Is it possible to improve your writing instantly? The answer, happily, is "yes."
While researching a book on famous speeches and essays, I found eight easily correctable mistakes writers often make. Here they are?and how to correct them instantly.
1. UNFOCUSED SUBJECT ? Focus on a single theme only. Every sentence and paragraph should reinforce that topic.
2. TOO LONG ? Abraham Lincoln crafted his Gettysburg Address in less than 300 words. Unless I'm specifically asked to do otherwise, I try to condense my work to one double-spaced single page (about 250 words).
3. WEAK PREMISE ? Can you state the major focus of your message in 20 words or less?
4. NO ATTENTION-GRABBER ? The first sentence or two must quickly attract the reader. Two ways to do this: (a) ask a question or (b) reveal a discovery.
5. UNLINKED PARAGRAPHS ? Each paragraph should logically lead to the next. One way some writers do this: (a) quickly write several paragraphs on a subject; ((b) prioritize them; (c) present them in descending order from most important to least important; (d) conclude by restating the two or three most important points.
6. PASSIVE VERBS ? Passive verbs like is, am, was, and were simply exist. Action verbs run, jump, excite, and motivate.
7. BORE FACTOR ? Some research says the average adult attention span is only eight seconds. So it's important to make your points convincingly, and end your paper powerfully.
8. WEAK ENDING ? Exit your report like an experienced stage performer?leave your audience wanting more. Two ways to do this: (a) use a famous quote to reinforce your conclusion, or (b) give details showing the reader where to get more information on the subject. (Examples: your phone, fax, e-mail, etc.)
Rix Quinn writes the nationally syndicated weekly newspaper humor feature "Poor Rix's Almanac" for DBR Media.
His new book "Words That Stick" is available from your local bookstore, or from Amazon.com. He can be reached by phone at 817-920-7999.
In most aspects of business, we will be expected to... Read More
10 - You will always have a job. As long... Read More
The Big IdeaOkay. So youve figured out that you would... Read More
The biggest mistake authors make when trying to get free... Read More
"The Magic of Layout..."???Okay... "magic" might seem a bit over... Read More
Have you heard the term 'ghostwriter' and wondered what they... Read More
I asked several writers how long it took them to... Read More
While novels do not usually attempt to convey concepts about... Read More
Q: How do I expand on an idea without getting... Read More
In his book, "Achieving Financial Independence as a Freelance Writer,"... Read More
If you want happy customers to use your service or... Read More
In the ten years that I've taught people how to... Read More
It's a good idea to use TextPad because all opt-in... Read More
Do you have trouble getting your thoughts and ideas down... Read More
Written communication is often the first impression you make on... Read More
Do you love someone very deeply? A spouse, son, daughter,... Read More
Communication is effective when we follow certain rules. These rules... Read More
Someone once commented that there were no new ideas to... Read More
You can create a great headline, a dynamic first sentence,... Read More
Ever wonder why we refer to convincing an editor a... Read More
Interested in breaking into writing or breaking into a new... Read More
Creative Writing Tips ?We all tackle plotting differently. How you... Read More
You've finished your story, and you're pretty happy with it.... Read More
Dr. Phil's Life Strategies, #1 New York Times Bestseller catches... Read More
It was reported that the great American author Sinclair Lewis... Read More
We've all seen those ads that grab our attention and... Read More
When my first book "Starting Your Own Business" was published... Read More
Remember back in the dark days of your school years... Read More
Recently I was watching the Oprah show and it was... Read More
Q. My writing sounds stiff and stilted. Help!A. Memories of... Read More
Kallu was a tenant of Santosh Kumar Nayak. Santosh Kumar... Read More
I call it cheap therapy. That gushing, near-religious, poured-from-the-body stress... Read More
Short Story Writing Tips -We've established what a title should... Read More
Writing papers and book reports has long been the bane... Read More
SO YOU WANT TO BE A WRITER?Many people have entertained... Read More
So you've decided to crown yourself with a title that... Read More
Do you consider yourself a storyteller? Do you consider yourself... Read More
Compiling a list of the history's ten best writers is... Read More
More and more good authors are turning to the Internet... Read More
Griselda spent hours polishing up her resume. No detail was... Read More
"No one will ever know who I am, I'm a... Read More
Is there a book inside of you? Yes? Then why... Read More
Sometimes I can be dense when it comes to realizing... Read More
By far, I have found that the lack of discipline... Read More
Suspense novels, unlike any other genre, need fast starts. Fans... Read More
We all need a cheer squad.We all need people to... Read More
The decision to publish a book is very exciting! It... Read More
The creativity of Jaisini is not designed to be preaching... Read More
I recently set up a website to promote a new... Read More
(This excerpt is taken from my new writing workshop Writing... Read More
----------------------------------------------------------Permission is granted for the below article to forward,reprint, distribute,... Read More
Language Training - A key to Global CommunicationLanguage Training is... Read More
Did you know that your back cover information is, after... Read More
Op-ed articles, also known as opinion/editorial articles, are a great... Read More
Charles Dickens was born in Portsea, England, in1812. His father... Read More
No matter what your fifth-grade English teacher says, some grammar... Read More
Great business writers combine narrative skills with sound judgment to... Read More
Listen, consider this scenario.You have a deadline to honour. Time... Read More
Want to write your book? But, need a blueprint on... Read More
The short-short story has been likened by some as being... Read More
What is a prologue? When should you use one? Should... Read More
Here's something from my mailbag. "Dear Michael, do you need... Read More
Wired Online has recently announced its plans to drop capitalization... Read More
1. Remember publication is a business; writing is an art.... Read More
Write Right - You have an all important business letter... Read More
When I first started tracking the information preferences of people... Read More
Writing |