Confident Writing

7 Ways To Write With Numbered Lists

I’m guessing you’re familiar with the format of the numbered list.  And I’m guessing you’re familiar with the reasons why they work: engaging attention, presenting ideas in bite-sized form, using the specificity of the number as a hook.  But have you ever stopped to wonder how they help us write?

Not everyone’s a fan of numbered lists of course, and there are downsides to using them.  They can become formulaic, even boring after a while – for both your readers and your writing self.   If you only ever write them out as numbered lists or bullet points your writing will take on a jerky, staccato feel which can break rapport. 

And last but not least you might find yourself obsessively composing numbered lists, yes, even in your sleep (or the bath) 

Writing with numbers isn't just writing a list

Fortunately there are ways that we can use the power of the list without making it obvious that’s what we’re doing.   You can use it as the frame for your work – intro, close and three paras in the middle.  You can use a list to add headings  – then take them away when the writing’s done.  Or maybe jot down a numbered list of points (whether it’s 3, 5 or 7) then work them into a paragraph – or even a sentence. 

All of those techniques will give your writing a structure, a rhythm, a satisfying sense of momentum – without your readers knowing how.

I’m not entirely sure how this works – and if any of you know please enlighten me! – but I think the pattern, rhythm and movement comes from the use of prime numbers.  That’s why you see 3, 5 and 7 used so many times. 

3 does have its own power and is particularly good for making points you want people to hold on to, remember and take away.

But there’s something particularly satsifying about 7. 

Muhammed Saleem had a good piece at Copyblogger a while back on 7 point lists  – written from a social media perspective but also touching on the ‘magical’ power of 7.  You certainly can’t ignore its deep-rooted cultural significance: seven days, seven wonders of the world, seven deadly sins, seven ages of man, seven colours of the rainbow, seven seas, seven dwarfs…

7 is also the smallest positive integer that’s more than syllable long. I wonder if that has something to do with its magnetic impact in headlines: the extra syllable creating extra movement.

I thought it might be interesting to unpick some of the ways I use numbered lists to help me write (although if you’re eagle eyed you’ll also be able to spot them worked into the construction of this piece).  They’re not all ‘obvious’ numbered lists, but numbers all feature in the composition.

7 ways that numbers help me write

#1 To expand on an answer

Example: 7 Ways That Travel Helps Us Write

This was a short post I wrote to answer an enquiry about the writing workshop we’re running in Sardinia.  I took my initial answer, sat down with a pen and paper and asked myself for 7 other responses to the question: how does travel help us write? 

Asking your mind (unconscious mind, muse, creative source, whatever you call it) for a specific number of answers will always generate more interesting results than if you just ask the question on its own. 

#2 To generate ideas

Example: Revealed: What Bloggers Really Do In Bed

I wanted to write something special to promote SobCon08 (and to try and win the competition!) so I started with a ‘killer headline’, borrowed from the December Copyblogger-Cosmo headline writing challenge. 

Once I had the frame – something that bloggers do in bed – I then sat and doodled the different possibilities (counting sheep, waking with a start, having a nightmare) until I came up with 7… then linked them to SobCon (that was the easy part)

# 3 To get clear on the message

Example: Writing Well On The Web: A Ticket To Ride For LIPs

This was a guest post written for Lea Woodward at Location Independent.  My first draft was based a long numbered list which just didn’t work  - it wasn’t conversational enough for a guest post with a new set of readers, and I hadn’t done enough to create rapport. 

So I rewrote it into a more friendly, human piece, with the numbered list only coming in at the end to make three points that I hoped would be of value to LIPs.

# 4 To speed things up

Example: 14 Reasons To Love Fair Trade Chocolate This Valentines

Time is often of the essence and a numbered list can be your friend here – summarising your material, writing in shorthand rather than composing an essay, getting swiftly to the point.  I had a lot of research for this Giving Hands piece that I needed to compress and the list format helped me boil it down and get it written. 

I wouldn’t normally go for 14 but it was the obvious choice for the  Valentines theme.  Oh and I also used the list at the planning stage to pick out the most important points (again, ask yourself the specific question: what are the 14 most important points to make?)

# 5 To provide a framework

Example: 7 Ages Of Alice: Exploring A Multi-layered Book

A numbered list that you wouldn’t identify as such if it wasn’t for the headline.  I used 7 as the framework and then went looking through my notes, scribbles, ideas, quotes, extracts and memories for 7 different ages when Alice had ‘spoken’ to me or taught me something important. 

