A person who has advanced writing skills in English will always have a job. Companies of all kinds will constantly seek your services, and you will even have the ability to conceptualize and publicize your own projects in order to grow them.
If writing is one of the most in-demand skills in the digital age, even with the development of artificial intelligence, how much more opportunities will there be for those who write in English!
Of course, the real challenge is to learn to write well, and for a non-native English speaker, that doesn’t seem to be easy: first you have to learn the language correctly, and then figure out how to write well.
But how can advanced English writing skills be obtained?
There is no magic method. The only possible way to learn to write really well is to read, read a lot. So it is no coincidence that Stephen King’s phrase that appears in his book “As I write”:
“If you don’t have time to read, you won’t have the time or the tools to write.”
That is a reality that all good writers of all languages know. However, it must also be said that, although reading represents the major part of the path to writing, it must also be complemented by other things:
- Grammatical knowledge.
- Vocabulary
- Spelling
- Practice (seriously, lots of practice)
When Jack Londonreturned to the United States after working as a merchant seaman for years around the world, he wanted to be a writer because he was convinced he had so many stories to tell. However, he realized that he could not be one because he “lacked words in his mind,” so he set about studying at the academic level.
Eventually, he dropped out of school disappointed by the rigors of college, but it was on campus where he learned the law, where he recognized the possibilities that English truly afforded him, and where he was introduced to the books he needed to read to write well….
Books for advanced English writing skills
If you already have a level of English that allows you to read fluently in the language, we recommend that you pick up some of the following books and sit down to enjoy them.
However, it is important that your reading be observant and unhurried. Notice where each comma goes, where the periods go, how long the paragraphs are… which words are capitalized… English books are full of surprises, so read carefully.
Animal Farm – George Orwell
It is an easy to read and powerful book that warns about the dangers of totalitarianism. Reading it in English should not be a problem for someone with a B-2 level, although it is always important to have a good dictionary just in case.
How to be a Woman – Caitlin Moran
This is a great book for women who want to learn American slang and get into the “fight against the patriarchy” in a fun and biting way. Anyway, it’s not another feminist manifesto, so you’ll enjoy it.
Treasure Island – Robert Louis Stevenson
This classic pirate adventure is perfect for learning to write in English because of the breadth of vocabulary and the simplicity of its pages. Get ready for an unforgettable odyssey!
40 Rules of Love – Elif Şafak
This is a novel that you will be able to understand even as a beginner, and that will capture your attention from beginning to end.
Pride & Prejudice – Jane Austen
Yes, the language has changed a lot since 1813 (the year this book was published). But if you are already at an advanced level of English, this is the reading that will allow you to develop your own style based on the breadth of English possibilities. It is also a beautiful story, an unforgettable classic.
Where to get advanced writing skills in English
You already know which books to start with, but now you need the practice and direction to learn how to write correctly. Well, you’ll have all that with Lingua Language Center’s programs.
Our language school has two classes ideal for those who want to learn how to write in English seriously:
One of the programs is Advanced English Writing Skills, which will help you learn all the spelling and grammar rules, and the best ways to express ideas efficiently.
The other program is called English Literature and Composition, and it is the one that will help you develop your own style, a style that will amaze those who read you.
At Lingua Language Center, we cover all areas of English language learning. We don’t miss a thing, and you can come study with us in Florida, or even do it online from anywhere in the world.We write!