15 Tips to becoming a Better Writer

Life hack has a great 15 tips post for becoming a better writer:

Summarized, with some minor commentary, they are:

1. Read great writers  (I do this, reading Cialdini's Influence: The Psychology of Persuation right now)
2. Write a lot (no problem, I can't stop)
3. Write down ideas, all the time (yes, on random bits of paper I often lose)
4. Create a writing ritual (nope, life is too random and scattered right now)
5. Just write
6. Eliminate distractions
7. Plan, then write
8. Experiment
9. Revise
10. Be concise (short is great -- eliminate extra words and more)
11. Use powerful sentence
12. Get feedback (yes!)
13. Put yourself out there
14. Learn to be conversational (but of course!)
15. Start and end strong

Thanks to Meryl for alerting me

Comments

[Howard Oliver]

Hi Ted:

I have a well thumbed copy of your blogging and podcasting book.

I have read that podcasting has become less popular. I that true?

I know my clients are more interested in the SEO Marketing work we do.

Howard

Howard

[Alfred Thompson]

I find it amusing that one of your longer comments is the one explaining what "Be consise" means. :-)

As for writing notes, since I live on the computer I try to keep a OneNote folder with notes for future blog posts. Copying a quote from a web site automatically included the URL which makes it easier to save the link for use in the post. When less organized I use a Word file to record notes. I can't keep paper for anything.

[T Demop, Blogging for Business]

Hi Howard,
I see no waning in interest in podcasting, but I do see a lot of increased interest in Blogging specifically for its SEO benefits. Seems like the SEO benefits are one of the easiest to understand (and quantify in terms of ROI).

Alfred,
I write on little scraps of paper a lot! I often have ideas when no computer is handy, like while driving or exercising for example.
Yeah, I lose paper, but the mere act of writing things down cement them in my head