You\u2019ll get better faster if you read with purpose. Identify the topics you want to write about and the kind of writing you want to do, then look for examples of that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For instance, if you want to write email copy, read every marketing email that hits your inbox. Think about whether it works or not. Does it make you want to click the \u201clearn more\u201d link at the bottom of the page?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Learn from bad writing and good writing. Think about how you\u2019d change the bad parts. Pick apart the great stuff and identify what makes it great. Soon, you\u2019ll start avoiding those mistakes and repeating those successes in your own work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
2. Focus on the Message<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
As a writer, your job isn\u2019t just to put words on paper or screen. It\u2019s to communicate a message from your client to their intended audience. The more specifically you can understand that message, the more focused your writing will be.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A message is different from a topic. The topic of this blog post is writing tips. The message is, You can become a skilled writer by doing these 12 things. <\/em>That\u2019s the desired takeaway \u2014 the actions that the writer needs to take to succeed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Anything else is just noise.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Keeping the message in the back of your mind makes your writing cleaner and more purposeful. It also makes writing easier \u2014 no more agonizing over what you should and shouldn\u2019t include.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Outlining your work is the best way to keep your writing on track.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Sadly, a lot of writers feel put off by the word \u201coutline\u201d because it makes them think of the highly complex, academic kind of outline that their high school teachers demanded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n There are no such requirements in the real world! Your outline is for your eyes only, and you can structure it any way you want.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you\u2019re new to outlining, the easiest method is usually the skeleton outline<\/a>. It\u2019s a bare bones list of the main points you want to make and your supporting details. It looks like this:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Image source: AcademicHelp.net<\/a><\/sub><\/p>\n\n\n\n Not into Roman numerals and indents? No problem. You can get the same benefit from a mind map, which lets you organize your thoughts graphically:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Image source: MindTools<\/a><\/sub><\/p>\n\n\n\n You can create mind maps by hand or use one of the many free online or app-based tools<\/a> available. Alternatively, you can write your notes on Post-Its and create an organizer on your home office wall or window. It\u2019s all about what makes sense to you!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Now that we\u2019ve covered planning and organizing, it\u2019s time to get into the meat and potatoes of content creation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The first lesson is the most important: Quality beats quantity.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s a hard lesson, especially if you earn by the word, but better work will always get you more business. And in the world of online content creation, concise writing wins the day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Start looking for ways to say the same thing with fewer words. Eliminate redundancies. For example:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Changes like these will make your writing tighter and instantly more effective.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You can easily bring down your word count by cutting filler words and phrases. These add nothing to your content, other than unnecessary bulk. Common examples include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you\u2019re not sure whether a word is filler, cut it and read the new sentence to yourself. If the meaning is the same, you just cut some filler.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Most people started writing in school, where big words and complex sentences earned praise from teachers. But you\u2019re a professional now, and your real-world clients don\u2019t care if you sound smart. They want to know that you can reach their audiences.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The average American reads at an eighth-grade reading level<\/a>. Coincidentally (or not), that\u2019s the same reading level that the Content Marketing Institute<\/a> recommends for blog posts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You can easily check the readability of your work with an online scoring tool. This one<\/a>, from WebFX, lets you cut and paste from anywhere.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You\u2019ll invest a lot of time and effort in simplifying your word choice. Don\u2019t undo all that effort by <\/p>\n\n\n\n As a self-indulgent freelance writer once said:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Even if you use short words and avoid filler, which we all try to do, you can confuse and bore the reader when your sentences get too long \u2014 a mistake of which many an experienced writer is guilty<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Yikes. Here\u2019s the translation for that monstrosity:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Long sentences confuse readers, even if the words are simple. It\u2019s a common mistake!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Keep your writing clear by sticking to simple sentence structures. Replace semicolons with periods. Minimize prepositional phrases. Instead of:<\/p>\n\n\n\n By writing simple sentences, you\u2019ll communicate more clearly.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Replace with:<\/p>\n\n\n\n You\u2019ll communicate more clearly by writing simple sentences.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n This change can be hard for writers to make. You might feel like you\u2019re being abrupt. Take a deep breath and trust the practice \u2014 your readers and clients will thank you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n All writers have words they love. Make sure those words don\u2019t appear too frequently in your writing, or readers will start to notice and get distracted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For instance, many writers overuse the word \u201chowever.\u201d It\u2019s not usually the kind of word you can cut because it indicates contrast. Instead, consider replacing it with a synonym like although, but, yet, <\/em>or even so.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Working on repetition will also help you to build your vocabulary. The more alternative words you use, the more you\u2019ll have in your arsenal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Try this exercise: Read the last thing you wrote. Identify at least two words you used more than once, then think of a replacement for each repetition. Record those replacements somewhere you can refer to them later, then add to that list every time you fix a repetition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Digital audiences tend to scan content, especially when they first encounter it. Big blocks of text are turn-offs, both to your readers and the clients who want those readers to stick around.<\/p>\n\n\n\n To keep your paragraphs under control, use the the 1-2-3-4-5 Test<\/a>. Journalism professor Jon Ziomek developed it to make stories more readable online.<\/p>\n\n\n\n To pass the test, a paragraph must:<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you\u2019re writing for the web, aim for the shorter end of the range. Don\u2019t pack your post with five-line paragraphs. Try to stick with four lines or fewer but make two- or three-line paragraphs your default.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Image source: Writer\u2019s Community<\/a><\/sub><\/p>\n\n\n\n Okay, it\u2019s very unlikely that anyone will chop and saut\u00e9 an elderly relative because of anything you write. But you do need a basic grasp of style and usage to write professionally.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Most importantly, good grammar makes your writing clearer. It also helps you sound more professional and will leave a better impression with clients as well as editors. An error-riddled piece will make someone less likely to hire you again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Don\u2019t worry \u2014 you don\u2019t need to be a grammar expert to succeed as a freelancer. Plenty of professional writers struggle with grammar and spelling and do just fine, largely thanks to online grammar checkers<\/a> like Grammarly, Ginger, and AfterTheDeadline.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Sometimes you\u2019ll need to break the rules of grammar in favor of clarity. (Case in point: The passive voice in the headline above. Sorry, but Rules Are Made for People to Break<\/em> just sounds awkward.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n You\u2019ll break the rules more often when you write for the web. Start a sentence with \u201cBut\u201d or \u201cAnd.\u201d End with a preposition. And it was the best place he went to <\/em>sounds more conversational than Also, it was the best place to which he went<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Conversational wins, nine times out of 10. (The 10th<\/sup> time is the client with a hyper-formal brand voice.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n You can collect all the writing tips in the world, but you\u2019ll only learn how to improve your writing when you start putting those tips into practice. Commit to writing every day, or every working day if writing is your full-time job. (Even writers need days off.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n Client projects count toward your daily writing. If you don\u2019t have one to work on, write in a journal or create a post for your blog.<\/p>\n\n\n\n3. Outline Before You Write<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/clippings-me-blog.imgix.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/outline.png?auto=format%2Cenhance%2Ccompress\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/clippings-me-blog.imgix.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/mindmap.png?auto=format%2Cenhance%2Ccompress\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n4. Use Fewer Words<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
5. Recognize Filler<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
6. Simplify Your Language<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
7. Shorten Your Sentences<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
8. Avoid Repetition<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
9. Shorten Your Paragraphs<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
10. Know the Rules (and When to Break Them)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/clippings-me-blog.imgix.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/at2-28304uf-300x300-2.png?auto=format%2Cenhance%2Ccompress\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nWhy Does Grammar Matter?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Rules Are Made to Be Broken<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
11. Write Daily<\/h2>\n\n\n\n