# 6 To highlight the most important words

Example: Writing To Sustain The Heart

This is another piece that doesn’t, at first glance, look like a numbered list, but does depend on numbers for structure, form and emphasis. 

Writing for The Calm Space is an interesting challenge for me because I never have any idea what I’m going to write until I sit down to do it!  As we write each month to a one-word theme the dictionary often helps me out, providing the hook or the frame which in this case was the idea that writing could sustain our hearts (the old-fashioned definition of heartstrings). 

Once I’d brainstormed how the act of writing helps heal our hearts I picked out the 8 most important words (in this example simple verbs) and used them to structure the piece.

# 7 To organise a lot of material

Example: Practical Tips For Business Bloggers: Introducing A New Series At BizBlogAngel

This example’s really about planning rather than writing and is great if you’ve got a lot of material to organise.  With a long list of topics for a new series of pratical blogging tips, I needed some way to organise it.  Again I ‘asked myself’ for 7 points I could use to structure it, then doodled different possibilities until the most useful headings came into view.

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I hope that’s been useful – a bit longer than the piece I’d originally intended which was just to share the links to material I’d been writing elsewhere – but once I’d spotted the role numbers were playing I couldn’t resist exploring it further (and yes, if you look there are 7 dimensions to this piece). 

I think I’m only scratching the surface as to how this works though so I’d love to hear your own perspective and experience:

• What’s your reader perception of numbered lists – love them or hate them?
• Do numbered lists help you to write? 
• If so, do you have a favourite number?
• Are there any elements of ‘writing by numbers’ you’d like me to explore further?
• A question for Robyn McMaster: can you shed any light on how fixing on a number helps us to generate ideas, create new options, crystallise our learning?

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This post is a kind of off-beam contribution to the theme of writing leaps and bounds at Confident Writing this month - though I'm pretty sure that using some of these techniques (wisely and carefully) can help you to stretch and grow your writing style, and maybe take a leap into a medium you hadn't considered before.

If you'd like some help in the way you compose or structure your writing I'm offering a 10% discount on my writing mentoring and writing critique services throughout the month of February for Confident Writing readers - which includes you!

Joanna Young, The Confident Writing Coach
Because our words count

Photo Credit: rgusick at Flickr

27 Secrets To Writing Like Hemingway

"There is nothing to writing" he wrote.  "All you do is sit down at a typewriter and bleed."

If that advice isn't giving you the breakthrough you're looking for, here are 27 other gems from Hemingway on writing:

#1  Start with the simplest things

#2  Boil it down

#3  Know what to leave out

#4  Write the tip of the ice-berg, leave the rest under the water

#5  Watch what happens today

#6  Write what you see

#7  Listen completely

#8  Write when there is something you know, and not before

#9  Look at words as if seeing them for the first time

#10  Use the most conventional punctuation you can

#11  Ditch the dictionary

#12  Distrust adjectives

#13  Learn to write a simple declarative sentence

#14  Tell a story in six words

#15  Write poetry into prose

#16  Read everything so you know what you need to beat

#17  Don't try to beat Shakespeare

#18  Accept that writing is something you can never do as well as it can be done

#19  Go fishing in summer

#20  Don't drink when you're writing

#21  Finish what you start

#22  Don't worry.  You've written before and you will write again

#23  Forget posterity.  Think only of writing truly

#24  Write as well as you can with no eye on the market

#25  Write clearly - and people will know if you are being true

#26  Just write the truest sentence that you know

#27  Remember that nobody really knows or understands the secret

I think one of the reasons we like these lists is not that we are looking to absorb all the advice - which probably wouldn't be possible, or advisable -  but because we subconsciously scan it, filter it, to find the one piece of advice we need right now. 

The bit of the jigsaw we were looking for.  The thing that'll help us take our writing to the next level.

I know there's one on this list that speaks most directly, most clearly, to me. 

If you had to select just one of these, which one would it be?  And how do you know?

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This piece was inspired by Brian Clark's Magazine Headline Remix challenge - the Details edition. 

Writing from a headline is a great way to stretch and test your writing style - perfect if, like me, you're looking to take a leap with your writing.

The tips, suggestions, ideas and writing advice are culled from Ernest Hemingway On Writing, a selection of material from Hemingway articles, interviews, letters and books.

If you're looking for some help putting these tips into practice why not sign up for my mentoring programme?   I'm offering readers of Confident Writing  a 10% discount on my writing critiques and writing mentoring programmes during February.  Contact me if you're interested.

