Improving My Writing Skills: A Checklist Approach

3 to 4 out of 10, the rank I will give to my writing.

Today, I decided to read the old write-ups that I posted on Medium. I have been here for the last 5–6 months and have posted more than 100 stories.
After over a century of stories, I thought, I got good at putting it up properly. You know, that kind of confidence [over-confidence] felt by me only.
Then I started reading the stuff. 1st post, 2nd post and there on…
When I started it, in a few places, I was unclear about what I had written.
In a few stories, I am not sure whether the title and the story go hand-in-hand.
Many things were unclear to me as I was going through it.
I knew what I wanted to say or convey at that time, but the wording, the way I said it, and the correct terminology were all missing.
After a few reads, I myself felt embarrassed. Then slowly went ahead and started reading the few, I posted lately — in the last 1–2 months.
I felt a bit better but nowhere near to the writer friends here on Medium.
I don’t know whether this is happening because I am comparing myself with the other evolved ones or lacking something literally.
I knew, my vocabulary needed to be improved, though I insisted on putting a few words, I hear or read. I try hard that the proper punctuation in place, and the story flows properly.
But in the rush of turning an idea into a story, scribble a few words here and there and push the publish button only to make it worse.

So, I have decided on a checklist for myself as below –
— Give good and proper time to think.
— Don’t rush just to write, just because something came to mind.
— To suppress the urge to write and post then and there.
— If feel, I will forget the point or topic, shall enter the details in a small diary.
— Revisit those now and then.
— Once I am sure, it’s ripe enough then take it to writing.
— Read what you wrote, edit, and re-read.
— Check for proper words, and synonyms for better and apt meaning.
— Read, read, and read again.
— And then finally push the publish button.
I know, it won’t matter to the readers and they won’t bother to turn to other stories if they don’t like it.
But I shall ensure to do it for myself, as in the future, if again I start re-reading my stories, I should not have the sorry feeling I had just now.
Wish me best friends.