my writing sucks

Well, you haven't give much information about why you think you're writing sucks. I can tell you that a lot of people think that way about their own writing. You really need to let someone read your work and get feedback. How to improve your writing? Mostly practice. And read a lot. You can take online workshops, but they cost money. You can join a writing group, which I have done and I have learned a lot since joining that group. I have also been given many opportunities since joining the writing group to go to seminars, listen to other authors speak (at no charge) and even have one on one critiques with award winning authors. When I had my first one-on-one critique with Canadian author Wayson Choy, one question I asked him was whether I was good enough to be a published author. He said I have potential and to keep working at it. There are so many aspects to writing that I can't give you a clear answer without knowing why you think your writing stinks, or reading some of your work. I know what makes good writing but that would take a whole book to tell you. So... you might want to read some books on writing. One of the best books is Julia Cameron's The Writer's Way. Bird by Bird by Ann Lamott is supposed to be good though I haven't read it myself. There are tons of books on writing. I have a whole list of them to keep an eye out for. You haven't even said what you writing... fiction, articles, poetry, non-fiction. If you are writing a novel you have to grab the reader right from the first line of the story. Don't start with the beginning of a day or description. Start in the middle of a scene. Background details can be filled in with dialogue. There has to be a beginning a middle and an end. And something I just learned from another author, sub-plots. My novel is considered too short by publishing standards. An agent told me to build on the characters, so I am writing a scene to build on a relationship that really didn't have any substance of foundation. And I am also starting a sub-plot. I won't go into any other genres because it would take forever and I'm really not sure what you're looking for. Hope what I have said helps.

Well, why do you think it sucks? Do you think it's not interesting? Or that you don't write well? Or are you just super critical of your own writing?

First of all, I'm sure your writing doesn't entirely suck. No one's writing is as bad as they themselves think it is. As to ways to improve your writing, my advice would be to find authors and subjects you really like and imitate but don't plagiarize them. The trick of being a good writer is to actually care about what you're writing about. If you're just writing because something was assigned to you and you could care less about it, it's going to sound like you don't care about it. If you're passionate about something, it will sound better when you write about it. Although you may be saying, "I have assignments. Other people tell me what to write about". the trick here I've discovered is to find an angle that you are even slightly passionate about and use that to complete the assignment. Try these tips and get back to me. I'm eager to know how you do.

Well, I've read all the other responses here and agree with all of them. From this one sentence you wrote I don't see how anyone could give you any tips - we have no idea what you write. Do you just write here at myLot or for other sites? What do you enjoy writing? What do you want to do with your writing?

Where do you feel your weaknesses are? Grammar and spelling? Keeping organized and on topic? Try sending your writings to others who can critique and give you an idea of where your weakness and strength lies in the pieces.

Well that depends on what's wrong with it - and you haven't given anyone a clue :) Maybe you could drop a link to something you've written or evidence why you think you're writing isn't up to standard.

Like you, most writers get discouraged with their own writing from time to time. The difference between writers and dabblers, however, is that real writers keep on writing until they get better, and dabblers quit. Writing is a lifelong learning process. Like most people with natural talent, some get their success more quickly than others, but no true writer gets it with the first couple of things they write. It takes time, effort, and a lot of bad writing to get something good. Keep going!

Well, one of the main things I would say is to continue writing no matter how bogged down you become with it. I love writing myself and I tend to keep private journals. I think that the more you write the better you will become. What is wrong with you writing though? Do you write creativly or do you keep journals like myself? Well, there's lots of good advice in terms of writing well and you can find this information on the Internet. Good luck with your future writings. Andrew