Joanna Young, The Confident Writing Coach
Because our words count

Give your writing a workout: writing tips from the Confident Writing community

Wouldn’t it be great to be a lean, mean, writing machine?

Too right.

This month’s compilation of writing tips from the Confident Writing community is inspired by Brad Shorr’s question, with a whole host of ways to give our writing greater impact.

Cut the word flab

I always try to eliminate adjectives. It seems to cut down on word flab. Also, something I picked up from Deb at Punctuality Rules - eliminate the word "that" from your sentences. Great trimming technique.

Brad Shorr from WordSellInc

Cutting out "that" is a great suggestion - thanks Brad and --Deb.  I've been trying it myself and it works a treat - but still some way to go (just in case any of you are tempted to go looking for them!)

Get into training

Conditioning your writing muscles is similar to conditioning your body. Exercise becomes habit as you commit to a regular engagement. Muscles become more toned and stronger as you condition. Best of all no gym membership required. ;-)

Karen Swim from Words For Hire

Trust your instinct

The technique I try to use (assuming I have the luxury of time) to know my post is finished is when I've set it aside overnight, re-read it in the morning, and think to myself, "Bingo!" (or something like that).

It's an almost subliminal feeling, that I captured what I wanted to say as best I could. You probably know what I mean, right? You just... know, because it "clicks".

Robert Hruzek from Middle Zone Musings

Proof read for confidence

Another way to gain some comfort, when hitting send makes panic arise, is to proofread -- three times minimum. I find that to be extremely helpful in calming my nerves.

Melissa Donovan from Writing Forward

Focus on simplicity

Not only do we have to get rid of the handles under our ribs, but we also have to get a good handle on "simplicity beyond complexity." C.S. Lewis.

Robyn McMaster from Brain Based Biz 

Experiment

I chose a picture, included a quote by Einstein and then asked my visitors a question.
Now that was paring things down. I've had some great responses including yours and now it has prompted me to write another post that builds on this.  One thing leads to another and I keep experimenting as I know you do... ;-) Experimenting leads to adventure and discovery!

Robyn McMaster at Brain Based Biz 

(I’m including two of Robyn’s because she went off and put a writing idea into practice – then came back and shared what happened!)

Be human

Be human - Your readers want to learn about your mistakes, as well as your successes

Catherine L from Catherine Lawson's Business Advice Blog

Catherine’s tip was commendably brief because it was written ‘twitter style’ in a competition at Problogger. Congratulations to Catherine on winning the competition, but not just that, following up her win by visiting and commenting on the sites of the other bloggers who took part.  That’s what I call pro-blogging :-)

Write with passion

Can I echo Lorelle's words? She says, "Write with passion" and I have found that there is really NO better expression!

Like you said, people can tell whether we are happy or tired when we blog. So if you write with passion, I am sure that will shine through too! :D

Pelf from The Giving Hands

Learn something new

No matter how wonderful a writer is, they can always improve, switch things up, learn something new, and provide a fresh feel to their words.

Michele from Writing the Cyber Highway

Thanks to all of you for a great set of tips, and thanks to everyone who's stopped by and left a comment  at the blog this month.  Even if I haven't included your comment here (they don't always work as quotable tips) each and every comment helps me to improve, switch things up and provide a fresh feel to my words.  Thank you.

Joanna Young, The Confident Writing Coach
Because our words count

Tips on essay writing for College Students Rule

I've worked through a fair few student essays in my time, between various forays back to university study as an adult learner and more recent work as an Associate Lecturer with the Open University.  (My most recent triumph came after reading through an essay for my son and encouraging him to think about ways he could restructure some sections and simplify some sentences and paragraphs.  He said he'd got a better grade as a result.)

Anyway, I know from my work with the Open University students that writing essays could be a big bugbear, turning the minds of normally sensible, intelligent people to jelly.  One of things they found hardest was working out how to structure and organize their material - and how to present it back to the person reading (and marking) their work so it was clear and easy to follow.

It was that marker's perspective that was the inspiration behind a piece I've just written for College Students Rule.  It's based on the idea that writing an essay is like making a path or leaving a trail... and preferably one that's easy to follow. 

Here's an excerpt from How To Write a Term Paper: A Trail-Blazing Guide

Make a clear path. You want to write the paper so it’s easy for your teacher to follow on.  Think about it like a path or a trail that you're leaving behind, showing how you’ve got from A to B – and how someone else can get there too.

