How To #1 – Effective Writing
This is the inaugural article of a new series of “how to” articles I am going to publish here. Since all bloggers have one thing in common, and that’s writing, this seemed like the perfect place to start. So, without further ado:
What’s the point?
What exactly is the purpose of your writing? Understand what you are trying to accomplish, and write toward that goal. Are you informing your readers about something new? Are you going to teach them? Have a clear goal in mind as you write, and lead your reader to your conclusion.
Choosing a topic
Keep in mind why your readers are there. You are writing for them. What do they care about? Don’t write about what your readers have shown they are not interested in. I have written in previous posts on my blog that I have decided to lay off the keyword articles. The readers have spoken (or rather they have not spoken) and I have listened. Fewer comments=lesser interest. Instead focus on what your readers have shown to be their interest. In my blog’s case, I have noticed interest in the articles I have written about the tools and mechanics of blogging. Thus, the birth of this new series of articles.
Get organized- A Little Secret
The ideas that you are conveying to your readers should flow in a logical order. Use an outline if that’s what it takes. I’ll let you in on a little secret. When I write these posts, the very first thing I do is list the points that I want to write about. Then it’s a fairly simple matter of expanding on each of the points that I have listed. After proofreading them it’s a simple matter to rearrange the order if necessary too. Just a little cut and paste. It makes writing simpler, and it’s a big help in staying on point.
Simplicity is a good thing
Simple, plain language works. Use it. Don’t practice using the biggest words you can find in the dictionary or thesaurus to impress your readers. You’ll impress them alright, but not in a good way. Readers want a simple clear message. They don’t need you to point out that they don’t have the largest vocabulary on the planet. Keep in mind that your are writing to convey information and not to impress.
This is the web
Remember that you’re writing for the web. I mentioned this for a reason. It’s unlike writing for any other media. This is the place where the reader can instantly go to another source of information with just the click of a mouse button if they get bored. You must be interesting. You must hold your reader’s interest or they can instantly leave your pearls of wisdom, thus turning them into pearls of… well…something else.
Look for more articles in my new “how to” series in the very near future
Hi Ray,
Great post. Keeping it simple is always the best way. One of the ways that I like to get ideas across in a number of posts is to tell stories about stuff that has happened to me, stuff that I’ve seen or analogies that I’ve heard or made up.
Just started my blogging journey but I’ll be back for regular tips.
Keep up the good work,
Adrian
Adrian Swinscoe´s last blog ..Nurturing Creativity
Those can be effective techniques. You have to be careful about writing about yourself though. Sometimes the things we think are interesting are not to our readers. I think it’s a matter of what I’ll call unconscious context. I mean by that you are aware of all the circumstances of your life and when you write you are seeing things from that perspective. Your readers, however don’t necessarily share your life experiences and therefore may not see things the same way you do. Does that make sense? I’m going to take a look at your site. By the way, this site is very new also. I started it on January 21.
I also use the method of writing out points and then fleshing them out.
What works for me is a whole bunch of “in progress” articles, I keep them in text edit (mac’s version of notepad) at various development stages. This way when I get ideas I can just jot them down in an appropriate area. Having all these notes and ideas stored means I am never stuck not knowing what to write about, there is always a half finished article to finish!!
Michelle´s last blog ..Feb 24, Why Do People Procrastinate? Steps to Overcoming Procrastination
Sounds like a great working method. I have never been able to get ahead on my posts. Every time I get an idea for a new article, I want to write it right then, and publish immediately. Consequently, there are days that I’ll post several times, and some days I don’t post at all. Usually it turns out to be one a day though.
Liked to see that you didn’t make too much modification in your thesis theme, although I’m a bit tired of seeing Thesis in most number of blogs.
By the way, good post there.
I’m thinking about making my own case but I have a question.,Farah
welcome back, im very interested with your website, always read and stay here to waiting your next movement.,Farah