How can I improve my writing skills?

Writing skill is composed of two main components. One is
the knowledge of and skills in using language. This includes things about knowledge of
vocabulary and grammar,and the ability to use these correctly. The second component of
writing skill is the ability to organize and represent your ideas and thoughts in words.
This second component is something that is often not recognized by people trying to
improve their communication skills.

I have observed that
some people are much better in expressing themselves. Such people communicate
effectively not only in language they know well, but also in other languages. For
example, I have come across many businessmen in India, with limited knowledge of English
write business letters in English that produce very good results. People with this skill
of expressing themselves well are also the ones who are able to learn other languages
fast.

Therefore my advise to people aspiring to develop
better communication and language skills is to also pay attention to this improving
their expressive ability. It is possible to do this only by practice. Improving this
ability is to some extent like improving physical strength. We can do this only by
exercising our bodies.

Thus my advise is to practice
writing on whatever subject or topic you can think of. As a student you can also
practice writing on specific topics from other subjects you learn. Many students are
content to understand a subject without making their own notes. Others just copy the
language given in their text books. Preparing summarised notes of different subjects in
your own words will improve your writing skill as well as help you in learning those
subjects better.

While practicing writing it is also
important to write on topics that require you to describe things about yourself - for
example, your thoughts, likes, dislikes, successes, failures, beliefs, friends and
experiences.

Writing practice in this will also give you
practice in using your vocabulary and correct grammar.