"All The Things You Are": Three Great Tips to Improve Your SearchWrap Articles
Posted: Saturday, October 11, 2008
by Walter Rhett
Charleston Perlo
Want to improve your writing? Here's three sensible, easy ways!
Tip One. Writing that has to be warmed up is warmed over: serve up your hot main idea right away! The main idea grabs attention and shows that you care about the reader's comfort and time. The main idea tells me right away where you stand! Direct expression shows confidence, lifts interests, creates excitement.
Reading an article shouldn't be an Easter hunt; the reader shouldn't have to figure out your meaning or find your main idea. Place it right in the beginning, in plain sight. (Did I follow my own advice?)
Tip Two. Edit. Cut sentences. Chop unecessary words. How? Try combining sentences. Connect the verbs in two sentences with a preposition and leave out everything else. Combine subjects into a single sentence. For example, in the paragraph above, I can edit, cut,and combine: "Reading should not be an Easter Egg hunt; place your main idea in plain sight!"
Tip Three. Organize your writing. The eye travels in English left to right. But the brain enjoys order. List your points from small to large, old to new, beginning to end, organize your ideas so the reader can follow logical steps.
The writer's mind naturally jumps. Leaps to different points of view. The editor, tidies up, straights out, and put things into the right place. Suppose I began this article with organize your writing instead of the importance of sharing the main idea: would it be as clear and easy to read? Would a change in the order make it eaier or harder to raed?
So place your main idea where the reader can grasp it, weed words carefully, tie common elements together, and order the supporting ideas. It will improve your writing and help your readers love your work!
(Also by the auther, Walter Rhett; click "Make It Easy on Yourself: Vote Early! (31 states allow voting... )
Tip One. Writing that has to be warmed up is warmed over: serve up your hot main idea right away! The main idea grabs attention and shows that you care about the reader's comfort and time. The main idea tells me right away where you stand! Direct expression shows confidence, lifts interests, creates excitement.
Tip Two. Edit. Cut sentences. Chop unecessary words. How? Try combining sentences. Connect the verbs in two sentences with a preposition and leave out everything else. Combine subjects into a single sentence. For example, in the paragraph above, I can edit, cut,and combine: "Reading should not be an Easter Egg hunt; place your main idea in plain sight!"
Tip Three. Organize your writing. The eye travels in English left to right. But the brain enjoys order. List your points from small to large, old to new, beginning to end, organize your ideas so the reader can follow logical steps.
The writer's mind naturally jumps. Leaps to different points of view. The editor, tidies up, straights out, and put things into the right place. Suppose I began this article with organize your writing instead of the importance of sharing the main idea: would it be as clear and easy to read? Would a change in the order make it eaier or harder to raed?
So place your main idea where the reader can grasp it, weed words carefully, tie common elements together, and order the supporting ideas. It will improve your writing and help your readers love your work!
(Also by the auther, Walter Rhett; click "Make It Easy on Yourself: Vote Early! (31 states allow voting... )
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Top-level comments on this article: (4 total)Some interesting advice for all of us. Thanks for sharing, Walter. We all need a little help now and then.Sandra.
Thanks Walter. I finished my very first manuscript a few weeks ago. My agent and his staff are now working on finding a publishing house. When I began four years ago writing my book, I had to learn those "three sensible ways" listed above which I found out to be very important. Especially if you intend to work for a major publishing house, and create a good manuscriput.Having any more tips?Deborah
Hi Walter, love the tips they are helpful, I do have one question. At first you said reading shouldn't be an Easter egg hunt, but then later you said it should be an Easter egg hunt. I am honestly trying to incorporate your tips, but I am left confused. Would you mind clearifing for me? Thanks.poor proofing! you got me. I blog on 15 new sites, including the clarionledger. You can read my stuff there! (I need the hits, and you can see how I use the tips!) I'll correct it soon!
Hi Walter,A clear concise summary with some good points.One tip, as you're obviously pretty busy jumping from blog to blog and don't have time to proof comprehensively, at least use a spell checker to help straight"en" out those little bumps that make it harder to "raed". :)Take care,Ben.
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