Today's tips are taken from the book Grammatically Correct, which contains a lengthy analysis of how to develop your writing style. This is precisely the kind of topic where you can't apply a single formula to every writer, so obviously not all of these techniques will work for everyone, but it can't hurt to give them a try.


Focus on the whole as well as the details


When you review your writing and add a few words, always read the surrounding text to make sure everything fits nicely into that section. Often, a small change will require you to rewrite the text elsewhere. Of course, always focus on the line you are currently writing, but when you have finished the first draft, go back a few lines and reread the previous text. This way, you can spot if the new paragraph does not fit with the text you wrote earlier, if the transition is not smooth enough, or if the storyline is not logical from the reader's point of view.



It's important to reread your work from the beginning again and again to see how well the details fit together in your writing. Don't worry about technical details at this stage, and don't start formatting, as this will only distract you from the whole. When your new paragraph is ready, read it from the beginning, paying attention to whether the sentences fit together and how many times a word is repeated.


 

Put your writing aside for a while, then come back to it


After reading it through three times, you may feel that you have created a perfect piece of work that cannot be improved upon. At this point, it is worth putting it aside for a while and then reading it again from the beginning to spot any problematic sentences, illogical or forced word combinations, or basic grammatical errors. A short break will help you see your writing objectively. A day is ideal, but even a few hours will suffice.



Find a reader


Every writer benefits from receiving feedback and a second opinion on their writing, because writers tend to become too attached to their work. Since you are writing the book for others to read, it is logical that you need the reader's opinion. The person you ask to read your work does not have to be a writer; rather, choose someone who is able to read while paying attention to details beyond the story. If your critic doesn't understand your humor or finds one of your characters particularly irritating, or perhaps can't follow the story, then review your writing with this in mind and don't take offense. Obviously, a professional editor is the ideal choice, but not everyone can afford one, so you can substitute someone whose opinion you value.


Read the text aloud


Hearing the text can change your opinion of your writing as a whole. Any awkwardness, strange phrasing, or implausibility will become apparent, and the weaknesses in the text will almost burst out when read aloud. If you try one of the four, this should be the one, because it is the most useful of all.