When it comes to losing weight, there is a simple formula: eat less, exercise more. It may be simple, but that doesn’t make it easy. Fortunately, the simple formula for writing better is much easier to follow: Write more, read more. The writing more gets plenty of attention, but reading more is just as important and maybe a little easier. It’s not really...
Read MoreOne of the best worst Christmas presents I ever received was a yellow dress, given to me by my grandmother when I was about 8. I suppose it was pretty enough despite the square neck and puffy sleeves, but I hated it as soon as I opened the box. I didn’t wear dresses. At all. Ever. I was a strictly jeans and cowboy boots sort of kid. Not only that, all of my...
Read MoreAre you facing a blank screen? Have you typed and deleted and typed and deleted and still you don’t like what you have? Try asking questions. Put yourself in the shoes of the reader and interview yourself. What are you trying to tell me? Why should I care? What do I need to know? What do I need to do? How should I do it? When should I do it? This little trick...
Read MoreIt may seem that in order to get better at the kind of writing you want to do, whether it is for blogs, newsletters or websites, that the best thing to do is to concentrate on doing that sort of writing and to do a lot of it. This is true. However, there is something to be learned from the sports world. Good athletes cross train. Runners sometimes lift weights....
Read MoreAt first glance, customer service seems pretty disconnected from writing unless you’re talking about writing as a way of enhancing customer service. There are, however, some principles of good customer service that can be applied to writing. Your customers are your readers. Rather than their money, you’re asking for their time. To start with, good customer...
Read MoreIf you want to get better as a writer, you need thick skin. You need to be able to listen to criticism and not take it personally. Writing is a skill that can continually be improved. Even the best writers can get better. For one thing, grammar rules are complicated. You may know them and be concentrating so hard on your thoughts that you mess up. Maybe there are a...
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