Gone are the days when only a few were known for their writing skills or identified themselves as writers. In the era of social media, today everybody is a writer, blogger, or vlogger. Many individuals even lead their life by creating content on social platforms.
Of course, entertainment content doesn’t always require strong writing skills, but thoughtful posts still do. Even a podcaster has to come up with a script before recording a video.
Social media marketing has now become a subject in colleges, where students are asked to write and post regularly apart from making videos and other kinds of content. Students who once focused mainly on core subjects to build their careers are realizing now that writing, too, is an essential social skill to be harnessed.
Often, students discover their weakness in writing only when they don’t get the expected scores in Pre-University tests. Unfortunately, even that can be managed by rote memorization. Our education system doesn’t truly bother to test writing skills—it has long been considered a student’s birthright to score the bare minimum marks. Interestingly, nowadays the “bare minimum” is beyond 50%. No wonder that within a few years, every Indian state might claim 100% literacy through marks-giving tactics.
While we cannot fix the system overnight, we can certainly focus on how to develop writing skills—starting from finding a topic to preparing the final draft before posting it.
Here are some steps that help:
1. Find Your Niche
There are countless topics you can write about, but choosing a niche gives your audience clarity about what they can expect from you. Sticking to niche topics attracts more readers than writing randomly on anything.
For example, if you are a science student, you could write about “science in daily life”—like explaining why the sky is blue or how a microwave works—instead of mixing it up with random travel or food posts. The more specific your niche, the more trust you build.
2. Follow People in Your Niche
Once you finalize your niche, follow content creators who write regularly on similar themes. This gives you insight into how to choose and refine your own topics.
For example, if your niche is career guidance, following popular LinkedIn writers or education bloggers will show you what kind of posts work well and how they engage with their audience. This helps you shape your own style without blindly copying.
3. Keep Google Alerts
Set Google Alerts on your niche topics so you get notified whenever new updates appear. To avoid clutter in your main inbox, create a separate email account just for these alerts.
4. Find Your POV
News by itself is neutral—it gains meaning only when you provide your perspective. Take, for example, the recent unrest in Nepal where Gen Z protested against the government, leading to the resignation of top ministers including the Prime Minister after violence and deaths.
- One point of view could be that youth are restless and cannot survive without social media.
- Another could be the lack of balance between regulation and rights.
- Yet another could highlight the loss of livelihood for those who earn solely through social media.
The same event can be seen from multiple angles—your job as a writer is to pick yours.
5. Capture Whatever You Can
This very article is the result of one of my former students who sought my help in posting on social media. While guiding her, I thought—why not write an article on how to write an article? That’s how I captured the idea and began working on it.
6. Do Research
Once you get a rough idea, read related blogs, articles, or news. Note down the points you find useful for your article.
7. Write a Rough Draft
With your information ready, write the article in your own words, adding your perspective where needed (as mentioned in Step 4).
8. Take the Help of AI
Writing is no longer as difficult as it seems—especially once you know your topic. AI can help polish your grammar, structure sentences, and enhance clarity. But remember—don’t let AI snatch away your writing personality. Use it as a support, not a replacement.
9. Focus on Progress, Not Perfection
Your first article won’t be the most viewed, and that’s okay. There are no limits to how many posts you should write before reaching your audience. Initially, your purpose must be writing—not perfection. With consistency, progress will follow.
Writing today is not an elite skill but a survival skill. It’s a tool to express, connect, and grow. Start small, write regularly, and let your personality shine through your words—because writing is no longer optional, it’s essential.
