In the world of public relations, writing is everything. It makes or breaks your career. Everyone’s trying to up their writing game, but how do you become a better writer when it doesn’t happen overnight? 

Whether you grew up writing short stories for a parent or are just now dusting off the writing skills that have been on the shelf since high school, becoming a better writer is essential to becoming a better communicator and public relations expert.

Here are some references and useful tips for becoming a better writer. 

Get a copywriting internship

One of the best ways to get better at writing is to practice, practice, practice. If you want to stretch yourself as a writer, consider applying for a copy internship. In this internship, you’ll write daily and have the opportunity to be critiqued and gain valuable skills that you wouldn’t otherwise have. To apply to the writing internship around you, check out Indeed, Glassdoor, or Zippia. 

Go to a writing workshop

Writing workshops are another great way to quickly better your skills. If you’re looking to deepen your writing voice and speedily make your way to publication-ready, writing workshops are an easy go-to. Writing workshops are available both online and in-person, and the feedback gained by working with a group can be immensely helpful. 

Volunteer at a non-profit 

Another way to get in the hours of practice for writing is to start working for a non-profit organization, helping them out with any writing, press releases, or anything else they may need. This is a great way to not only help out a worthy cause but also grow your skills by putting your skills to good use. 

Listen to writing podcasts

Listening to podcasts about writing is an easy way for young professionals to grow their writing skills. It’s a busy world out there, so listening to podcasts while cleaning, doing laundry, driving, or doing errands is a great way to gain knowledge while not sacrificing time to the cause. 

Write in your journal

Journaling is another great way to hone in on your writing. Even just journaling about the daily activities has been proven to explore new ideas and breakthrough writer’s block. This kind of writing is also great because it can help you practice your skills without the pressure of trying to write a formal piece. 

Journaling is a great way to naturally become a better writer.

Buy the “Elements of Style”

If you haven’t heard of it yet, Elements of Style by Strunk and White should be added to your apartment or dorm bookshelf. This book, along with the AP writing style guide, is essential for anyone going into public relations and the communication world. Whether you working on a paper for class or a press release, this book is an all-around good go-to. 

Read a book

Reading exposes you to a variety of different writing styles and can help you improve your vocabulary. This pastime is great for a cold day spent inside with a cup of coffee. It also improves your thinking and writing skills. Not only will you learn something new, but you will also expand your vocabulary. 

Get Grammarly 

There is nothing wrong with using a grammar helper, especially when you are working on your writing skills. As you are already improving after following the other tips, using Grammarly or other chrome extensions is a great way to catch spelling mistakes, grammar errors, and poor word choices as you practice. 

Just begin!

That’s it! With these helpful tips under your belt, you are well on your way to becoming a better writer and eventually, a better thought leader. Now that you have done the hard work to listen, learn, and observe, it is time to put your skills to the test and start writing. The only way to improve is through practice.

Lastly, remember, when you have fun writing, the audience is more likely to have fun reading your work, so enjoy the process! 

About Lara Tanner: Lara is an Account Associate Intern for Swyft, which is a tech PR firm in Austin and Houston and a top digital marketing and PR agency in Denver since its founding in 2011. Swyft also has a small satellite office where it offers tech PR in San Francisco. Swyft has been listed as one of the top tech PR agencies in Texas for two years running by the B2B services review site, Clutch.co.