Becoming a better writer isn’t just about mastering grammar, punctuation, or vocabulary—it’s also about developing the right attitude, habits, and interpersonal skills. Whether you’re an academic working to publish your groundbreaking research or a non-academic writing a blog post, soft skills play a crucial role in your success.
Soft skills are personal and cognitive abilities that influence how you think, work, and communicate. In writing, these skills help you critically analyse your ideas, express them clearly, adapt to different audiences, and persevere through revisions and feedback. Without these skills, even the most technically proficient writers may find it difficult to make their writing meaningful and impactful.
This article takes a look at the essential soft skills for writers of all backgrounds working on academic and non-academic projects and offers actionable, daily exercises to strengthen them.
- Critical thinking
- Clarity and conciseness
- Adaptability
- Time management and discipline
- Resilience and handling feedback
- Creativity and original thinking
- Empathy and emotional intelligence
- Communication and collaboration
1. Critical thinking
Writing is more than just putting words on a page. It’s about constructing well-reasoned arguments, analysing data, and presenting ideas clearly. Critical thinking is the foundation of good writing because it allows you to evaluate sources, avoid logical errors, and engage deeply with complex topics and make them understandable to both yourself and the reader.
While academic writers rely on critical thinking to conduct rigorous research and present evidence-based arguments, non-academic writers use it to write compelling stories and connect with their audience on an emotional level.
How to develop it
Read widely and critically
When researching for your own writing, you should not only collect sources, but also analyse them. Ask yourself: What is the writer’s main argument? What assumptions are being made? How does this source fit into my own argument? This way, you can actively engage with the ideas instead of just summarising them.
Challenge your assumptions
Before you write the first draft, write down what you believe about the topic. When researching, keep an open mind, and impartially seek out sources that contradict your views. If necessary, adjust your arguments based on these findings to make them more balanced and evidence-based.
Engage in discussions
Instead of working in isolation, consider discussing your ideas with colleagues, in writing groups, or in online forums. By verbalising your thoughts, you can identify areas for improvement in your argument and clarify your position before you put it in writing.
Write with purpose
When drafting your piece, pause after each section and check whether the argument has a logical flow and whether there are any gaps in your reasoning. Revising your text as you write, rather than waiting until it’s finished, will not only save you time and energy, but will also help you develop sharper arguments.
Edit with a critical eye
When revising, be your own toughest critic of your writing—not of yourself, of course, as that can negatively impact your self-esteem and self-confidence as a writer. Ask yourself: How would I challenge this argument if I disagreed with it? Then, use your answer to preemptively address those objections and strengthen your piece.
See also: How editing with InstaText improves both your writing and cognitive skills
2. Clarity and conciseness
Clear and concise writing is a soft skill because it’s not just about knowing grammar rules and vocabulary, it’s also about deciding what information is essential and how to convey it efficiently.
Academic writers need clarity and conciseness to effectively present complex research findings, while non-academic writers can benefit from this to ensure their ideas are written in an easily digestible and engaging way.
How to develop it
Summarise complex ideas
After reading a dense article or a section of your own writing, challenge yourself to summarise the core message in a single clear sentence. This forces you to focus on the essentials and leave out unnecessary details.
For example, if you are explaining a complex research theory, you should rephrase and summarise it in a way that someone outside our field can understand, rather than using long-winded explanations full of jargon.
Cut word count by 30%
Take a paragraph you have written and shorten it by 30% without losing the meaning. This may seem difficult or impossible at times, but the more you practice, the more you realise that you can always convey a message with fewer words. This sharpens your ability to recognise unnecessary words and refine your text.
For example, consider this sentence: “Due to the fact that the experiment was unsuccessful, we decided to conduct it again.” A more concise version would be: “Since the experiment failed, we repeated it.”
Use active voice
The passive voice, if used unnecessarily, can make the text vague and confusing. If you switch to the active voice, your sentences will be more direct and impactful and your text clearer.
For instance, instead of “The results were analysed by the team,” write “The team analysed the results.”
