“Writing is easy. All you have to do is cross out the wrong words.” – Mark Twain
Being able to convey an effective message through words is the prime objective for any writer. So, when you sit down to put some words on a document, you can certainly make use of few basic tips.
Tip 1: Plan your content
Create an outline map. Chart down an initial framework that covers what you are going to write about. Know your core message. This should help you organise your thoughts together.
Tip 2: Gather the right information
Being well-informed about the topic is the basic requirement. Reading about other’s work on the same topic will help to decide your own way. While reading is important refrain from copying someone’s content.
Tip 3: Know your audience
Tailor your writing depending upon the Targeted Audience (TA). This helps you set a tone and language ideal for the readers. Know about the prevailing interest and a sense of tone that appeals to your audience.
Tip 4: Be direct in your approach
Communicate with your audience to strike the right cord with them. Whenever possible, use the active voice to establish a direct dialogue with the reader. Be confirmative but not authoritative. Provide suggestions rather than dictating commands.
Tip 5: Avoid being repetitive
Avoid redundancy in writing by taking out words or sentences with similar meaning. If the content works fine without a word, don’t hesitate to delete it. Avoid clichés.
Tip 6: Use clear and strong words
This is essential to convey the right message in your content. Use effective words that convey the exact meaning of your message. Be specific rather than using vague words. Present your content effectively, so readers can scan through it and understand the essence without having to read in detail.
Tip 7: Simplify the message
Use list and tables to get the information through. Subheadings can help you segregate different section of a piece. If you think you can rephrase a sentence better, just do it.
Tip 8: Use short paragraphs
Long stretches of words can get jarring. Break up the content to make it easy to the eyes. Keep the whole piece tight but coherent.
Tip 9: Make the first draft quickly
Don’t waste too much time planning the content. Put down your thoughts immediately. Forget about grammar, phrasing and even spelling and just create a raw first draft. Thoughts once lost are difficult to find, so pen them down.
Tip 10: Edit carefully
No writing piece is final. You can always write the final content in a better way or add and delete something. While it’s not wise to edit your content endlessly, it is important to make 2-3 rounds of edits to makes sure there are no basic mistakes. It’s best to have someone else read through your content for edits to obtain a third eye view.