writing advice Archives - Page 11 of 17

5 More Useless Words to Cut From Your Writing

1. both
2. either
3. all of us
4. on hand
5. due to the fact that

The original article: 5 Useless Words and Phrases to Cut From Your Writing.

Quotes

“If our life is poured out in useless words, we will never hear anything, never become anything, and in the end, because we have said everything before we had anything to say, we shall be left speechless at the moment of our greatest decision.” ~ Thomas Merton

“Write tightly. Avoid clutter. Get to the point and purge useless words.” ~ Meeting Professionals International – Potomac Chapter

Comments? Suggestions? Need help? Feel free to contact me.

Michelle Troutman
classywriting.com

5 Common Blogging Mistakes You Could Be Making

1. No “calls-to-action” – This is one of the most common blogging mistakes I see. And it’s easy to avoid. If you sell a product or a service, include a plug to contact you for help or a link for more information. It doesn’t always have to be at the end, either.

2. A boring title – The headline is usually the first thing your readers will see. Ideally, it’s short and spicy while it hints at the topic covered.

Example: “Things to Do in L.A.”
Revised: “8 Ways to Have Fun in L.A. for Less Than $200”

3. Not asking readers to comment – Besides reading (and writing) blog posts, I enjoy readers’ comments about them. Some posts don’t end with questions to encourage replies. Ask readers what they think, how they could do it better, or any number of questions that can’t be answered with a “yes” or a “no.” It helps build a sense of community.

4. A lackluster opening – Write an opening sentence that will entice people to read the entire piece. It doesn’t have to be terribly original — you don’t have to set the bar high — but, at least make it a true statement. Or open with a question. Surprise us a little.

Example: “Maine drivers are familiar with hazardous weather conditions.”
Revised: “Winter is no stranger to the 207. Raise your hand if you passed your driver’s test in a Nor’easter.” (The Law Offices of Joe Bornstein blog)

5. No subheadings – I like subheadings in posts longer than 600 words. They make the rest of the text easier on the eyes and add to the overall flow.

Read 5 More Blogging Mistakes You Could Be Making.

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The Classy Writing Blog

Good Blog Examples: Professional Services Firms

“In my Web travels, I see some great and a lot of not-so-great blogs….” Read more.

Quotes

“Don’t focus on having a great blog. Focus on producing a blog that’s great for your readers.” ~ Brian Clark, Copyblogger.com

“For bloggers, the deadline is always now. Blogging is therefore to writing what extreme sports are to athletics: more free-form, more accident-prone, less formal, more alive. It is, in many ways, writing out loud.” ~ Andrew Sullivan, “Why I Blog,” The Atlantic

Comments? Suggestions? Need help? Feel free to contact me.

Michelle Troutman
Classy Writing
207.332.8379
classywriting.com

writing, writing advice

Five Articles That Are Easy to Create

These types of articles can be short enough to make your writing life easier, especially if you need inspiration just before a deadline.

1. Lists – Like this one! Sometimes referred to as “listicles,” you need at least three to five items for a decent list.

2. “How To” – Again, this type of article is usually specific, which often means your piece won’t be overlong (“How to Kill Fungus Gnats,” “How to Save $10 a Day”). And, you can make it into a list to reduce the word count.

3. Infographics – Aptly named, interesting information presented as an illustration looks appealing, and suits social media and blog posts, however, these can work well in print articles, too. You can easily convert a “how-to” into this format.

Example: How Does Rent to Own Work? Facts and statistics on a topic also work well within this framework, as do histories and timelines. You don’t need to be a designer, but some sense of design helps, however, you can use an infographic generator instead.

4. Essays/Opinions/Blog Posts – They’re often based on personal experiences, which require little to no research. I usually feature this type of blog post, but this one is different. 🙂

5. Q&As – Question and answer format articles, such as FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions) and interviews are good examples of this style, which makes them easy to compile.

Example: The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Frequently Asked Questions and Answers

These are among the easiest types of content to create quickly. Have more suggestions? Feel free to post.

And if you find creating content tough and lack time, read my free ebook, 14 Ways to Write More in Less Time.

writing advice

5 Writing Redundancies to Remove

1. Phrases with words that have similar definitions, such as “join together,” “free gift,” and “close proximity” — only one word is necessary.

2. “Legalisms”: “aid and abet,” “cease and desist”

3. Words that have already been defined: “ATM machine” (ATM = Automated Teller Machine”); “please RSVP” (RSVP is French for “répondez, s’il vous plaît,” or “please reply”).

4. Phrases that repeat the quality already stated: “oval in shape,” “larger in size,” “shorter in duration,” “a period of one week,” “blue in color,” “6 am in the morning.”

5. Words added to actions that are already implied.

Example: “She nodded her head.”
Revised: “She nodded.”

Quotes

“Redundancy is one of the carnal sins of writers.” ~ Sandy Tritt, Say It Once, Say It Right

“The first rule of Tautology Club is the first rule of Tautology Club.” ~ Seanan McGuire, Ashes of Honor

Comments? Suggestions? Need help? Feel free to contact me.

Michelle Troutman
classywriting.com

writing advice

5 Homophones That Are Easy to Confuse

1. peak / peek – Watch your “a”s and “e”s! Not “sneak peak” or even “sneek peek”; “peak” – to reach the top or achieve greatness. “Peek” – to look at something.

2. pour / pore – As in the verb sense to “pour” or to “pore” over something; to “pour” is to drop something onto something else, whereas, to “pore” is to read through something carefully.

3. stationary / stationery – One letter makes a big difference. “Stationary” is a motionless state. Remember that “a” stays the same for this word. “Stationery,” however, is decorative paper used for writing personal correspondence.

4. compliment / complement – Again, one letter can throw you off. A “compliment” is a kind thing one says to another person. A “complement” is a pairing of two things that go well together.

5. passed / past – It must be the same sound and the same start to the words — “pas.” Their meanings can be similar, in the sense of moving beyond something. “Time has passed.” “I couldn’t get past the gatekeeper.”

Quotes

“Anyone else find it funny that Bernie Madoff’s last name is a homophone of ‘made-off’?” ~ David C. Holley, Write Like No One is Reading

“She felt…less. She felt tamped down. Dim. More faint. Feint. Feigned. Fain.” ~ Patrick Rothfuss, The Slow Regard of Sile

Comments? Suggestions? Need help? Feel free to contact me.

Michelle Troutman
Classy Writing
classywriting.com