Seek feedback for clarity
Asking for feedback may sometimes feel like a waste of time and energy, but it’s worth it. Ask a colleague, friend, or someone outside your field to read your work and evaluate it for clarity and conciseness. If they have trouble understanding certain parts, revise them to make your message clearer.
3. Adaptability
Adaptability in writing is a soft skill because it requires awareness, flexibility and sensitivity to the audience, not just technical knowledge. A good writer adapts tone, structure, and complexity to the reader’s expectations. Academic texts are formal and evidence-based, while blog posts are conversational. If you are able to switch between styles when needed, your work will be more effective and accessible.
This skill requires the ability to put yourself in the reader’s shoes—to step out of your own perspective and assess whether your text is clear, engaging, and suitable for your audience. Without this skill, even well-researched content can miss the mark.
How to develop it
Adjust your tone and style as you write
Identify your audience before writing and adjust your tone accordingly. When revising, constantly check whether your language is too informal or too technical for your target audience.
For example, if you’re writing a scientific paper, you should avoid casual phrases like “a bunch of studies show” and use “several studies indicate.” If you’re writing a blog post, a more colloquial tone like “Here’s what the research says” might be more appropriate.
Look for real-world examples in different writing styles
If you pay close attention while consuming content or researching before writing, you can develop the skill of adaptability. Compare how the same topic is presented in an academic paper, a blog post, and a news article. Notice the differences in tone, structure, and vocabulary and apply these insights to your writing.
4. Time management and discipline
Writing requires consistency, not just bursts of inspiration. You can never wait for the “perfect moment” to produce quality work. Otherwise, you’ll never get anything done. This attitude can lead to frustration, rushed work, and missed deadlines. To counteract this, you need to develop strong disciplines that can help you make steady progress and reduce last-minute stress.
How to develop it
Set daily writing goals
When you start a new project, aim for a certain number of words (e.g. 300 words per day) or a set amount of time (e.g. 30 minutes). Alternatively, you can set yourself process-based goals, e.g. revise two sections, restructure a paragraph, or refine your argument.
Use the Pomodoro Technique
With the Pomodoro Technique, you work in concentrated 25-minute writing sessions with short breaks in between. When you’re working on a draft, use these sessions to write without overthinking. If you’re revising, use them to focus on specific tasks such as tightening sentences, improving clarity, or fact-checking.
Create a writing schedule
Block out dedicated writing time in your calendar and treat it like a non-negotiable appointment. If you’re working on a long-term project, schedule different types of tasks throughout the week. For example, research on Monday, draft on Tuesday, and edit on Wednesday. This way you can keep the momentum going without feeling overwhelmed.
Track your progress
Use apps like Notion, Scrivener, or a simple spreadsheet to log your writing streaks and milestones. Tracking your progress helps you stay motivated, recognise patterns in your productivity, and hold yourself accountable. By regularly reviewing your progress, you can identify areas for improvement, celebrate small wins, and adjust your writing routine to keep yourself on track.
Break large projects into smaller tasks
If you are starting, divide your work into manageable steps such as research, outlining, drafting, and editing. If you are already writing, break the work down further into tasks such as refining the introduction, improving the transitions between paragraphs, or deleting redundant sentences. If you consistently complete small tasks, you will make steady progress toward meeting your long-term goals.
See also: Why you should draft, edit, and proofread separately
5. Resilience and handling feedback
Criticism and rejection are unavoidable when writing. Whether you’re submitting an academic paper or working on publishing a blog post, receiving feedback can be a challenge. Resilient writers embrace feedback and learn from it, revising and improving their work rather than getting discouraged. Strengthening this skill ensures that setbacks don’t derail your progress and that each revision brings you closer to your ideal final content.
How to develop it
Actively seek feedback
When you start a new project, share early drafts with editors, mentors, or peers to get constructive criticism before you invest too much time. When you’re in the middle of a project, ask specific questions about potential problem areas, such as the strength of your argument, clarity, or how engaging your writing is. This will allow you to make targeted improvements.