Remove obstacles. Writing the paper’s only half the battle – then you need to go back and edit it. Look out for obstacles that trip your reader up: long sentences, unwieldy paragraphs, lots of jargon, academic language that even you can’t understand – and you wrote it! Break up long sentences (and paragraphs) and make them shorter. Swap complex words for plain English wherever you can.

Avoid detours. We develop ideas as we go along, so you might find that you took a few detours when you wrote the paper. When you edit it you’ll need to think about whether they get to stay or not. Do they help you to develop your argument or just make things more confusing? What would happen if you swapped the order round a bit?  Think about the path you’re creating – make it as clear as you can.

Use signposts. Headings and bullet-points help to break up the text, make it easier for your teacher to scan as well as close-read your work, and to signpost where you’re going. They can help you to write and organize your work too, as they map out the different sections of your material.

You'll catch the rest of the article - and other practical tips and suggestions for students - at the site.

About College Students Rule

College Students Rule is a fantastic new blog site from Tim Milburn, author of StudentLinc, ("creating lifelong leaders, one student at a time"). 

Although it's been created by Tim this blog is going to be a team effort.  He's welcoming contributions from students, professors, college administrators and staff, and even parents of college students. [Er Tim, what do you mean "even" parents of students??!]

Do you think you could make a contribution to College Students Rule?  Tim's put the offer out for you to write at the blog - he's even got an author submission page ready and waiting for you.   This is a great opportunity to spread your writing wings a bit, take a stretch by guest writing at another site, reach a different audience - and support the lifelong leaders of tomorrow.

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I'll probably save my writing tips for students for future posts at College Students Rule - unless you'd find it useful to me include some here?  Let me know if you would - including any queries, issues, suggestions for topics.  Thanks :-)

Joanna Young, The Confident Writing Coach
Because our words count

5 ways to fight the writing flab

Writing to make a more powerful impact means cutting out the writing flab. 

And with so many of us focusing just now on ways to shed some excess pounds, the post-Christmas diet seemed like the perfect inspiration for my first podcast of the New Year. (It's okay, it's not deadly serious, either about writing or dieting!)

5 ways to cut your writing flab (3 mins 16) suggests a writing diet based on:

• Trimming the fat - cutting out the excess words that might have crept into your writing

• Cutting the stodge - getting rid of the heavy stuff that it's hard for your readers to get through

• Filling up with nutritious words - plain, simple, everyday words are the best, but make sure they're also specific, personal, connected to your values and identity

• Using fresh ingredients - a fresh perspective, a curious frame of mind and writing with all your senses

• Snacking sensibly - finding other outlets for your extra words, like a journal, private blog or Twitter account

What else would you include in a diet to beat the writing flab?

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You can listen to the podcast by clicking the play button on the radio box, following this link or going to my gcast page. You can explore the archive of Confident Writing podcasts here.

For more tips on cutting the flab from your writing try 20 ways to cut your words and help to save the planet

Joanna Young, The Confident Writing Coach
Because our words count

A web designer’s guide to writing well

Photo credit: Arquera

Writing with greater impact means tidying up our text so that it’s

• Crisp and fresh
• Easier to read
• Less confusing

Funnily enough those are just some of the descriptions I’ve heard about the new design at Confident Writing.   

Now I’m no designer so I’m not going to attempt a post at the design work that created this effect (you’d have to ask Cat Morley about that, she did the work). 

But it did occur to me that there are important writing lessons that we can learn from the principles of web design. These were the 10 lessons that I learned:

10 writing lessons learned from web design

• Love white space We love sites that offer white space – readers love it on the written page too.  It makes your work easier to read, easier on the eye, and is the perfect backdrop for your words.

• Create movement There’s a ton of research going into eye-tracking on web-sites, including the way readers scan text on a screen.  You want to create hooks and anchors that allow readers to zig-zag quickly and easily over the page, that draw their eye down.

• Cut the clutter I had way too much stuff on my sidebar.  Many people have way too much stuff in their writing – too many ideas, too many words, too much clutter.  Cut it out and your message will come over louder, clearer, less confusing.

• Drop your attachment Cutting the clutter whether sidebars, words or physical stuff means letting go of your attachment to it.  Words are easier to cut than real stuff because you can still store them some place digital for a rainy day.  Just make sure you cut what’s excess from the piece you’re working on now.

• Structure your work A website redesign forces you to think about the order that things should come in, what your readers should come across first, where you want them to go next, and where they should end up.  Accepting what’s redundant material (and what you’d prefer well hidden!)  Apply the same discipline to your writing and your readers will thank you.

