Whether you are a professional, own a business; whether you have written a best selling fiction book, whether you are a nonfiction author best selling author, you may want to update your writing for the WOW factor.
We know a lot about our topics, yet we want what we write to get read by our target audience. If they turn away once they start to read because our writing isn't easy to read and we don't pay attention to their needs, they won't come back and they won't recommend our products or services.
Writing good copy is more important than just about any thing you do for visibility.That includes web copywriting, books, ads, articles, or books.
Beyond what we know, we need to entertain and engage our audience where they are now. If our writing doesn't grab our readers by the collar and answer their questions at the opening line, this says HO HUM. The goal? Write for your reader rather than lecture what you know.
Think the outline as a good start to good writing organization and direction. Motivate and engage your audience by talking directly with them. Think dialogue, which puts your nonfiction writing in the present tense and gives it more WOW. Make your writing easy to read with simple, rather than long sentences with a lot of phrases and clauses. Maybe in English writing class we learned some writing sins that we need to let go of in business and the adult world.
The Two Biggest Writing Problems
1. Linking verbs make passive sentences.
Our talking habits swing into our writing. We often say, "Mary is a published author." In writing, if we added specifics and a strong verb after the sentence subject, such as "Mary published a best selling children's book, called, "The Shortest Heroes in a Tall World," our readers would pay more attention.
When you write in passive voice, your writing slides along into long sentences that slow your readers down, even bores them.
Before you "send it out" print out your piece. Mark the linking verbs such as "is," "was," "have," or "appears." Set a goal of 2-4% passive verbs and use your grammar check to count them.
Replace the passives with a strong verb that follows your specific subject at the front of the sentence. Practice will make this automatic in no time.
2. "Ing" verb constructions make long, unwieldy sentences.
Today, people want clear, fast and easy to read writing. "Ing" constructions slow the reader down and confuse because they are passive.
Think of a title that inspired you in the past. I like "Jump Start your Book Sales" by Marilyn and Tom Ross. "Jump Starting" lacks power because it doesn't ask for action. "-Ing" construction implies passive. Next time you think a web site or book chapter heading, title, benefits list, or even copy, think command verbs as sentence starters. Use other strong verbs in the present or past tense to create the "active" voice your readers love.
In writing an outline for benefit statements, start with the command verb such as "Discover," or "Increase." Follow these with the changes your audience will experience after they use your product or service. Use visual words such as "See yourself with leaping out of bed energy." Or use a feeling word because your audience bases a lot of what they buy on their personal belief systems "Feel like a 5 year old splashing and wading in the ocean." Notice the metaphors? These help your readers connect themselves with you and your offerings.
By Judy Cullins --
http://www.bookcoaching.com/tips-writing-a... From your
www.PamPerryPRCoach.com
Posted By: Pam Perry
Monday, November 10th 2008 at 12:27AM
You can also
click
here to view all posts by this author...
