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
executive chauffeured services Bradford .. Madison to Airport carA UK based freelance proofreader should be able to provide... Read More
Taming the Book Proposal: The BasicsOh, that most maddening of... Read More
Op-ed articles, also known as opinion/editorial articles, are a great... Read More
Creative Writing Tips ?Whichever theme you choose, all the elements,... Read More
Summer's here and the time is write for dancing in... Read More
Creative Writing Tips ?When an idea comes to us for... Read More
I've been in the communications business a long time?over 25... Read More
Writers are often are greatly surprised or disappointed by how... Read More
My Dad has this old joke that goes, "What's the... Read More
----------------------------------------------------------Permission is granted for the below article to forward,reprint, distribute,... Read More
No matter what your fifth-grade English teacher says, some grammar... Read More
Writing for the web is very different from writing for... Read More
What a lack of research could do to you.When creating... Read More
If you're a writer, you're in business. It doesn't matter... Read More
If a writer considers writing to be a task, he/she... Read More
If you dread the thought of writing, if you fear... Read More
Be careful when you write.Words you use, sentences you phrase... Read More
You have just completed a draft of an article. It... Read More
Fiction manuscripts receive feedback that addresses and scores:? The theme... Read More
There is no specific formula for children's fiction. There are,... Read More
Self-examination sheds light on a writers motives, goals, and aspirations,... Read More
This is the ideal topic for us all to think... Read More
11 Secrets from an Experienced InterviewerOne of the unwritten rules... Read More
Clustering, also called Mind Mapping, is a great way to... Read More
You can turn your $200 fee to write a press... Read More
O'Hare Chicago prom limo ..Suspense novels, unlike any other genre, need fast starts. Fans... Read More
The first step in the writing process is to put... Read More
Self-examination sheds light on a writers motives, goals, and aspirations,... Read More
Reading through a writer's notebook or journal is like discovering... Read More
There is an image most people carry of the artist... Read More
A UK based freelance proofreader should be able to provide... Read More
When one population in one century survived five wars, two... Read More
Open any book on 'how to write,' and somewhere you... Read More
The process of developing a working title for your nonfiction... Read More
Winning writing contests can provide several advantages to writers. For... Read More
No matter what your fifth-grade English teacher says, some grammar... Read More
Wired Online has recently announced its plans to drop capitalization... Read More
If you want happy customers to use your service or... Read More
Kallu was a tenant of Santosh Kumar Nayak. Santosh Kumar... Read More
The only way to become a writer is to write.... Read More
Building a new website can be extremely exciting. Seeing your... Read More
You've finished your story, and you're pretty happy with it.... Read More
Picture this scene.Your hero is sitting in a bar. He's... Read More
1) Can you summarize the story in about a sentence... Read More
If your articles aren't getting published very often, or you... Read More
Anyone who has read any of my articles on the... Read More
Chaos and confusion come when established rules and procedures are... Read More
This article contains a short guide on how to edit... Read More
Authors need to write their book according to their target... Read More
Since the headline is the first contact your readers have... Read More
Writing |