| Whether you're working on a book or your next | | | | your writing and take out every unnecessary |
| blog post, writing is a practice. It's not about being | | | | word. Kill your darlings, in other words. If a word, |
| good or bad--it's about constantly seeking ways | | | | sentence, or phrase does not serve to illustrate |
| to improve, no matter where you are with your | | | | your point, take it out or replace it with words |
| skills. Every time you write, it gets a little easier. | | | | that work. |
| But at the same time, diligent writers collect skills | | | | 4. Write Toward Your Goal |
| and tricks they can use to make their writing | | | | If you want your writing to have meaning, you |
| stronger and more compelling. | | | | need to have a clear goal or message for what |
| Here are five of the simplest and most powerful | | | | you write. Always decide exactly what you want |
| writing tips you can add to your collection. | | | | to accomplish with your writing and make sure |
| 1. Make it Reader Friendly | | | | every word helps reach this goal. Be direct; tell |
| Writing is about making a connection, and you | | | | your readers what you want them to do. If |
| have to communicate with your readers. That | | | | readers have to guess, they will either stop |
| means positioning your message in a way that is | | | | reading or miss your point. |
| most meaningful and compelling to your | | | | 5. Break Up Big Projects |
| readers--not to you or your friend or anyone else. | | | | If you have a particularly large writing project, |
| How do your readers need to hear what you | | | | break it up into smaller segments. For example, |
| have to say? What's going to strike their favorite | | | | don't sit down and say to yourself, "I'm going to |
| chords? Even if you are not the world's greatest | | | | work on a chapter of my book on management." |
| writer, making your writing reader friendly will | | | | Instead, be more specific and tell yourself, "I'm |
| greatly improve the effectiveness and readability | | | | going to write an introduction to chapter three." |
| of your work. | | | | Working on a smaller scale will keep you |
| 2. Use Active Verbs | | | | motivated, prevent you from getting lost, and |
| One of the biggest mistakes people make when | | | | give you a sense of accomplishment every time |
| writing is using the passive voice, or passive | | | | you finish a part of the project. And it will prevent |
| verbs. This complicates their sentences and | | | | you from feeling discouraged because the entire |
| makes them hard to understand, which is | | | | project is not complete yet. |
| definitely not reader friendly. Look for ways to | | | | Improve Your Writing Today |
| rewrite sentences that use passive to-be verbs, | | | | No writer ever gets to the point where they can |
| like "is," "was," and "were." They can't always be | | | | stop improving their craft. And even if you think |
| reworked, but oftentimes they should be. Active | | | | you're a good writer, you should always look for |
| verbs will make your writing more engaging and | | | | new tools to add to your writing tool box. |
| clear. | | | | Successful writing depends on many factors, |
| 3. Be Concise | | | | including organization, simplicity, and conciseness. If |
| Saying what you mean in as few words as | | | | you follow these five tips, your writing will |
| possible is another key to improving your writing. | | | | improve and your message will be clear in |
| After you get your message down, go through | | | | whatever you write, every time you write. |