The Ultimate 15 point Checklist to Make Your Writing Come Alive

Make your writing come alive

A guest post by Marya Zainab of Writing Happiness.

So you have defeated all the noises that play havoc inside your head, and finally put down something on paper – you have written a piece.

First of all, a big congratulations to you. First drafts are often the easiest to write provided you have understood them for what they are; just the first drafts – the initial write up. You will have many of them.

According to Natalie Goldberg of Bird by Bird and Writing Down the Bones, they are almost always shitty and you don’t know what your finished piece looks like – yet. But that’s ok, because now the real work of writing starts.

Gather your draft and start editing. This is where craft and structure begin.

#1 Read Aloud

Read the text aloud to yourself. You will discover many inconsistencies in your writing that you will not be able to discover otherwise.

Sometimes, your writing will feel jittery and you may stumble over words. Make a note of it all. Aim to read it without watching it fall flat.

Read each piece at least once, listening for crazy sentences. Rewrite more by simply saying out loud what you are really trying to say.

#2 Read for Voice

Have you found your voice yet, or are you still working on it? Either way, read your draft to see if it sounds like you.

Can your voice be heard? Does your writing resonate with the sound of your voice? Can your reader guess it might be you who have written the post? If not, rewrite to let your personality shine through.

A strong voice will add authenticity to your work. Choose your words carefully and soulfully. Readers always appreciate this quality in writing.

#3 Keep Your Readers in Mind

Who have you written this piece for? Imagine them when you are reading it again.

Is your language appropriate? Have you confused or patronized them, appeared sexist? Have you said anything that might not sit well with your audience?

You want to be considerate of your audience – neither appearing to be snobbish, nor talking to them like you would to a child. Show your respect for your readers.

Keeping their faces in mind, change any sections that you have doubts about.

#4 Is your Lead Right?

Is your lead like bait that will pull your readers in or something that would repel them?

When you are writing a narrative, you are telling a story. Your beginning needs to pull the reader in. Let your reader know what your piece is about.

Clue them in early so they know exactly what to expect. They need to go through the experience with you. If kept in the dark for long, they might lose interest quickly and drift away. Provide them with details that will invoke their interest in the topic.

#5 Is Your Conclusion Right?

What is the point to your writing?

Through your insights or your take on something, the reader can connect with the experience you write about. The ending needs to bring them some understanding and insight, or lead to a slight shift in awareness. If your writing doesn’t do anything like that, you need to revisit its purpose.

You need a beginning, a middle and an end – its that simple. Pay attention to your ending, you must get it right. If you are not happy with it, rework it.

#6 Smooth Out Changes in Tone

Your tone is your attitude towards the topic, reader and yourself. It is impossible to write without a tone – it is apparent in the selection of your words.

Your voice, tone and structure will emerge as you write. It’s impossible to do that in your head. You have to have a first draft in front of you to begin your critique. Only by writing, you will be able to figure out what works and what doesn’t.

Read again to see if there are any many clashes in tone. Decide on the dominant one and keep it constant throughout. Make sure your writing maintains a consistent tone.

#7 Use Verb Contractions

If your tone allows it, if the rhythm permits it, use contractions to lighten your prose. Instead of saying ‘You were not even listening, say you weren’t even listening to me. Replace I will come with I’ll come and so on.

#8 Look at Paragraphs Again

Does your paragraph have a topic sentence that supports one point for the whole paragraph?

Each paragraph should be a series of sentences exploring one main idea. Every sentence should relate to that main point. New thought? Start another one.

Your paragraphs should connect with each other in a logical, seamless flow. Use transitions to logically connect one paragraph to another.

Vary the length of your paragraphs to make them more interesting.

#9 Vary Length of Sentences

Have you varied the length of your sentences? Give your reader’s mind and eye a rest by doing that. Split long sentences into two to make them reader friendly.

#10 Fix Run-on Sentences

A run-on sentence is not necessarily one that goes on and on. It is perfectly fine to craft long sentences.

A run-on sentence is when two or more clauses (complete meanings) are joined by a comma instead of being separated by a full stop. You can also use a conjunction to connect the clauses.

I went to a party, I was really exhausted. This is a run on sentence, it has two complete ideas.
I went to a party. Afterwards, I was really exhausted. Or
I went to a party but I was really exhausted afterwards. Both are correct.

