How to become a better writer

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When asked how to get better at writing short stories, Ray Bradbury said, “Write one story a week”.

Write 52 stories a year and how could you not improve?

The same is true for writing anything– emails, articles, scripts for videos or podcasts, motions, final arguments, or appeals.

The more you do it, the better you get.

Just like any skill.

You’re a better lawyer today than you were the day you started because you’ve had a lot of (ahem) practice.

One reason I write every day is because I want to get better at it. That’s Bradbury’s advice and mine, too.

At first, you may not be good at it. Do it anyway.

Don’t show it to anyone if you don’t have to, but keep writing. Focus on quantity, not quality.

Quantity will lead to quality.

But I’ll let you in on a little secret.

When you show your writing to people, when you publish it on a blog or send it to newsletter subscribers, when you stand up in front of a judge or jury and flap your gums. . .

. . .you get better faster.

If you want to get better at writing, keep doing it. If you want to get better, faster, do it publicly.

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