What is the best way to write better?

Writing better isn’t about waiting for inspiration to strike, it’s about building consistent habits, refining your style, and learning from those who’ve mastered the skill.

Whether you're aiming to write emails that get responses, essays that earn top marks, or stories that stick with people, improving your writing is a learnable skill.

Here’s how to do it effectively.

1. Read widely and critically

Good writing starts with good reading. Reading different styles and genres, fiction, essays, journalism, expands your vocabulary, shows you how sentences can sing, and teaches you what works and what doesn't.

• Analyse why a passage moves you.

• Ask yourself what techniques the writer used.

• Keep a reading journal or highlight strong phrases.

  
  

📚 The National Literacy Trust shows that regular reading is linked to better writing and comprehension: National Literacy Research.

2. Focus on clarity over cleverness

Stephen King put it simply: “Any word you have to hunt for in a thesaurus is the wrong word.” Clear writing doesn’t need to be basic,  it just needs to make sense.

• Use active voice.

• Avoid unnecessary jargon.

• Keep sentences short and clean.

  
  

Plain English Campaign promotes this approach and offers guidance for writing that truly communicates: Plain English Guide.

3. Practice, revise, repeat

Writing is rewriting. First drafts are meant to be messy. Give yourself permission to write poorly, then come back and polish.

• Try freewriting exercises daily.

• Rework a short piece in three different tones.

• Read your work aloud to spot awkward phrasing.

  
  

Deidre Delpino Dykes explains this perfectly in her advice

on “sh*tty first drafts” from Bird by Bird, a go-to resource recommended by creative writing instructors worldwide:Deidre Delpino Dykes on First Drafts.

4. Imitate to innovate

Mimicry helps you find your voice. Choose a writer you admire and try rewriting a paragraph in their style. Over time, your own style will emerge.

• Rewrite news reports like a thriller.

• Rework dull content as dialogue.

• Try short stories in different tones.

  
  

University of Reading’s Academic Writing Guide supports this practice in early writing development: UoR Writing Resources.

5. Get feedback and learn from edits

It’s impossible to improve in isolation. Feedback, even when it stings, is where growth happens.

• Ask a friend to highlight unclear sentences.

• Join a writing group or workshop.

• Use editing software but don’t rely solely on it.

  
  

The Society for Editors and Proofreaders (CIEP) explains how feedback and editing are vital to honing any professional writing: CIEP Guidance.

Real-life example from LetterLab

A recent client asked us to help rework their job application letter. It started wordy and vague. By applying these five steps, especially focusing on clarity and tone, we helped them produce a sharp, confident letter that landed them two interviews in one week.

Conclusion

If you're wondering what is the best way to write better?, start small. Read with intention, write regularly, cut the fluff, seek feedback, and repeat. It’s not about being perfect, it’s about being clear, real, and relentless.

Need help elevating your writing? Whether it's a job letter, a personal apology, or a strong complaint, LetterLab offers a professional letter writing service tailored to your tone, purpose and voice.

Start your journey to better writing here: www.letterwritingservice.co.uk