8 Ways to Improve Your Writing
Immediately
BY RIX QUINN
Is it possible to improve your
writing instantly? The answer, happily, is "yes."
While researching a book on
famous speeches and essays, I found eight easily correctable
mistakes writers often make. Here they are... and how to correct
them instantly.
1. Unfocused Subject -
Focus on a single theme only. Every sentence and paragraph
should reinforce that topic.
2. Too Long - Abraham
Lincoln crafted his Gettysburg Address in less than 300 words.
Unless I’m specifically asked to do otherwise, I try to
condense my work to one double-spaced single page (about 250
words).
3. Weak Premise - Can
you state the major focus of your message in 20 words or less?
4. No Attention-Grabber
- The first sentence or two must quickly attract the reader.
Two ways to do this:
- ask a question or
- reveal a discovery
5. Unlinked Paragraphs
- Each paragraph should logically lead to the next. One way
some writers do this:
- quickly write several
paragraphs on a subject
- prioritize them
- present them in descending
order from most important to least important
- conclude by restating the
two or three most important points.
6. Passive Verbs -
Passive verbs like is, am, was, and were simply exist. Action
verbs run, jump, excite, and motivate.
7. Bore Factor - Some
research says the average adult attention span is only eight
seconds. So it’s important to make your points convincingly,
and end your paper powerfully.
8. Weak Ending - Exit
your report like an experienced stage performer... leave your
audience wanting more. Two ways to do this:
- use a famous quote to
reinforce your conclusion, or
- give details showing the
reader where to get more information on the subject.
(Examples: your phone, fax, email, etc.)
Rix Quinn writes the
nationally syndicated weekly newspaper humor feature Poor
Rix's Almanac for DBR Media. His new book
Words That Stick is available from your local bookstore,
or from Amazon.com. He can be reached by phone at
817-920-7999.
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