Make your writing more impactful with these five handy tips from our Senior Editor Bryan Jones…
Our top five tips for better writing:
1) Keep it simple
When you’re writing, it’s tempting to try to show everyone how clever you are by using long words and convoluted sentences. That might have worked when you were writing your history essay at school, but it’s time to move on.
2) Keep it interesting
Get to the point quickly, and say what you need to say concisely. No-one has time these days to plough through your (I’m sure very noble) thoughts before you say what you want.
3) Be clear what your message is
Can you write down the reason for sending out your message in one simple sentence? For example, ‘I want you to submit your survey results by next Friday’, or ‘I want you to know more about our strategic goals’. That’ll keep you focused on the real reason for your message – anything else you write is filler!
4) Imagine you’re talking to a relative or a friend
This was a piece of advice my first editor gave me when I was a cub reporter at my local paper. I was trying to write an introductory paragraph, and couldn’t stop myself making it very complicated. I wanted to include all the detail in one sentence. My editor said: “How would you tell the story to your mum?”. It was a great tip, and helped me clarify what was most important in the story.
5) Remember who you’re writing for
This is often the first thing that goes out of your mind when you write something. You write imagining that what you’re writing is all about you. But actually, it’s not. The important thing is to think carefully before you start about who the message is aimed at – your audience. If you don’t know, you need to find out.
Read about our essential business writing workshops. And get in touch to see how we can help your teams improve their writing skills and really land those vital messages.
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