Back in my school days, if the teacher demanded a term paper I knew just what to do. I quickly researched the report, and wrote it as fast as I could.
Next, I reached for a thesaurus and looked up complicated, multi-syllable synonyms for my easy words. This turned my paper into a complex, obtuse mess.
That was wrong, wrong, wrong! Once I started to write for a living, I quickly discovered that if readers don't understand something, they simply quit reading!
So how can you make your writing less formal, more personal, and turn readers into interested friends? Here are some ideas I've stumbled across:
1. Think about a specific reader when you write. I usually picture a family member. This tends to make my writing less formal.
2. Ask a question. Example: "Do you ever get bored reading a long, complicated report?"
3. Propose a solution. Example: "Here's a way to alleviate afternoon boredom."
4. Present new evidence: Example: "My brother ? a historian ? claims he's discovered three new traits about medieval knights."
5. Offer free advice. Example: "I've found a new way to write research papers."
6. Share a shortcut. Example: "Here's a timesaving method to exercise better and more efficiently."
7. Tell how or why you started a project. Example: "I started this company with one goal: to help people find the job best suited for them."
Rix Quinn wrote the book of writing tips "Words That Stick." It's available at http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/asin/1580085768/qid/
For more information on his frequent phone seminars, e-mail him at mailto:rixquinn@charter.net
personalized cleaning services Des Plaines ..The dash--that curious mark of punctuation people use in their... Read More
Everyone has a book inside them, or so the saying... Read More
Sometimes a freelance writing career can feel very much like... Read More
Despite the widespread use of e-mail in commerce today, traditional... Read More
The Big IdeaOkay. So youve figured out that you would... Read More
10 - You will always have a job. As long... Read More
Beginner's Blues: How to Collect Samples, Testimonials, and References as... Read More
I love writing. I love the swirl and swing of... Read More
Writer's Block can strike like a King Cobra, paralyzing every... Read More
Having problems writing? I don't know why. San Francisco Chronicle... Read More
And a dreadful thing from the cliff did spring, and... Read More
Let's Discuss Publisher Ethics:If you are an ezine publisher or... Read More
I call it cheap therapy. That gushing, near-religious, poured-from-the-body stress... Read More
When attempting to understand Creativity and Innovation, it pays to... Read More
The urge to write fiction seems God given for some,... Read More
Day after day, writers tend to sit for hours writing... Read More
No matter what your fifth-grade English teacher says, some grammar... Read More
I'm a writing fool! 2 book proposals, 1 user's guide,... Read More
The first step in the writing process is to put... Read More
I went to school to be a teacher. In fact,... Read More
Op-ed articles, also known as opinion/editorial articles, are a great... Read More
Bookcoaching clients come to me at different stages of writing... Read More
Want to write an article or book, but are stuck... Read More
Originality emerges from structure. Once you have a story idea,... Read More
Today it begins.I have always known I was a freelancer.... Read More
family-safe home cleaners Arlington Heights ..9 out of 10 professionals and small business owners have... Read More
Traditionally, business writing uses the "one thing after another" format,... Read More
So many clients come to me as a book or... Read More
Here are 3 journaling or diary ideas that can contribute... Read More
If you are an aspiring writer, or you simply want... Read More
1. Write it fast, fix it later.2. Commit to writing... Read More
During the years that I've been teaching writing and participating... Read More
If you dream of turning your book into a best... Read More
The rejection letter says: "Your story, on the surface, appears... Read More
The hardest part of nonfiction writing is finding a subject... Read More
Beyond three and four act story structure, lies the Hero's... Read More
So you want to be a successful author? You want... Read More
The decision to publish a book is very exciting! It... Read More
It's the funniest thing. When someone asks me what I... Read More
There is a psychological nuisance so powerful that can deflate... Read More
He ran up the steps and knocked on the door.... Read More
Far too many inexperienced writers create flat, stereotypical characters: the... Read More
Recently I was watching the Oprah show and it was... Read More
Congratulations on writing your first book. That is quite an... Read More
My article this issue is an excerpt from a book... Read More
The first step in the writing process is to put... Read More
Joanne Kathleen Rowling was born in Chipping Sodbury,England in 1965.... Read More
When you write for international audiences, mainly directly in English,... Read More
Started a book and then got bogged down? Like many... Read More
The journey to having my first novel for children published... Read More
Writing |