|
Subscribe
to Business Bullet
|
How to Write Well
A Marketing Hotsheet subscriber asks me today: "How do you write such good case studies?"The question got me thinking... especially because I never considered myself to be a good writer.
- My grammar is bad (I'm lost without those wonderful spell (& grammar) checking tools).
- My vocabulary is poor (I don't think I've ever used a 12 letter word. Me thinks - "vocabulary" is the biggest word I know, in fact!)
- And English isn't even my first language (although, to be fair, I've been taught English since I was 3. And so, many a times, I even think in English.)
How did I manage to become a decent writer?
I managed it with just 2 tricks:
1. Writing on good ideas.
Even if you have a very strong grasp on the English language, it won't matter much if you don't select good ideas and concepts to write on. One thing I've learnt is: Its not how you write. Its what you write.
2. Cutting out the filler.
Edit. Then edit some more. Don't write one extra word than is required. Cut out the crap and you'll be able to make your ideas shine through your writings.
Thats it. Follow these 2 rules and you'll be able to write well too.
(There are a few other tricks I've learnt over time too... such as using active verbs, listening to how people converse, writing on only one idea at a time, summarizing the body at the end, using parenthesis (), using short sentences, using unusual verbs, etc - but these tricks are worthless if the 2 major rules are not followed!)
My secret weapon
There is one secret ingredient that has influenced my writing more than anything else. And that is reading:
180 pages on how a lawyer tries to solve murders. In most cases, there are only 2 or 3 suspects. Yet, you won't be able to tell till the last moment who the real killer is! What suspenseful writing! One big idea, one big mystery delivered in short sentences. Very rarely will you find a sentence in the book that is un-needed.
Read Perry Mason mysteries if you want to improve your writing.
Another Resource: Writing Gooder by Timothy Miles
Email Post to a friendPosted on 5/27/2005 | Permalink | |
- Read the Click to read New Posts
 |
biztactics.com quick & effective small business marketing tactics |
Marketing eYe:
- Can see the hidden tactics that made other products profitable
- Will reveal those tactics to you on this blog
Click "CTRL + D" to bookmark the marketing eye blog
Top 5 posts
Read these first - The essential Marketing eYe Posts
Sponsors
Text Link Ads script error: local_176136.xml does not exist. Please create a blank file named local_176136.xml.