StoryCroft

Stories are everything, and everything is content

16 Easy Ways to Write Better
Everybodys a writer in the Internet age. And I think thats great.
I just wish more people had an editor, as well.
Theres no substitute for a collaborator whos looking over your shoulder and pointing
out where you could improve. But absent that, you can take steps on your own to make
your writing better whether its in blog posts, memos, tweets or articles.
Here are a few tips Ive picked up over the (many, pre-Google) years as a professional writer and editor. Theyll
help you get your message across more e!ectively. I hope you try them and I hope they help. Let me know!
1. Resist the urge to use exclamation points!
2. Favor short sentences.
3. Remember to vary your sentence lengths, as well, so that some are longer than others.
4. In most instances, dont start a sentence with a dependent clause. Subject-verb-object works better general-
ly, and relying on it does not indicate youre simpleminded or lacking in style. It means you care about clarity.
5. Get to the point early in your piece, whatever it is. Readers wont stick with you if they have to look for it.
6. Avoid adjectives and adverbs. Pick the right nouns and verbs, instead.
7. Take advantage of the medium (blog, newspaper, etc.) to enhance your message without going overboard or
obscuring it.
8. Write short paragraphs. Dense copy blocks are unappealing and even intimidating to people who are scan-
ning and deciding whether to dive into your blog or article.
9. Write short pieces. Really, no one has time. If you can cut that line, paragraph or passage, then do.
10. Avoid clichs like the plague.
11. Jargon, too. Or youll never think outside the box at the end of the day.
12. Write to express yourself, not to impress anybody else.
13. Read it out loud. Listen to the sound, the sound, the sound.
14. Watch out for tangents and stop when you "nd yourself going on one. A good clue: If you say, But I di-
gress, then DONT. (See No. 10.)
15. Prevent AAOS (Acronyms & Abbreviations Overuse Syndrome). When in doubt, spell it out or "nd a simpler
way to put it.
16. Know your subject matter and audience so well that you learn to relax when writing and editing your own
copy. You can even break your own rules now and then! (See what I just did? Ha!)
Share your own suggestions with the link at the top.
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This entry was posted in Atlanta, Business Comms, Social Media and tagged editing, tips, writing on April 8,
2014 [http://storycroft.com/2014/04/08/16-easy-ways-to-write-better/] .
12 thoughts on 16 Easy Ways to Write Better
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In "Business Comms"
In "Atlanta" In "Business Comms"
In "Business Comms"
In "Atlanta" In "Business Comms"
Lately Ive gotten fond of bullet points. I know it lacks narrative #ow but its easy to scan. Your thoughts?
Susan Palmer
April 10, 2014 at 9:58 pm
Jay Croft
April 10, 2014 at 10:49 pm
Post author
Bullet points rule! I love them for breaking up copy blocks and presenting lists or multiple points.
Heres a link to my last blog post. From a years distance I can see it is way too long.
http://supalmer.wordpress.com/2013/03/20/what-i-learned-from-fourth-graders/
Sue Palmer
April 11, 2014 at 1:07 pm
Great! Cant wait to read it later and get you back at it.
Jay Croft
April 11, 2014 at 1:13 pm
Post author
magni"cent issues altogether, you simply received a new reader.
What would you suggest about your submit that you simply made a few days ago?
Any certain?
di!erence between google plus and facebook
April 29, 2014 at 4:56 am
I l!"$ it when f!lks geet together and share thoughts.
Great blog, sti#k with it!
Http://Cjseoul.Or.Kr
May 23, 2014 at 10:18 am
Thank you!
Jay Croft
May 23, 2014 at 10:24 am
Post author
Whats up, after reading this amazing piece of writing i am as well delighted to share my
experience here with colleagues.
Thank you, Chauncey. Im glad you liked it.
Chauncey
May 31, 2014 at 8:25 am
Jay Croft
May 31, 2014 at 10:32 am
Post author
Hey there would you mind sharing which blog platform youre working with?
Im going to start my own blog in the near future but Im having a hard time selecting
between BlogEngine/Wordpress/B2evolution and Drupal. The reason I ask is because your design and style
seems di!erent then most blogs and Im
looking for something unique. P.S Sorry for being o!-topic but I
had to ask!
Charles
June 5, 2014 at 2:38 pm
Pingback: 11 Ways Im Terrible at Writing Blog Titles! | StoryCroft
Hi No need to apologize. Thanks for writing. I use WordPress. It was most often recommended to me by
friends who had blogged before me, and its easy to use. It also has a lot of visual themes. I chose this one be-
cause its simple and clean and has plenty of white space. Good luck. Let me know what you do! Jay
Jay Croft
June 5, 2014 at 3:41 pm
Post author