<p>What is the best way to improve reading and writing skills? Any books? Some have suggested Elements of Style by E.B White. </p>
<p>I am an avid reader but simply cannot tune my writing skills. I feel as though I write like a 5th grader.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.nutsandboltsguide.com/%5B/url%5D">http://www.nutsandboltsguide.com/</a></p>
<p>This site has helped me.</p>
<p>I journaled a lot. I tried writing sophisticatedly while ranting about my day and talking about things that interested me. This is what I did to prepare for the writing portion of the SAT II Writing, and I happily brag that I got a 12/12 on it. For a while I tried to do some of the sample writing tests from the prep books, but I could just never bring myself to write about those topics. Practicing writing while getting your feelings out about an annoying friend was always so much "funner."</p>
<p>The elements of style will help your technical writing (grammar and stuff), but you really do have to find your own style. Just write a lot, spontaneously.</p>