Topic: Writing Tips

[Ro]

I know I can always use tips to improve my writing skills....

Let's chat about what we have learned or questions about what we need to learn from each other. 

 Suggestions?

[Ann Doupont]

Ro,

One of the things I've learned is that different people do things differently. For example, one person says to not use any contractions when writing. Others say that it makes for more readability, so please do use them.

When I published my 3 books, I looked at the Chicago Manual of Style, as was suggested by one of the publishers. The style of writing (grammar, punctuation, etc.) changes every year, I think it is. The book I looked at was the 15th edition. Everything keeps on changing.

Although I did as they showed to do for commas, it looked strange to me. They'd said to use a comma after each word of a series of words. Sometimes (or some years), you're not to use a comma after the last word of the series. It seems to look better (more pleasing) to my eyes to not have that last comma, but I did it the way they said to do it, anyway.

The old saying which goes, "You can't please all of the people all of the time," seems to be true in the writing industry.

Another thing I learned through studying that manual was that a person should be uniform in the way they use numbers (whether using the numeral or spelling out the word) within the same paragraph. So, if I'm using the number 10 for example in a paragraph and also the number 15, I shouldn't spell out one of the numbers and use the numeral in the other one.

So much to learn...so little time.

Ann

[Tim Russ]

A good book for grammar is The Elements of Style by Strunk and White.

I found it on Amazon for as little as $1.80 and new for $9.95.
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/020530902X/bookstorenow57-20

I also found 13 auctions for it on eBay.
http://search.ebay.com/search/search.dll?from=R40&_trksid=m37&satitle=The+Elements+of+Style+&category0=

[Dee]

I agree with Ann.  Everybody writes differently.

One thing I learned to do a long time ago was to make a writer's block starter list.

For instance:
Tell a story
Reveal a fact
Ask a challenging question

By making a list of what's worked for you in the past you can easily pull that list up and look through it when you feel stuck in your writing. When you face "the white bull" (as Hemmingway put it) you pull up your list, pick a starter method and write a single paragraph or even a single sentence.

This will get you started writing and the rest of it will probably flow easily once you get started.

[Tim Russ]

Excellent suggestion.  Thanks!

[Ro]

Great tips and suggestions.

When I was writing papers in college the "approved" way to write numbers was to spell our the numbers one through ten and then after that we were to write out the numbers 11 and on up.  Perhaps the professional writers do it different than in college. 

We were also told to not use contractions.  However, as Ann said, some say to use them. 

Perhaps some things really boil down to style.  As long as we have good grammar and punctuation the content will probably carry the rest of the piece. 

Thanks all.

[Ro]

What structure do you all use when you put an article together?

[Tim Russ]

I create an outline.

1. What do I want to accomplish?
2. Opening
3. Body
4. Close

[Ro]

OK... somehow that seems too simplistic.

Isn't there more than that?

[Tim Russ]

Well there's an article hook, a conclusion call to action, and interesting information between them.

Each article needs to have a unique and interesting perspective that grabs the reader's attention right up front.  That's called the hook.  It's like hooking a fish that takes the bait.  By providing some interesting perspective up front you entice the reader to get involved with reading the rest of the article.

Have you ever read a newspaper?  Pay particular attention to both the article title and the first paragraph.  Especially the first sentence. You'll begin to get the idea of what a hook is.

The way an article is designed to work is the title grabs attention. That makes the reader want to read the first sentence.  The first sentence grabs attention and fills the reader with desire to read the first paragraph.  The first paragraph should be so interesting that it causes the reader to want to read the second paragraph.  Each paragraph after that should move the reader to read the next paragraph.

When the reader has finished they should feel glad that they read the article and they should be wanting to read something else you've written.  There's an old Vaudville statement that goes like this, "Always leaving them wanting more."  That's what you should do with your article writing.

The end or conclusion or summary of your article should provide the punch line, the moral, the conclusion of a matter, or inspire the reader to take some kind of action.

[Ro]

That is PERFECT!

Thanks!

Now watch all your writers start pumping out those articles.

 

[Dee]

Another way you can write an article is to speak to their emotions.

Most people need their problems solved.  If you use the first paragraph to talk about the problem they're encountering they can relate to that problem and they'll get interested.

The following paragraphs can show them how to solve the problem.  If you can tie the solution to something they'll relate to it will be easier for them to adopt it into their life.  Once you've helped someone resolve a problem they'll be more likely to look for other things you write in the future.

[Ro]

Another tip is to include points ... if it fits into your topic.

People will tend to remember logical points.  Those are usually the main content of the body.  I personally like to instert 3 points because 3 is a number people can remember.

It is usually an amount that the reader can wrap their mind around.