Get rid of any run-on sentences and excessive commas. Use full stops more boldly. Could you improve your sentences by restructuring them?

#11 Get Rid of Clichés

Cliches are sprinkled in to make your writing feel professional, often it does the opposite.

The only thing that your writing needs is that it is honest and specific. You don’t have to use fancy, clever or literary language.

Instead of using cliches, aim to write to surprise your reader. Say something unexpected, use humour and delight them, and enjoy yourself in the process.

#12 Use Exclamation Marks Sparingly

You need emotion in your writing: anger, grief, frustration, embarrassment, fear, love are all that makes it interesting. However, don’t try to bring attention to them by using exclamation marks. Use strong, vivid words to communicate that instead.

A sentence that falls flat without using an exclamation mark, is a flat sentence. It should have the same impact, even when you take the exclamation mark away.

#13 Check for Qualifiers

Check your use of adjectives and qualifiers (words that precede qualifiers) such as very, little, quite, rather, just, indeed etc.

Use strong words, use them with authority.

#14 Eliminate Unnecessary Words

We use thousands of unnecessary words in our writing. Go back and revise, cut everything that you can without affecting the meaning and the message in your piece. If you won’t notice its gone, remove it.

Every single word must pull its weight. Tighten your prose. Eliminate repetitious information.

#15 Proofread

Finally, proofread. Make any last minute corrections.

Give it at least twenty four hours. Its handy to change the font, size or colour when you do. The text will feel fresh, like you are reading it for the first time.

Many people still rush through this stage and inevitably end up with typos and other mistakes in their writing. Be thorough, use a spell-check.

You know you are done, when you have done the best you can. Relax, and be proud.

Which aspect of editing do you dread the most? What excites you? Share you best editing and revision tips in the comments below.

Marya is a communicator of ideas, exploring the human face of blogging. She offers quirky insights into personal development for bloggers. Catch more of her posts at Writing Happiness. For practical tips and inspiration, read Give Your Blog a Complete Makeoever – 18 Action Steps to the Path of Blogging Success.

Join Leo Babauta and Mary Jaksch in their spectacular training environment for bloggers: the A-List Blogger Club.

Categories: Art of Writing, Blogging - Tags: , ,

How to Use the Power of Silence to Boost Your Writing Career

The Power of Silence

A guest post by Linda Formichelli of The Renegade Writer

As writers, we voice our opinions, discuss options, interview sources, ask questions, negotiate with editors and clients, and kvetch about assignments with our writer friends.

For what most people call a solitary profession, writing sure involves a lot of talking.

But there are times when silence is the best thing for your career. Here are some examples.

1. The Interview Silence

I recently became a wellness coach and personal trainer. Our natural tendency is to formulate what we’re going to say next while the other person is talking so we can jump right in when they’re finished.

But coaches need to listen deeply to their clients, which means there will be a dreaded silence when the client is done speaking where the coach is thinking about how to respond.

With my last few clients, I decided to fight my fear of silence and let it happen. I listened mindfully to my clients and tried to restrain my impulse to swoop in as soon as they finished speaking. It felt a bit unnatural, but my clients gave glowing feedback on my listening skills and coaching manner.

I decided to try the same tactic with my next phone interview for an article I was working on for a custom publisher. Instead of being at the ready with my next question, I thought about what the source said and then based my next question on that. We had a delightful conversation, and I learned more and got better information than I would have if I had peppered the source with question after question.

Try it: The next time you have an interview, prepare a few ice-breaker questions and list the questions you absolutely have to ask, but let the conversation be your guide. Listen intently to your source — no multitasking — and take a few seconds when the source is done speaking to formulate your next question.

2. The Community Silence

We writers are an opinionated lot, and nowhere is this more evident than on online writing forums. But sometimes it makes sense to be silent, leave the arguments to others, and spend your time on building your writing career.

Writers who know me only online often comment on how nice I seem. (Notice how I said “seem”!) That’s because I try not to get caught up in flame wars, opinion flinging, and judging. Don’t get me wrong — I’m not saying I don’t think these thoughts. I do, and sometimes they turn into hopefully illuminating posts on the Renegade Writer blog. But I prefer to save most of the actual complaining and gossiping for a couple of my best writer friends — offline.

