If you’re an EAL author, you know that writing is a skill that needs to be constantly practised and improved. The good news is that there are many ways to do this, and we will discuss some tips that will help you improve your writing skills in this guide. We’ll also talk about how to find support and feedback as you continue on your writing journey.
Read, Read, Read
As many language experts will tell you, one of the best ways to improve your language skills is to read as much as possible in that language. This exposes you to a wide range of vocabulary and different grammar structures, which will help you to better understand the language. It’s also a great way to pick up new writing techniques and styles.
When reading, don’t just allow the words to pass over you without understanding them. Try to take an active role in engaging with the text; stop and think about what certain words or phrases mean, and look up any that you don’t recognise.
Ask Friends and Family
If you have friends or family that are native English speakers, ask them to help you with your writing. They can proofread your work for any errors, and give you feedback on how to improve it. Often, people find it easier to ask loved ones for help than strangers, so this could be a good option for you.
Use a Professional Proofreading Service
On the other hand, some are embarrassed or nervous about asking for help from those they know. In this case, you could use a professional proofreading and editing service. Thankfully, you’ll find many great English language proofreading services in Australia. After discussing your project with them, they will look over your work, suggest potential improvements, and help you get your writing to a high standard.
Practice
Although it sounds obvious, practising your English writing skills is essential if you want to improve. By taking the time to write regularly, you’ll be able to see your progress and identify any areas you need to work on. There are many ways you can practice your writing, such as:
- Keeping a journal in English
- Writing short stories
- Completing online exercises
- Blogging
If you’re struggling to get started, try prompts or inspiration from various websites. Rather than just writing as an author, write in everyday life too (you could even do your shopping lists in English!).
Take a Course
As such a diverse country, Australia offers many different courses which can help you to improve your English writing skills. If you’re not already enrolled in a course, there are plenty of online and face-to-face options available.
Courses will often touch on different aspects of writing, such as:
- Grammar
- Punctuation
- Syntax
- Creative Writing
- Composition
As well as improving your English, you will also improve your writing skills whether you want to write a non-fiction book on the history of the velociraptor or a fictional story about a boy who encounters friendly bears on a walk in the woods.
Try Different Learning Methods
In the world, everybody learns differently. Some are auditory learners and need to hear things to learn them; others are visual learners and need to see things. Elsewhere, another group of people are kinesthetic learners and need to touch or experience things.
The good news is that there are a ton of different ways that you can learn how to improve your writing as an EAL author, and you can tailor your learning methods to match how you learn best. If you’re an auditory learner, try attending a writers’ workshop or finding a writing group where you can read your work aloud and get feedback from other writers.
Good luck!
