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While English is technically not my first language, I learned it at a very young age and it’s the language I use the most, since I feel a lot more comfortable expressing myself.I learned English at the age of 2, after I moved to the USA. Both my parents are fluent, however before we moved to the US, I lived with my grandparents who mainly spoke Marathi and some Hindi at home, which is what I picked up (they can speak English as well, but they didn’t feel the need to do so at home).After I moved, I learned English fairly quickly because I was young and all the kids around me spoke English.After around 5 years in the US, we came back to India and I’ve studied in English-medium schools, i.e. English is the first language and is used as the medium of instruction. However, most of my peers (and some teachers) don’t feel comfortable speaking in English aside from answering in class, so I also switched to other languages, depending on whom I talked to.I still speak English at home, because my parents, especially my mom, wanted me to maintain my language skills; and also because I like the language and enjoy using it.There are a few things I started doing when I was younger to improve my writing skills, a lot of which I still do even now.» Reading: Ever since I was a kid, I loved reading, which is what actually got me into writing. I would recommend reading different kinds of books to get a taste of various writing styles. It’s very beneficial in improving your vocabulary, along with learning how to incorporate different elements in your writing. It also helps you figure out how to make your own writing interesting to the reader.Another tip is to read classic literature for the more traditional English vocabulary. However, since most classics were written a long time ago, they can be difficult to understand. I would suggest reading an abridged version since those are shorter and easier to understand, before moving on to the original.» Using the Dictionary: This one is mainly for improving vocabulary. I used to take the dictionary, flip to a random page, and write 5 words I didn’t know, along with their meaning.When I grew a little older, I used to search for the SAT word list online, and list words with their definition. The key here is not only to write down the words, but try to use them in sentences in your daily life, so that you remember them. I try to describe random objects or how I’m feeling using the new words I learned.» Grammar: This part can be tricky, especially for non-native speakers. English grammar is often arbitrary and doesn’t seem to make sense. I would recommend using practice workbooks for English grammar, which is what I did. Another alternative is going through free online quizzes or worksheets for extra practice.I used ‘High School English Grammar and Composition’ by Wren and Martin (this is a very well-known grammar book in India) along with Khan Academy.Another suggestion would be SAT practice on Khan Academy. Not just for people who want to prepare for SAT, but for those who want to learn English in general. The questions here are a little tricky, but they provide great explanations and solutions.A final suggestion would be using Grammarly, an online writing assistant. It checks your spelling, grammar and helps with vocabulary as well, and is very convenient.» Comprehension: In order to be able to write well, understanding the language is equally as important. There are ‘unseen’ passages, i.e. random articles or excerpts from books which we have to read and then answer questions related to them. I do those to improve my comprehension skills, and there are free resources online, like the British Council website.» Word Games: This is a really fun way of improving your vocabulary. My family loves playing Scrabble, where you need to frame words with random letter tiles and the words are connected to each other on the board. I think it has an online version as well. Another good game is the crossword, which you’ll most likely find in the newspaper. It’s very useful in discovering new words.» Writing Practice: I developed my ability to write by practicing regularly. I would pick up random topics, for example- writing an autobiography of a car, and try to frame something related to it. A lot of these topics sound simple, but you need to wrack your brains to write about them. That’s what helped develop my creativity. I practiced a lot of different formats, like short stories, letters, essays, analytical paragraphs etc. which enabled me to write different kinds of content.For the longest time, I struggled with writing interesting content, because of the way I framed my writing. It all sounded boring and monotonous. Slowly, I tried experimenting with different structures and developed my own writing style, which allowed me to express myself comfortably and that’s what helped me become a better and more engaging writer.I would recommend submitting what you write to a teacher, parent/relative or even a friend so that they can review your work and give you some suggestions.» Research: If you’re into writing stories or even factual answers, research is really important. It adds to the details in your content, and can elevate what you’ve written. For example, a couple of years ago I participated in an essay writing competition. WE had to write an essay about whether homework is beneficial or not. The previous day, I looked up some studies related to the benefits of homework and read a few articles. The information I got helped me frame the essay a lot better, and gave me solid proof to back up my points.Writing is definitely centred on creativity and self-expression, but having facts and verified information make your content stronger.Wikipedia is good, but for more detailed information, I would recommend sites like BBC for accurate news and world history, Snopes for fact-checking, ThoughtCo for a wide variety of cool stuff and The Lineup for all things related to true crime.» Watch and Listen: By watching and listening to movies, series, podcasts and even songs, I developed my writing skills. Not only is this a lot more interesting, but it also helped in exposing me to different genres and developed my creativity.If you’re having trouble understanding what is being said, you can use subtitles in whatever language you’re comfortable with, or adjust the speed of the video (if you’re using YouTube). Eventually, you’ll be able to pick up things on your own without external help.Here is a list of good podcasts to listen to, while Netflix, Amazon Prime and Hulu have a good collection of movies and shows to watch.» Conversations: Although my speech is generally a lot more casual and colloquial, I try to make sure I speak correctly to develop the habit and inculcate it in my writing as well. If you can speak in English regularly with family or friends, it’ll definitely be helpful and convenient. If not, here are some apps to help you practice conversational English.» Additional Information:There’s a bunch of information about writing I found on Instagram, such as how to create character development, how to develop a strong plot, how to maintain inclusivity in your writing, details for historical/fantasy writing etc.Writing Haven, Writings by Dawn, Writing Gibson Girl, are some very helpful writing accounts I found.To conclude, the key to improving your writing skills is practice. As long as you remain consistent and regular, your writing will develop in no time.Hope this answer was helpful ^_^Ad astra per aspera,Aditi :)