How do I become a great writer?
407017
start a journal, write every day.\n\nlook at college classes, I like MIT open courseware, (see below for the one on writing)
627021
write impowering things about yourself, make th person you are seem important to yourself....learn new crafts and abilities...make you care for yourself
774668
First try to think of your main character. Imagine this man, woman, child or whatever (it can also be an animal).\nOutline its main traits, or the ones you want to use in developing the plot.\nThink of a situation in the routine of that character. There can be a routine which is broken by an incident.\nGo from there. \nPay attention to how you write. Remember that people who will read your story are not IN your head, and they CANNOT read what you don't write.\nhave fun.
770772
Read a lot. This is how you develop an "ear" for what sounds right. One of the best little books for learning good writing is "Elements of Style" by Strunk and White.\n\nI notice that some people who answered your question didn't bother with capitalization and punctuation. Not a good practice for developing writing skills.
499572
There are many good creative writing programs out there.  Really, it depends on what you want to write.  \n\nSome schools are better for fiction, some for poetry, and some for nonfiction.  For instance, Ohio University in Athens, OH has a great newswriting program, U of Iowa has a strong fiction writing program, Ball State is good for poetry, and so on.  Try going to fastweb.com and creating a profile.  They will suggest programs all over the world that offer what you want.  The link is below.
773634
Read as much as you can. By reading the work of good writers, you will absorb some of their writing styles and structures. I recommend F. Scott Fitzgerald and the short stories of Alice Munro.  Get a good grammar book and do the exercises that teach how to write correct sentences. See if you can take a grammar course.
1088502
increase your vocabulary (but don't become sesquipedalian in your writing), read works of others, PRACTICE writing..a lot. After you've written many pieces and edited them, you'll improve.
766732
Develop your own essay writing strategy \n\nFocus on the essay title \n\nDo multiple drafts. \n\nDo not pad. Try to ensure that everything you include is relevant to the essay title. \n\nInclude other opinions. Show that you have considered different sides to the question by discussing points of view that contradict your own. \n\nShow what you have read. \n\nWrite simply. \n\nUse technical terms correctly. \n\nFully reference what you write. \n\nPlan to finish your essay ahead of time.
816278
Write about something that really interests you. That way you will have a lot to write about.\n\nYou could browse through the categories in Answers. Be sure to check the subcategories. This may spark some ideas.\n\nA good subject for you may be "An Ideal World."
13905
Gosh.......I answer Yahoo! questions.....what else! haha....\n\nBut seriously I do many things. I call up friends or family. I go running. I read a book and get lost in the adventure. I write......omg I just so love to write. It's amazing how you can work out your problems and solve them by writing about them and figuring out where you went wrong while figuring out how to make it all right again. Lonliness comes in many forms. Be ok being with just yourself and you'll never be lonely. Surround yourself with people you have things in common with and you'll always have a fall back. But love yourself first........its a must!
219231
These guys can help or at least point you in the right direction: www.wordtechs.com. They were lots of help to me, polished many a paper and they help with all kinds of writing. They provided me with a one-on-one writing coach that I communicated with over the phone and email. I'm really feeling good about my writing now and have some up for publishing. Also, only a few dollars and quick turn-around.\n\nGood luck!\n~Tia~
194998
any intermediate composition class at a community college or college. or just simply read a lot of books to observe the writing styles of authors. But the most important thing I'd say to do is just write about anything and everything and nothing at all on a day to day basis-it will improve your style of doing so. But be sure to brush up on grammar rules and the like you can pick up one of those grammar for dummies books at Barnes&Noble or something. So I hope that helps.
995879
First, you really need to learn how to write.
506741
As justcurious said, first just begin writing.  Get some thoughts written down.  Try to make it very personal.  Don't try to use lots of complicated words and phrases - remember that the people who have to read the essays will probably have to read hundreds of them, so you want to find a way to make yours stand out.  Your writing must be clear and to the point.  Definitely don't go over the word limit - shorter may be better.  When you start deleting and editing, make sure that every word you keep in your essay has a purpose and conveys something about your intent and need.  Have you been given a specific topic, or is it a general essay about your eligibility for aid?  That makes a difference.  Get someone who is a good writer to help you edit as it can be very difficult to edit your own writing.  Print your essay in a good clear font on good paper if you have to send a paper copy.\n\nI hope these thoughts help.
126986
Speak it as much as possible (even to the mirror), listen to it (perhaps on the net) and write a lot. To improve your writing skills, use dictionaries or internet dictionary tools like Babelfish(http://www.babelfish.com/). If possible, find someone to speak it with. You'll be very good in no time.
549621
read a lot of books written in the style you want to write in. Write short pieces at first and submit them to several publishing houses. They're always on the lookout for novel (pardon the pun) talent so don't take their criticism personally, it's constructive and you should use it to improve your style
206362
Subscribe to Writer's Digest, a monthly magazine for writers.\n\nI personally think one of the best writing sites on line that has things like this is http://www.poewar.com/ which was originally started by John Hewitt. \n\nSubscribe to Writer's Market on line or get the writer's Market book for 2006. An updated version comes out each year, but I like to subscribe on line. That's at Writersmarket.com The book has samples and articles on how but prepare and submit an article, how to write a query letter, etc.\n\nHere is another good site for writers: http://www.writersweekly.com/\n\nI subscribe to their newsletter.\n\nThere are so many sites for writers on line. My suggestion is to do a search on Journalism +"submission guidelines" to see what turns up. \n\nIf you are looking specifically for newspaper stye, do a search on newspaper +"style guidelines" and you can get information on MLA stayle and news journalism formats.\n\nGood luck.