Strong writing is made up of many components: grammar, flow, style, word choice, and of course strong ideas. But, none of these things alone will help you communicate effectively, and even the right combination of these elements will only confuse readers without a solid structure. Structure is the foundation on which the other components rest,…
Tag Archive: logical flow of ideas
What Makes Effective Business Writing?
Every business writing situation is different. You will naturally alter your strategies for a website versus a brochure, a blog, a press release, or an e-book. The ways to achieve writing project success will vary from document to document as you consider things like context, audience, structure, placement, and purpose. But, there are some common…
Your Website Writing Checklist
Last week, I responded to a general request on LinkedIn from a business owner who had just updated his website and wanted feedback on content, design, SEO, and code. What did I look for when reviewing his site for content? And, by extension, what elements should your website copy contain? Clear Message Above all, your…
Writing Titles That Work
So, you’ve gone to all the trouble to think of something to write about. You’ve done the research. You’ve crafted a logical outline. And, you’ve found just the right words to express your ideas. Now it’s time for the final touches, including writing your title…which may appear to be the easy part. “There are so…
Ruthless Editing
Just as the white space in design makes visual elements stand out, and the space between notes makes music more powerful, what you leave out of your writing can make it more robust. Ruthless editing of your writing requires making hard choices about what stays and what goes once you have developed an initial draft….
What Makes Good Writing?
Writing is somewhat like art in that not everyone agrees on what is “good.” Having said that, here are some factors that have been present in much of the writing I consider good: Precision of Meaning Mark Twain said, “The difference between the right word and the almost right word is the difference between…
Top 10 Errors to Avoid When Writing for Business
While most businesses could probably use a business writer, not all of them have one on staff, or have the resources to hire one on a contract basis. Yet, brochures, websites, blogs, newsletters, and press releases still need to be written. Often, this task falls to someone who is uncomfortable with, or, worse, not very…