Every once in awhile I find myself constructing arguments in my head to something someone said online, and then I catch myself and realize that just because I had a thought doesn’t mean I need to make it public.

The same can be said for social media. Whenever my toddler says something über- brilliant or I get a plum writing assignment, my first reaction is often, “I have to put this on Facebook!” But then I started wondering: Why am I so concerned with what 600 acquaintances (most of my FB friends I don’t know in real life) think of my son or my career? I then consider how, when I go onto Facebook to post one comment, I often get sucked into reading all the updates. So I remain silent and do something else instead.

Try it: The next time you’re tempted to jump into an argument online or share every witty thought with the social media world, try to stay silent for a while.
The urge will pass, and you’ll have spent your time on tasks that actually move you towards your career goals.

3. The Negotiating Silence

Kelly James-Enger and Carol Tice are both proponents of silence while negotiating with clients and editors.

Here’s how it works: An editor says, “We can pay you 20 cents per word.” Your first inclination is to jump in and ask for more, but instead you stay silent for a few seconds. This creates tension without being aggressive, and sometimes the editor comes back to offer more without your even saying anything. (Ask Carol how this happened to her!)

But if he doesn’t, the silent pause is your chance to determine how much you want to make and how you’re going to ask for it. If you fear the silence, you may walk right into a contract that doesn’t work for you.

Try it: The next time a client has you on the phone and is offering an unacceptable deal, resist the urge to jump in with a better deal and wait a few seconds
instead. If the client doesn’t break the silence, you can still use that time to figure out what you really want from the deal.

Linda Formichelli has written for more than 120 magazines since 1997, from Pizza Today to Redbook, and is also a wellness coach and personal trainer. Linda’s writing blog is The Renegade Writer, and her coaching blog is HappyFit, where she posts about anxiety, depression, energy, fitness, diet, motivation, and happiness.

Join Leo Babauta and Mary Jaksch in their spectacular training environment for bloggers: the A-List Blogger Club.

Categories: Art of Writing, Blogging

What Are YOU Writing?

What are you writing?

By Mary Jaksch

What are you working on right now?

A blog post? A novel? Your best article ever? A poem? A film script? An Ebook?

Maybe you’ve just finished something you’re really proud of.

Or maybe you just can’t tell whether it should get a Pulitzer or be thrown into the trash.

Here’s your chance to share and discuss with each other what you are writing about.

Whet our appetite with the opening paragraph of your future bestseller, give us a link to your best post, give us a taste of your awesome poem – or tell us what you are writing at the moment.

Who knows, your piece might even attract the notice of a major publishing house! Here are some guidelines:

A. Writers:

  • State what aspect you’re working on. For example, you might want to say, “Here’s a link to my article “The Role of Rabbits in Nuclear Science”. I’m currently working on eliminating superfluous words.”

B. Commenters:

  • When commenting, first list everything you really like about a piece.
  • Only then offer careful suggestions.
  • Treat each other with respect, friendliness, care, and honesty.
  • Remember that we are all still learning.

Now it’s over to you. Take a deep breath. Then jump into the comment section and bring out your treasures!

Mary Jaksch is the Editor in Chief of Write to Done. Together with Leo Babauta, Mary runs a spectacular training environment for bloggers: the A-List Blogger Club. Join our 900 motivated and supportive members! If you’re a blogger and want to create an online income the ‘Good Karma’ way, check out Mary’s brand-new blog A-List Blog Marketing

Categories: Art of Writing, Blogging, Fiction

How a Single Bullet Can Get a Customer To Buy

A guest post by Sean DSouza of Psychotactics 

Sell what you write

I remember going to a workshop in the year 2003
The price of the workshop was $8000. Plus there was overseas travel involved. And yes the usual accommodation and food expenses. In all it was going to cost me almost $12,000 to get to this one workshop. And I made the decision on the basis of a single bullet.

So what are these bullets?
The bullets I’m talking about are the bullets that you see in advertising. Bullets are the same thing that you see on the cover of magazines and newspaper mastheads. And if you want to sell more effectively here’s how bullets can help you considerably. When you’re writing copy or creating a speech or rehearsing a presentation or writing an article for that matter, don’t sit down and write text or sales copy.

Write bullets instead
Bullets help you clear your mind. It gives focus to your marketing message.

