Every day, we use our founder, Gordon Dorrance’s pioneering spirit to empower and inspire everyone “with a book in them” to make their publishing dreams a reality. That’s why we try to regularly provide you with helpful writing tips and advice – to help you more easily arrive at that final sentence.

Sometimes, we get so lost in chasing our dreams that we forget about the basics of writing. That’s why today, we want to go back to basics and offer you five tips on how to improve your writing skills.

To become a better writer, you first have to become a better reader. Once you’ve decided on what type of story you’re going to write, it’s time to do your homework. Read as many books of that genre as you can find, and soak up as much knowledge as possible before you embark on your journey.

• Write like you have a deadline. Sometimes all we need is some motivation to add fuel to our fire. One way to focus on your writing is to act as if you have a set-in-stone deadline that can’t be extended. This will help motivate you to concentrate on your writing. Remember that diamonds are created under pressure – apply that same notion to your book!
• Be diligent about punctuation. This tip applies especially to your use of commas and periods. These two punctuation marks in particular are the gatekeepers to the flow of your ideas. If used incorrectly, the power of your message could be confused.
• Write as much as possible. Make it a habit to write every day – the more you write, the more you will improve your skills. Remember the saying, “practice makes perfect?” Well, this goes for your writing, too. Writing is a skill just like any sport, and it takes practice to improve.
• Write simply and avoid wordiness. Some of the most powerful statements in literature are the simplest. Avoid adding fillers and redundant sentences. It’s true that in some cases, less is more.

If you’re still looking for help on the writing front, our Dorrance ghostwriters are at your service!

Do you have any advice that you’d like to share? If so, we’d love to hear! Simply use #DorranceWritingTips and share your thoughts with us on our Facebook page.