The good news is that there are many things that you can do, whether you’re a world-class writer or something of a hack, to make your written work shine with a light all its own.
Style
Every writer has there own style, just as every musician has theirs. Those who listen to classic rock can pick out a Jimmy Page guitar riff from an Eric Clapton guitar riff in seconds. And just like with music, you can often tell a writer by the way they write, the words they use, and even just the general look of their writing on the page.
For instance, I love using interjections at the start of sentences. My favorites are “however, for instance, and also.” And I love using conjunctions at the beginning of sentences, something that every book on writing will tell you is simply against the rules. So if you find yourself using “and or but” a lot to start sentences, perhaps it’s just your style and not a major infraction.
Tone
The way you write about a subject doesn’t so much set you apart from other writers as much as it lets the reader know what your position on the subject is. Wikipedia describes many different tones, including “formal, informal, intimate, solemn, somber, playful, serious, ironic, condescending, or many other possible attitudes.”
As you can see, there are a lot of different ways to tackle a subject, and you should choose one and try to stick with it on whatever it is that you’re writing. Going from serious to sarcastic in the space of a single paragraph might leave your reader guessing exactly what it is your trying to say, just as being formal one minute and informal the next will leave them wondering if they should give you a friendly slap on the back or maintain that business-like demeanor.
Make sure you find a tone that works good throughout all of your writing, and stick to it. It’s probably the tone that’s most indicative of your natural voice, after all.
Links for Writing Skills
http://www.mindtools.com/CommSkll/WritingSkills.htm
http://www.writingforward.com/better-writing/writing-habits
http://suite101.com/article/10-writing-tips-for-improving-your-skills-a70573