Learning to write effectively - for programmers
ErrantX: Write lots, it's the only real solution.I dabble in article writing (more for print media than the web) and you get slowly better over time. At one point I had a weekly column and my style improved dramatically due to the regularity of writing.Getting feedback can be tough: if your blogging then places like HN, Reddit etc. can be good critics - but usually more of your ideas than your style. Dont bother with writers forums and the likes either - they tend to be very proud of pedaticism over language etc. As suggested send stuff to friends and see what they have to say; or even better people you don't know too well (but suspect will give you straight advise).One general tip I picked up (ironically from seeing the playback of pg writing an essay a while back) is refactor, rewrite and edit yourself (dammit, really stuck for a good word here! err....) extensively (ugh). One tactic I find useful is to pop small notes into the text when I feel like I hate the sentence I just wrote (for example) and come back to it later.Dont be scared to put passion and force into your writing - at the end of the day if your content is solid it will stand up for your readers. But if you don't sound passionate or involved in what you have to say then people will notice your disconnection from the subject. If you get behind a good argument it lends it a lot more weight.In terms of HN commentary: I would say that is very different. My writing style on here is very plain and often rushed and boorish (possibly, no definitely, self centred). Just be polite that's the main thing :D you don't really have room to form a complete and subtle argument in a comment!EDIT: one final comment on opinions. If you decide to form some (a few bloggers / writers DO successfully write with no obvious opinions) then take time now to decide how strongly you present them. I am generally renowned for being very strong and forceful with my opinions (though I hope able to be swayed by a good counter argument - my friends will scoff at that:D). If your likely to be the same the piece of advice I have is always re-read what you wrote several times in the few hrs/days after you write it. Knee jerk reactions or over zealous commenting can be easy when you get wrapped in an opinion too tightly and I usually find myself rewriting a comment several times to clarify a message that got muddied in the explosion :D