Reading time: About 3 minutes
Do you know how to fix writing weaknesses? Do you recognize them when they appear in your drafts? Learning to deal with weakness is an important step for any writer…
Let’s tackle your writing headaches together! Join me for a free live Q&A on April 2 at 1 p.m. Pacific and get practical solutions for your writing challenges. Spots are limited, so be sure to save your seat now. (If you can’t attend, no worries! Everyone who registers will receive a recording.) Most of the session will be devoted to your questions, with just a quick 15-minute peek at my Get It Done program — and the chance to get a discount for it.
Some writers long for an editor who magically fixes everything…or a good friend who sympathetically tells them what they can do…or a class that miraculously solves all their problems…
Some would even welcome a rejection letter as long as it told them exactly what was wrong with their writing and spelled out how to fix it.
But the most successful writers take a different approach.
They become their own avengers — not in the comic-book sense (no spandex required) — but in the sense of learning how to fix writing weaknesses.
Yes, this is a skill you can learn. And it all begins with some honest self-examination — because you can’t fix what you won’t face.
Here, for example, are some problems that typically plague writers. Ring any bells?
- overly long sentences
- weak verbs
- cluttered introductions
- overwriting
- unbelievable dialogue
- poor organization
- difficulty finishing projects
- perfectionism that stops progress
Ask yourself, “What problem keeps showing up in my writing?” And if you can’t figure it out, examine the feedback you’ve received from bosses, supervisors, editors or readers. Hint: If three different people have said the same thing, it might be time to listen.
About 20 years ago, I decided I was writing too many long sentences. So, I became a full-blown evangelist about sentence length. I ran every piece I wrote through readability statistics, and if my average sentence length was longer than 18 words, I edited mercilessly. My inner editor wore a little cape. (Note: it’s fine — wise, even — to have the occasional 40- and even 50-word sentences. It’s just the average that needs to be lower.)
Awareness is the first step in becoming your own writing avenger.
Build a targeted action plan and a simple fix-it strategy
Becoming your own avenger to fix writing weaknesses means creating specific tactics. Think of it as suiting up — but with a checklist instead of a utility belt.
If you overuse long sentences → do a sentence-length editing pass.
If you struggle with structure → outline after drafting.
If you procrastinate → schedule short, regular writing sessions. (Yes, even five minutes counts. And no, scrolling writing memes does not.)
Other strategies might include:
- Studying how published authors handle the same problem
- Using dedicated practice exercises aimed at that specific skill
- Creating personal checklists or revision passes focusing on the weakness
Consistency is far more important than intensity — small, targeted effort always beats occasional bursts. Think of it as going to the gym: a quick session three times a week beats one heroic four-hour marathon that leaves you face down on the floor.
Don’t rely on vague intentions to fix writing weaknesses. Use concrete methods and watch your skills soar through practice.
Track your progress and adjust
Keep a writing journal or log noting improvements and setbacks. The setbacks are not failures. They’re material!
Revisit your weak areas periodically. Have they improved, shifted or been replaced by new ones?
Growth is a moving target, but you can track your progress by:
- noticing fewer corrections from editors
- timing how quickly you finish drafts
- comparing older writing with newer work
Being your own avenger means taking responsibility for your growth and remembering to celebrate your incremental gains. Every improvement counts, no matter how small.
The power of self-directed improvement
The best writers aren’t those without problems — they’re the ones who actively pursue and dismantle them.
Every writer needs to fix writing weaknesses. But the difference between the struggling ones and those who improve is ownership. Nobody is coming to save your manuscript, but that’s actually good news.
When you identify your own problems and deliberately address them, you take control of your writing development.
Sure, editors, classes and books can help, but the genuine work happens when you actively solve your own writing challenges. And there’s something deeply satisfying about fixing your own stuff. It’s like finally untangling a set of Christmas lights, but with more verbs.
The most powerful writing superpower isn’t talent — it’s the willingness to notice your weaknesses and do something about them. Now go put on your (metaphorical) cape.
Something I’m loving right now…
The post you’ve just read also arrives in inboxes every Tuesday — and subscribers get something extra. Each week, I include a brief, subscriber-only bonus: a short paragraph featuring a practical tip about a tool, book, video, app or resource I’ve tested and loved. This bonus is never published on my website — only in the email. No fluff. No sales pitch. Just one smart recommendation to make your writing life easier. Subscribe to my newsletter to get next Tuesday’s love note.
*
My video podcast last week described how you can write more brilliantly. You can watch the video or read the transcript, and you can also subscribe to my YouTube channel.
*
How do you fix writing weaknesses? We can all learn from each other, so please, share your thoughts with my readers and me in the comments section, below. If you comment on today’s post (or any others) by March 31/26, I’ll put you in a draw for a digital copy of my first book, 8 1/2 Steps to Writing Faster, Better. To enter, please scroll down to the comments, directly underneath the related posts links, below. You don’t have to join Disqus to post! Read my tutorial to learn how to post as a guest. (It’s easy!)
