5 Writing Strengths to Develop and 5 Weaknesses to Overcome

If you are just starting out as a writer, it is important that you know what skills to develop and which habits to overcome. Remember that being a writer is a big endeavor, and if you want to do well, you will need to be the best version of yourself you can be.

Here are five writing strengths to develop and five weaknesses that you should overcome.

Writing Strengths to Develop

1. A vast vocabularly

When it comes to developing your skills as a writer, it is important that you have a vast vocabulary. Remember that your words are like weapons. The more words you know, the better your writing will be. Take the time to learn a new word every day, and try to use it in your content. This will enable you to enhance your arsenal of words, and create even better content.

2. Determination

Aside from having good writing skills, it is also important that you have the determination to push through with your writing dreams. Remember that there are a lot of other writers out there and they too want to make an impact with their writing careers. If your approach to writing is half-hearted, you will not last long. Remember that the writing journey is not smooth sailing. You will face many challenges that will test your abilities and resolve. By developing your willpower, you will be able to power through any obstacle that comes your way.

3. Competent writing skills

It is imperative that you develop competent writing skills. Remember that you will be showing off your work to the world. If your work is lacking in any way, you will not only suffer backlash from readers; your overall reputation as a competent writer will decrease. As a rule, you should master at least the basics of writing and develop your own writing style before you start your writing career.

4. A love of reading

If you want to be a great writer, it is important that you develop a love of reading. Remember that you will be expected to write great content. If you are not a wide reader, you won’t have any kind of inspiration to draw from. A well-read individual is an intelligent one. Take the time to read new content every day. This could be a book, an article, or even a poem. What’s important is that you take in new content every day.

5. Humility

While you should be competent in your skills as a writer, this does not mean that you develop an ego. Remember that there is a difference between confidence, and just sheer arrogance. As you go on your writing journey, you should be open to any sort of criticism. If any of your work does get negative reviews, take it as a part of the job and a way to improve yourself as a writer.

Weaknesses to overcome

1. Laziness

When it comes to being a great writer, one of the biggest pitfalls is laziness. There are many mediocre writers out there who could have been great. However, they were just too lazy to push themselves hard enough. Remember, you could be talented, but if you don’t push yourself, you will not reach your full potential.

2. Procrastination

Aside from laziness, yet another pitfall is procrastination. This is the act of putting off your work, and doing something else in the process. This is a very tricky weakness to overcome, because you could be deluding yourself, and keep telling yourself that you are doing your work. As a rule, you should make sure that you have a set schedule for your writings sessions, and stick to it. This will ensure that you stay productive each and every day.

3. Lack of self-confidence

If you want to achieve great things as a writer, it is important that you are confident in your skills. Remember that you will show your work to a multitude of people, and this takes a good deal of confidence to do. If your confidence is low, a negative remark could destroy you. Developing your self-confidence could be a bit tricky. However, you could still do it. What’s important is that you work at it every day. Try to experience new things as a writer. Join writing classes, and join an online writing community. Try to meet with fellow writers, and exchange ideas with them. By pushing yourself to try new things, you will be able to develop your self-confidence in the long run.

4. Carelessness

As you write, there will be times when you have a lot of work on hand. You will have to finish writing chapters for a manuscript or write an article for your blog. During these times, there is a big chance that you will make mistakes. This is especially true if you are a careless individual. As a rule, you should make sure that you double check every aspect of your work. Take the time to read your work before you send it in. Look for any misspelled words or clunky grammar. You could also read your work aloud. This will make spotting awkward wordplay a lot easier.

5. Dragging pace in your writing

If there is one thing readers hate, it is a dragging narrative. Whether you are writing a novel or an article for your blog, you will need to make your writing as immersive as possible. A dragging pace in writing is frustrating for readers because it drags out the content and does not get to the heart of the matter. Readers don’t want to read through entire paragraphs of fluff just to get to the point. Minimize your wordplay. Be economical with your words and get to the heart of the matter as soon as possible.

Conclusion

If you want to develop fully as a writer, it is important that you know which strengths to develop and which weaknesses to overcome. With this article, you’ll be able to become a truly great writer in your own right.