Very few writers excel at every aspect of our craft. If we did, we wouldn’t revere writers like Toni Morrison, Margaret Atwood, or John Updike as we do. Some of us write with lyricism and flow, some of us craft engaging, complicated plots.
While you might struggle with one element or another, the good news is that you can identify your strengths and weaknesses, and use writing exercises to beef up your craft. In an article on Writers in the Storm, Lynette Burrows suggests ways to identify your writing weak spots. “Weak doesn’t mean bad,” Burrows ays. “It simply means that skill takes more of your energy and focus to use. That part of writing is not a thing that will help you stand out from the crowd.”
The first step is to learn the basics and commit to continuous learning. There are hundreds of blogs sharing free writing advice – including this one! – so there’s no reason you can’t learn to master your craft on a budget.
Next, consider your strengths, Burrows says. What comes easiest for you? Ask a critique group or your beta readers what areas stand out. Not all of us are lucky enough to have a writing mentor, but if you do, ask them their opinion of what you do best. Burrows reminds us that our strengths energize us.
Next, find your weaknesses. What part of writing do you find most difficult? What is consistently missing from your first drafts – strong dialogue, a sense of place, story momentum? What do you readers, critique peers, or mentor say?
Finally, make a plan to improve. “Don’t try to improve in all areas at once,” Burrows says. “That’s the way of madness or career burnout and destruction.” Instead, pick one or two related skills and choose a method for learning. Buy or borrow a book on your specific topic. Choose a few favorite writing blogs and search for relevant articles. Most importantly, read the advice with your work in mind and apply it when you’re done. What you write might never end up in a finished story, but you will benefit. This is excellent homework.
Burrows also suggests that you refer to work you admire, particularly those writers who excel at your weak points. Try to figure out what the author did and how. This task doesn’t have to be a tedious high school English class chore. Pretend you’re trying to solve a puzzle and deconstruct your favorite writer’s solution.
“Your growth will be sporadic,” Burrows says. “Sometimes in great leaps and other times you measure it in inches. Challenge yourself to discover your writing strengths and weaknesses, work on improving them, and be proud that each book you write is better than the last one.”