Rework rejected pieces
If a submission is rejected or a blog post you’ve published isn’t working as well as you’d like, don’t give up on it. Instead, look at it with fresh eyes, revise unclear parts, and consider alternative angles. If you’re working on a long project, apply feedback from one section to the next. This can ensure consistency and improvement across the piece.
Adopt a growth mindset
After you have received feedback, briefly note down the most important findings—what worked well, what needs to be improved, and what you will do differently next time. If you’re revising an ongoing project, keep an eye on the patterns in the feedback to see where you can improve over time. Strive for progress, not perfection.
6. Creativity and original thinking
Creativity and original thinking allow you to look at topics from new angles, write compelling narratives, and captivate readers. Even in academic writing, creativity and original thinking are required to develop new theories and perspectives and present them in unique ways. Writers who value originality and actively work to improve their creativity can more easily overcome writer’s block, develop unique arguments, and present ideas in a way that resonates with their audience.
How to develop it
Make small creative tweaks
Experiment with different opening lines, examples, or metaphors to make your writing more engaging. Or try rewriting a paragraph in a more vivid or unexpected way without changing the main message.
Change your approach
If you’re struggling with a section, change your perspective instead of just trying to find new words to improve it. One way to do this is to try explaining the idea to a friend, a beginner, or an expert—even if it’s only in your head. This will help you adjust your explanation approach if necessary.
Consume diverse content
When researching, explore sources outside the field you’re writing about, as this can help you find unexpected connections. When revising a text, take a short break to read something unrelated. This can refresh your perspective and help you see your writing with new eyes.
7. Empathy and emotional intelligence
Understanding the needs and emotions of your audience improves clarity and engagement. Whether you’re persuading a reader, telling a story, or explaining a complex idea, empathy makes your writing more effective. Writers who have strong emotional intelligence can anticipate readers’ reactions, adjust their tone accordingly, and make their writing more compelling.
How to develop it
Read from the reader’s perspective
After writing a section, pause and answer this question: If I knew nothing about this topic, would it make sense? If not, adapt the text to the needs of your target audience to make it clearer, easier to understand, and more readable.
Simplify without oversimplifying
As important as it is to simplify your ideas, you should be careful not to oversimplify complex ideas or the text will lose its accuracy. In this way, you can meet your readers where they are, while respecting their ability to understand and engage with sophisticated concepts.
8. Communication and collaboration
Writing is often a collaborative process. Whether working with co-authors, editors, or clients, clear communication ensures that revisions and feedback improve the final product. Writers who collaborate well produce stronger work, avoid misunderstandings and miscommunication, and streamline the writing and editing process.
How to develop it
Ask specific questions when seeking feedback
The more specific the questions you ask the people you’re working with, the more actionable the feedback will be. If you’re in the drafting phase, ask about the structure or clarity of the arguments. When you’re revising the text, ask specific questions like: Does this transition make sense? Is this section evidence-based and detailed enough?
Practice giving feedback
Reviewing someone else’s writing—even if it’s just a paragraph—can help you improve your own editing skills. When you’re engrossed in a project, take a short break by critiquing someone else’s work. This will help you recognise weaknesses in your own writing.
See also: How InstaText helps improve your communication
As mentioned earlier, writing is not just about technical skills, but also about developing the right attitude, habits, and interpersonal skills. Choose one skill to focus on each week and make small, easy changes to your daily writing process. Over time, these improvements will transform your writing process and make you a more efficient and successful writer.
Improve your critical thinking with InstaText
Are you interested in improving your writing and your critical thinking, which is an essential part of writing, at the same time? Then you should have InstaText in your toolbox.
As an advanced editing assistant that utilises advanced language technologies but not generative AI, InstaText allows users to actively participate in the editing process through interactive suggestions that they can accept or reject.
By paying attention to these suggestions and consciously accepting or rejecting them, you can not only improve your writing skills, but also your critical thinking over time.If you already use InstaText, we recommend paying more attention to the suggested edits. If you haven’t used InstaText yet, you can try it out for free and see for yourself the unique editing experience it offers.
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— Dr. Matej Dolenec, University Professor
