I’m currently on a short staycation with my two girls. I think it’s entirely necessary. We get so busy sometimes that we forget that life is ultimately about creating precious moments. That reminded me: as writers, we are essentially inviting readers to spend valuable moments with us. As people peruse our words, they’re investing. Give them a reason to invest their time. Make them feel, respond, and react. Give them something worthwhile, something valuable. Here’s how you can improve your writing style to engage: 1. Put yourself in the POV of your audience. How would you react after seeing what you’ve written? Stay objective (don’t give yourself extra points just because you wrote it!). 2. Read. Keep reading. Make reading a habitual thing that’s second nature like blinking. Spend at least 25-30 minutes reading everyday. And try reading various things in diverse written styles. So we’re talking about periodicals, lifestyle magazines, advertisements, and labels even. The more you read, the easier it feels to express yourself. 3. Watch interview videos of authors or read their forewords. These reveal a great deal about the creative process. It’s a great way to discover your uniquely artistic style or refine what you already know. 4. Engage in free flow writing. It’s like executing brushstrokes in auto-pilot mode. During these exercise, you write whatever comes to mind and let them flow. There are no rules for this exercise. Nada. And try to do this twice a day - once after your morning coffee (or any preferred beverage first thing in the day) and another right before bed. Free flow writing encourages thought and creative faculties, and since the mind is like a muscle, the more you exercise it, the stronger it gets. Through free flow writing exercises, I’ve noticed more fluid expressions, organised content, and staving away the dreaded lethologica (the failure of retrieving the right word in your mind when you need it)/ writer’s block. That’s all for now fellow writers. I’m heading back to my staycation, and I wish these 4 tips help you shape memorable moments for your readers!