There are many ways to become a stronger writer: from using apps to be your grammar backup, to practicepracticepractice. Whether your goal is to improve the quality of your content or become a master of style and refine your writing systems we break it down into these handy tips and resources for writers.
Aim for Strength in Content
Good writing always has purpose, so make sure you know what you’re writing and why. Spend some time researching. Be sure to check different sources. If you’re writing about an unfamiliar topic, grab someone who knows the topic to look over your work before it’s published.
Write the Purpose at the Top
Write the purpose of your work at the top of your document for a continual reminder of what you’re writing about. This is a great way to stay focussed and particularly useful if you find yourself straying. Why not include your intended audience too, this will help tailor your work to your readers.
Write in Style
If you’re writing for a client, check you are writing within their style guide. It’s helpful to read through before you begin writing, but keep the document open for reference. If you’re not working to a particular style guide, you can refer to the AP and Chicago Style Guides. If you work in tech, you can refer to the Apple Human Interface Guidelines or the Microsoft Style Guide for general advice for communicating with humans 🙂
Cut the Clichés
Nothing dilutes strong copy quicker than a tired cliché. During your review process, eliminate any overused phrases from your writing. To correct them as you go, join the TextExpander cliché correction snippet group to automatically convert clichés you type into their correct meaning. Magic!
Become Your Harshest Critic
We mean this in a nice way. Know your own pitfalls, know what you’re great at and use that knowledge to edit your own writing. Don’t be overly critical, but also don’t let yourself get away with sloppy writing. Editing the next day is great when you have the time and proofreading aloud is the best way to notice awkward pacing.
Read Broadly
Regardless of the content you write, read from a variety of sources. Scientific writing is a masterclass in conveying complex ideas simply, while feature pieces can offer a more ‘painting with words’ kind of approach. Discover more places to find inspiration in this post on words to inspire.
Get Organized
It’s not all just about writing. How to you find the time to write in between all that other work? Improving your productivity helps you feel in control, happier and can potentially help you make more money. The best way to improve productivity? Get organized! Learn how to manage time, plan effectively, fly through email and more in our Writer’s Guide to Getting Organized.
Know How to Handle Writer’s Block
You’re raring to go, you sit down and suddenly feel you have nothing to say. Writer’s Block gets everybody. Don’t panic when it strikes! Just bookmark this post for simple steps to overcoming writer’s block and you’ll be typing away in no time. Phew.
Better Tips, Better Work
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