As many turn to writing, blogging and the like, we thought it a good idea to look at some good writing practices, to make you better at your craft.
Clarity Is Key
When it comes to content creation, clarity should always come first. Flare can be confusing to your audience and might stand in the way of getting your message over.
You’ll write better, more persuasive content if you prioritise structure and simplicity above flair. This isn’t to say you can’t have some fun with your work; just make sure it doesn’t detract from its clarity.
Pay attention to these writing strategies if you want to achieve clarity:
Make use of abbreviations.
Check for readability when proofreading.
If it helps you make a point, include images.
When listing three or more items, use bulleted lists.
Stick to one set of guidelines.
Remove any extraneous words.
You can add the flair that makes your material stand out while you’re in editing mode. Make use of straightforward language. And once you get to the stage of editing your piece, you can add some flare to your work if appropriate.
Creating A Flow
It’s critical to stay in “flow” while writing. This entails keeping your focus on the work at hand and sustaining your momentum. Using placeholders is one approach to accomplish this.
A placeholder is a word or phrase that you can return to later and change. You can keep your attention on writing instead of becoming mired down in the minutiae if you use them.
Start using placeholders to write better, faster, and more confidently. When you utilise placeholders, you can concentrate on getting your thoughts down on paper without having to worry about language or punctuation.
Plus, because you’re not pausing the writing process to look up specific numbers or citations, employing placeholders makes it easier to write intriguing content.
Good Writing Practices – Passive Voice & More
One of the biggest enemies of good writing is cliches. They make your writing appear cheap and unimaginative, and they might make it harder to communicate your message. Another typical blunder that can make your writing appear dull and uninteresting is using passive voice.
You may develop writing that is more engaging and compelling by editing for cliches and passive speech. In your writing, using active voice to avoid cliches and make your sentences more engaging while retaining clarity is a terrific approach to avoid cliches and make your sentences more engaging.
Take the time to check your work for these elements before submitting it. Add them to your editing to-do list and watch your writing improve.
Good Writing Practices – Templates
If you’re experiencing writer’s block, using writing templates can help you get a head start and conquer it.
Templates are pre-formatted outlines that aid in the organisation of your writing. They come in a variety of shapes and sizes, including:
Worksheets with blanks to fill in
Mind maps are visual representations of ideas.
The following is a list of easy sentence beginnings.
Whatever form they take, they provide a foundation for efficiently recording your thoughts. This is especially useful if you have a tight deadline and can’t afford to waste time creating something from scratch.
Structure Your Writing
Many people ignore the importance of outlining in the writing process. At first look, it appears to be unneeded.
However, by revealing your essential ideas, an outline might assist you enhance your case. You can use them as a guide to find supporting remarks, facts, or anecdotes once they’ve been exposed.
Know Your Audience
Knowing who you’re talking to is crucial. That is, to whom is your essay addressed? You must understand what arguments will persuade people, as well as how to express those arguments in such a way that they will be compelled to act.
Many authors make the mistake of focusing solely on the message they wish to convey, rather than considering what their audience requires. As a result, their content falls flat because it doesn’t resonate with the target audience.
Consider who your target audience is before creating captivating content. What are their passions? What is it that drives them?
What are they worried about? If you’re selling a product, where are they in the buying process? What is important to them?
