Reading more has not helped me become a better writer

I don't know how to get better at writing in English.

I have little difficulty listening to podcasts, watching movies or TV shows without subtitles, or reading books in English. In fact, I enjoy reading in English, and over the past few years, most of the books I've read have been in English. I've also immersed myself in the language to the point where almost all of the content on my social media feeds is in English, and I rarely have trouble understanding it.

The problem is writing.

Writing in English is incredibly frustrating for me. I often feel like I don't have the vocabulary or language skills needed to articulate what's in my head. Even writing a simple email can feel like a huge task, let alone writing an essay or anything more complex.

Part of me thinks this has to do with how my brain processes information. When I read, I tend to absorb and store ideas, concepts, and abstractions rather than the actual language used to express them. Later, when I want to write about those ideas, I have to translate them back into words. That's where I get stuck. I end up relying on a relatively limited vocabulary, and what comes out on the page feels much simpler than what I'm actually trying to say.

I'll probably continue consuming media in English because I enjoy it, and because I still think it helps to some extent. But I'm starting to wonder whether input alone is enough.

Has anyone else experienced this? Are there any specific exercises or practices that helped you improve your writing, especially your ability to express complex thoughts more clearly?

submitted by /u/gnadhtd
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