How to start on building up good writing skills?

AK_CS

I know this is an odd question in the times of warlike prelims preparations. But, I am also giving other exams besides Civil Services particularly , state civil services whose mains are just weeks away. besides, some PO exams also demand writing skills.
At present, I think, My skills are pretty ad-hocish. I think I commit Grammatical and other mistakes and I dont even come to know about them because it is mostly I reading to me. Moreover, I lagged behind time miserably in almost all the mains papers. One way to develop writing skills is to write regularly. But then my mistakes will remain hidden(may concretise even) as i am doing that all alone. Another is to read school grammar and some writing-enhancing books but i fear them as the approach turns very theoretical. I may learn the correct usage but not learn to apply it. Can you please suggest any systematic way of writing practice whereby I can continuously improve myself rather than keep on repeating same mistakes and just writing for its sake. Please reply.

rm1

You're a serious player. You read the editorials and articles of relevant magazines and newspapers regularly, which in my opinion is half work done. I guess what you may do is whatever you read each day just jot down the topics on which there's a high possibility of questions to be framed; then may be on some designated day of the week, revise the topic(s) well and write on it(them). If you've good friends around you cross-checking each other's answers would help quite a lot or you have the option of putting it up on the forum. I'm sure many people would be willing to evaluate it on multiple fronts.
http://www.forumias.com/discussion/comment/18625#Comment_18625 This was a thread created for the purpose. Hoping it helps a bit.

AK_CS

Thanks @rm1!
I have a slightly different(or odd :P) view of writing skills. I want to keep UPSC GS preps de-linked from writing skills. I have this feeling that when we write keepin GS answers in mind our mind gets straitjacketed we tend to think in terms of the content and its balance. I think that thread is not named properly. I was also an active participant there :P . That thread is more a current events/topics discussion than about improving writing skills.(it may sound outrageous)
What I meant by writing skills is something like-
*I have lost that ability to be simple yet effectively expressive
*Sentences dont flow out naturally. (mind gets stuck sometimes to find a proper word)
*I think I dont know the usage of modals (may, would, can.... even will or shall),prepositions (over,in,at) and such subtle grammatical things
I think,Now such skills could better be developed on writing open-ended topics in a free creative way (even though we dont aim to be novelists).
We may start a new thread on these things, but, why would people read such threads and do the labour of pointing out mistakes as it will not add much, in terms of content, to their knowledge.

Any Critical observations will be welcome.

AK_CS

In state civils they add language marks in merit list.

rm1

@AK_CS your concern is genuine one faced by many including me. I too make grammatical mistakes inadvertently at times. While one may be able to convey her/his thoughts/ideas to the reader, it may not give a very good impression. Were you in CBSE board in school days? It focussed primarily on communicative English rather that those typical grammar books where one had to mug up the rules. If you have any of your brother/sister/cousins in school you can lay your hands on the practice books which the students buy as reference books and do some of them. They are of pretty good standard. It would instill in you greater confidence on language issues. Hoping this helps.

AK_CS

thanks @rm1: that indeed helps!. two days before i was havin a talk regarding this with my younger brother.(2nd year)..he himself was planning to purchase bbc(brajendra book company :P) english workbook and do it like Xth again. At that time, i didn't give it a thought for myself. Now, will definitely see to it.

drcreative

@AK_CS you can try stylewriter software (free trial for 15 days ),this is suggested to me by mrunal.

AK_CS

@AK_CS you can try stylewriter software (free trial for 15 days ),this is suggested to me by mrunal.

@drcreative: thanks! just read the intro of software. seems awesome.

but i am afraid by its cost-price after 15 days (around 4500).