Let me give you an example of bullets in marketing material

  • The Spider’s Secret. How to get customers to call you instead of you chasing them.
  • How to get your fee paid 100% in advance every time.
  • How to create a huge demand for your product or service. This secret is over 10,000 years old and works every single time. And most business doesn’t use it.
  • Why your website, business card and your advertising can turn out to be a total waste of resources and effort. How the eye sees things and what causes customers to buy.
  • The secrets of being able to sell the same product or service at up to 400% higher prices.
  • How to create a sequential system that will bring business even if you don’t have a single new customer.
  • The Three Prong system. This tool will change the way you look at your business forever. Ignore at your risk.
  • How we got over US$40,000 worth of products complimentary this year alone…and how you can do it too.
  • Piggybacking: You’ll laugh and cry when you see how simple it is to piggyback on the success of others. The more the others succeed, the more you succeed. And all at zero cost to you.
  • The Secrets of Conversion. How to engage and make your customer never want to leave you, and instead, continuously buy from you.

What you see are just some of the bullets that we used when we sell one of our courses. At that point the course wasn’t ready. Just the bullets were.

Bullets are your foundational material
Bullets free you to just run wild with your thoughts and create the outline for your sales copy and syllabus. And they help the customer make a decision. Often, the customer may be too busy to read copy. So they’ll skim till they reach the bullets. Then hit the brakes.

It’s the brakes I hit back in 2003
One bullet caused me to stop and make my decision to spend all that money on that single workshop. That one bullet was my starting point. From then on, everything I read on that sales page was just an added bonus. The more I read, the more I felt that it was exactly what I was looking for.

But let’s get one thing straight
That one bullet alone can’t take the entire load. The rest of the sales page needs to do the job as well. We know this to be true, because if we turned things around and put just one bullet on the page—and no other sales copy—I would most certainly not buy into the workshop.

But the one bullet acted as a brake. It stopped me, and then got me to re-evaluate everything else. And that’s why bullets are so darned important.

No matter how good your marketing material, your customer will usually buy for just one reason
They’ll pick one bullet out of the whole lot and say, ‘Yeah, that’s what I really, really want!’ And they’ll buy. So before you go into that long winded presentation; before you write copy; before you do anything.

Write bullets
They’re the key to getting customers to stop, read and then buy.

To read more articles by Sean DSouza—and get a very useful report on “Why Headlines Fail”, go to PsychoTactics.com

Categories: Blogging - Tags: ,

Are You Missing This Crucial Skill Set as a Writer?

Have you got the tools you need?

By Mary Jaksch

Every writer dreams of being discovered. Don’t you?

Whether you write fiction or faction, you want people – lots of people – to read your stuff.

Maybe you dream of writing a bestseller, or becoming a Top 100 blogger, or writing a script for a box office hit, or landing an article for a top magazine.

How to get from where you are now to your dream?

For the slog from novice to master you need two different skill sets: skills as a writer and skills as a marketer

Why marketing skills are crucial

Here’s a story. A few weeks ago a blogger emailed me with a pitch for a guest post on my blog Goodlife ZEN. Actually, you could hardly call it a pitch. She just threw an idea at me without telling me about herself, her writing, or what the guest post might be about.

I emailed back: “If you want to land a guest post, you need to read my article: The Perfect Pitch: How to land a Gig Every Time. Remember that I receive guest post requests every day – so you need to stand out from the crowd by writing a great pitch.”

She whined back, “Oh, but that’s like marketing my guest post. I don’t like doing that.”

Yes, well – as you can imagine, she didn’t land a guest post on GLZ…

The point I’m making is:

No matter what you write, you need to learn marketing skills to get your stuff in front of readers.

When writers need to market

  • When you contact a possible agent.
  • When you write to a publisher.
  • When you pitch for a guest post.
  • When you introduce yourself to fellow bloggers.
  • When you ask people to share your stuff on Social Media.
  • When you approach a joint venture partner
  • When you launch a book or a report- even when it’s free.

As you can see, there are many more occasions when marketing skills come in handy.

Mary Jaksch is the Chief Editor of Write to Done and co-founder of the  A-List Blogger Club – the most comprensive blogger training on the Net.  Click here to check it out.

Categories: Art of Writing, Blogging

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