ll be asked 3-4 questions to understand your preference.

Step # 2 – Choose from the list of keywords, which the tool has suggested.

Step # 3 – Select the main title from 5-7 different options.

Step # 4 – Specify your image preference (if you want them) and desired word count for the blog post.

Step # 5 – You’ll get an outline and be asked for the external links, and preferred writing style.

Step # 6 – Click “Generate”, and your article will be ready in about 1 minute.

Here’s your 80% writing part done. The generated would be high-quality & optimized for SEO.

The final step is to humanize the content, which you can using our AI Humanizer.

Common Writing Mistakes to Avoid

To improve your writing, avoid these four writing mistakes.

# 1 – The Structure Problem

Don’t dump all the information in the opening paragraphs as this approach overwhelms the readers. 

Instead, start with a hook, then gradually reveal the details so the readers stay interested. 

# 2 – Weak Transitions and Flow

Poor transition and flow create mental speed bumps that interrupt the reading experience. 

• Avoid abrupt topic changes without context
• Add logical progression between ideas
• Don’t miss connective phrases between paragraphs

# 3 – Redundancy and Wordiness

Clear writing is concise writing. 

Don’t fall into the trap of using multiple words where one strong word would suffice.

For example, 

Before: “The tiny little mouse scurried quickly and rapidly across the wooden floor in a hurried manner.”

After: “The tiny mouse darted across the floor.”

# 4 – Overreliance on Modifiers

Strong verbs make the writing stronger. Conversely, adding adverbs and adjectives kills the excitement. 

Weak: “He walked quickly and quietly to the door.” 

Strong: “He crept to the door.”

How AI Can Help You Write Better

1. AI SEO Writer

You’ll save massive time by letting SEO Writer handle the initial weightlifting.

Instead of spending 5+ hours researching, outlining, and drafting, AI SEO Writer can generate a structured first draft in minutes. 

While you’ll still need to edit and refine the draft, the tool would eliminate 80% of the initial grunt. 

2. AI Paraphraser

AI paraphraser analyzes and reconstructs sentences and shows you different ways to express the same idea. 

It’s like having a writing coach showing you multiple ways to strengthen your prose – helping you develop stronger writing skills over time.

You learn to vary sentence length, restructure complex ideas, and write more fluidly. 

3. AI Humanizer

Instead of rigid, formulaic content, AI Humanizer helps create text that flows conversationally while staying professional. 

This is crucial for blog posts, articles, and other content where you can’t afford to get caught using the AI. 

Final Tips for Becoming a Better Writer

Just like working out, writing is also about showing up every day. 

The only way to improve is by building “Daily Habits”

Read greeting writing every day, collect words/phrases you love, and use them in your writing. 

Instead of chasing perfection, focus on small signs of progress. 

Progress # 1 – Make writing clear

Progress # 2 – Use active voices.

Progress # 3 – Develop a style

Progress # 4 – Write with speed. 

Remember: Every great writer started exactly where you are. The only difference? They kept showing up.

FAQs

Conclusion

You can’t transform into Ernest Hemingway overnight, but with consistent practice, you’ll be amazed at your progress.

The most celebrated authors also make mistakes, learn from them, and evolve into better ones.

Start with small steps: focus on clarity, embrace conciseness, and most importantly, write regularly. 

Great writing follows five simple rules.

• Clear 
• Concise
• Compelling
• Correct 
• Conversational 

Your next piece of writing begins with the first word.

So open that Google document, access Undetectable AI, and start writing. Your readers are waiting.