16 Easy Ways to Write Better | StoryCroft

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16 Easy Ways to Write Better

Everybodys a writer in the Internet age. And I think thats great.

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. The

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 gen

y, and relying on it does not indicate youre simpleminded or lacking in style. It means you care about cla

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 overboa

obscuring it.

8.Write short paragraphs. Dense copy blocks are unappealing and even intimidating to people who are sc

ning and deciding whether to dive into your blog or article.
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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 sim

way to put it.

16.Know your subject matter and audience so well that you learn to relax when writing and editing your o

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/] .

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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
http://storycroft.com/2014/04/08/16-easy-ways-to-write-better/comment-page-1/#comment-169http://jaycroftcontent.wordpress.com/http://storycroft.com/2014/04/08/16-easy-ways-to-write-better/comment-page-1/#comment-167http://storycroft.com/2014/06/20/27-things-to-never-do-if-you-want-your-content-seen-and-shared/http://storycroft.com/2014/03/25/should-you-start-blogging-7-questions-to-help-you-decide/http://storycroft.com/2014/05/16/5-great-lists-and-1-free-download-to-help-you-write-better/http://storycroft.com/2014/06/20/27-things-to-never-do-if-you-want-your-content-seen-and-shared/http://storycroft.com/2014/03/25/should-you-start-blogging-7-questions-to-help-you-decide/http://storycroft.com/2014/05/16/5-great-lists-and-1-free-download-to-help-you-write-better/http://widgets.wp.com/likes/#http://widgets.wp.com/likes/#http://widgets.wp.com/likes/#http://en.gravatar.com/johnguillenhttp://en.gravatar.com/kt72844http://en.gravatar.com/carymortonhttp://en.gravatar.com/dinnerbysusanhttp://storycroft.com/2014/04/08/16-easy-ways-to-write-better/http://storycroft.com/tag/writing/http://storycroft.com/tag/tips/http://storycroft.com/tag/editing/http://storycroft.com/category/social-media/http://storycroft.com/category/business-comms/http://storycroft.com/category/atlanta-2/http://storycroft.com/2014/04/08/16-easy-ways-to-write-better/#http://storycroft.com/2014/04/08/16-easy-ways-to-write-better/?share=pinterest&nb=1&nb=1http://storycroft.com/2014/04/08/16-easy-ways-to-write-better/?share=email&nb=1&nb=1http://storycroft.com/2014/04/08/16-easy-ways-to-write-better/?share=facebook&nb=1&nb=1http://storycroft.com/2014/04/08/16-easy-ways-to-write-better/?share=linkedin&nb=1&nb=1http://storycroft.com/2014/04/08/16-easy-ways-to-write-better/?share=reddit&nb=1&nb=1http://storycroft.com/2014/04/08/16-easy-ways-to-write-better/?share=twitter&nb=1&nb=1http://storycroft.com/2014/04/08/16-easy-ways-to-write-better/?share=press-this&nb=1&nb=1


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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

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
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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?

m 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 styl

seems di!erent then most blogs and Im

ooking for something unique. P.S Sorry for being o!-topic but I

had to ask!

Charles

June 5, 2014 at 2:38 pm
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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

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
http://storycroft.com/2014/04/08/16-easy-ways-to-write-better/comment-page-1/#comment-810http://jaycroftcontent.wordpress.com/http://storycroft.com/2014/08/16/11-ways-im-terrible-at-writing-blog-titles/

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16 Easy Ways to Write Better | StoryCroft