Source – http://www.forbesblogs.com/2018/01/16/improve-creative-writing-skills/
Most college students are active on social media. It doesn’t matter where you are in this world or what race you are; social media sites can assist in improving your writing skills.
It’s especially true if you text, tweet or post frequently. That’s because social media allows you to express yourself creatively, thereby, enabling you to have a strong understanding of how the English language works. Before, text talk didn’t have a place in a smart girl lingo. However, in a new study, researchers found that the use of social media can actually enhance your ability to read and write coherently.
The study also showed that the use of shorthand on social media doesn’t affect communication development of teens. In fact, those who frequently text or tweet were considered as better writers.
1) Engage with the language
The act of writing can do wonders to your communication skills, regardless of the platform you’re using. A study confirmed that those who avoided the Internet also prevented themselves from having the opportunity to engage with the language in an outside classroom setting.
But how can social media train you in improving your writing skills?
2) Express yourself succinctly
To develop your writing skills, you need to learn to express yourself concisely. Because there are limitations on characters, it allows you to be creative enough so you can express yourself in 140 characters or less. When you do express yourself, make sure that you don’t dance around the topic as your audience will only ignore you.
3) Hone editing skills
One of the best things about posting on social media is that your friends can quickly point out your mistakes. For example, if you committed a tragic spelling mistake, it could go viral.
That’s why it’s vital that you edit your post, choose the right words carefully and proofread it to find any spelling mistakes so you can correct them.
Those who are active on, say, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram are aware of the nuances that some phrases have. Thus, these platforms can train you to be careful with the words you choose, how you use them, and their spelling.
4) Develop a style
Writers have an individual voice. But it takes practice to hone it. As you frequently communicate with social media, you’ll slowly develop a form of expression.
Writing some tweets can be a good start, and it can gradually help you write well-structured essays or posts. If you have the habit of expressing yourself online, then you’ve already developed a style or voice. You just need to hone it a bit further.
5) Learn from the experts
You can follow authors on social media. And if you wish to attract their attention, write a meaningful comment on their post. You need to connect with them first before they can connect with you.
Keep in mind that at first, they don’t have any clue that you exist. When you start communicating with them by sharing their posts, commenting on their updates, etc., they’ll have an idea of who you are. Now, if you send them a shout out, they might respond.
6) Builds confidence
When you frequently write on social media, you develop your own voice. As you write authoritatively about a particular topic that you’re passionate about, you’re building confidence.
A boost in confidence can make a difference in your writing skills.
7) Learn how to write for an audience
In social media, you need to know your audience so that your post will reach them. And as you write for your audience, you’ll put more thought into what words and subject to choose. If you continue to write for your audience, you’ll be adept at writing online with readers and peers.
8) Avoid cutting characters
Writing for social media may require you to cut some characters to shorten your post. But avoid it as much as you can. Use your creativity on how to write something that doesn’t require cutting characters but the gist is still there.
9) Be conscious of your grammar
Since you’ll receive instant feedback from your followers, you need to ensure that what you post is free of any grammatical errors. You may think that social media is less formal. However, your grammar must always be impeccable. Before you post it, make sure to edit and proofread it. It’s especially true if you’re writing for your brand.
Taking the time to edit it before publishing your post means that you truly care about your followers’ experience. Social media has a positive effect on your writing skills as shown above. On social media, you can get creative with the language. In other words, you have a good understanding of how it works.
So, every time someone criticizes you because of your spelling mistakes or grammatical errors on social media, don’t let it stop or reduce your writing interest. The more you write the more chances you’ll turn into a better writer.