• Frame your words I only know a little bit of code but it's enough to know there’s something deeply satisfying about opening a bracket to create an effect, then closing it again.  Something rewarding about going on the hunt for the bit of code grammar you’ve missed, fixing it, and seeing the immediate impact.  It’s less of a science in writing but we should still be framing - opening, closing, leading -  all the time.  Contain your words in <frames> for a more powerful impact.

• Use signposts You’re thinking navigation all the time in a web design – making the most of that navigation bar at the top, the space at the side, using all the tools at your disposal to help your reader navigate with ease.  The same principle works in your writing – from the physical signposts (headers, numbers, bullet points) to words, phrases and expressions that signal a shift from one section to another.

• Know your purpose Maybe you’d call this meta-design, it’s what Ben Yoskovitz talks about in a piece on his recent blog design – knowing your own brand, boiling it down to a bunch of words that describe what your blog is about.  It’s worth doing the same thing with your writing – it’ll help you to be more focused, sharper, crisper.

• Know your blind spots I was quite startled to realize how hard it was for me to ‘see’ what Cat could see on a web-page, whether mine or another site we were learning from.  She could spot white space, eye movement, clutter, clarity, confusion whereas I was drawn instinctively to the writing: the pattern of the words, the sound of the author’s voice.  This was a powerful reminder of the way we filter differently – I can see clutter in writing, not in design.  You might be the other way round.  It’s worth knowing where your blind spots are.

• Get help when you need it There’s no way I could have changed the design without help – it wasn’t just a question of needing the design skills, experience and expertise, I couldn’t even ‘see’ what needed to be done (though I can admire the end result).  A second opinion, a fresh perspective, a critique of your work can open your eyes to what’s good and what needs to change – to create the impact your words warrant.

If you’re a designer who writes or a writer who designs… how could we add to this list?  Are there are other design principles we could adopt for more powerful writing?

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This post was inspired by the recent redesign of Confident Writing, with grateful thanks to Cat Morley who forgave my blind spots, helped me let go of the clutter and transformed the look of this site.

It’s a contribution to the month long focus on writing for greater impact – subscribe to the feed for future updates.

I enjoyed working out the writing lessons I’d learned from the experience – if you liked it too maybe you could give it a Stumble? Thanks :-

Joanna Young, The Confident Writing Coach
Because our words count

5 ways to gift wrap your words

I wanted to record something with a festive twist this week, so today's podcast looks at 5 ways to gift wrap your words.

Now I wouldn't normally encourage you to think about adding unnecessary extras to your writing, but if we think of our words as something of value, something that we want to pass on with due care - well maybe we should think about how we parcel them up too.

5 ways to gift wrap your words  (3 mins 5 secs) includes:

1. Organise your parcels Our writing often goes wrong when we mix up too many different ideas or try and put too much into too small a container.  Spend some time before you start working out what goes where, and what you can keep for another time

2. Give generously Focus on the positive intention behind your writing, use positive language, don't forget to smile as you write

3. Keep the wrapping simple Okay we're not looking for elaborate twists and bows here, a nice simple, stylish finish will do - so cut out the complex fonts and colour schemes, the elaborate bullet point systems... Concentrate on a quality, error free finish

4. Make it fun to unwrap You can make your writing parcel more intriguing with a compelling headline, followed up by a punchy first paragraph to keep your readers interested as they unwrap... but then give them the chance to rip through the rest with uncluttered text, coherent structure, white space, nice short sentences.

5. Parcel it up.  When you get to the end - stop.  It's time to wrap up the parcel, to tie it up as neatly as you can - so your reader can take it away with them

Because gift wrapping isn't something you add on to make your writing look pretty - it's to help your readers make sense of your words.

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You can listen to the podcast by following this link or going to my gcast page. You can explore the archive of Confident Writing podcasts here.

That's my last podcast for 2007.  I'm taking the next two Wednesdays off and will be back with 5 writing tips in less than 5 minutes in early January.

Joanna Young, The Confident Writing Coach
Because our words count

Boost your writing motivation in five minutes

Why does curiosity feature in my 12 ingredients of confident writing?  One of the main reasons is that it's great for keeping us motivated and enthusiastic about writing.  And when I'm coaching people to write with more confidence we often need to look as much (if not more) at attitude and motivation as at some of the more technical writing skills.  It's also good for keeping my own motivation levels up!

This week's podcast looks at 5 ways that curiosity can kick-start our motivation - not so much for beating writer's block, more for those times when we're too jaded to write. 

I'm sure there are more but in just five minute (and 10 seconds to be precise) I covered:

Curiosity about words: enjoying words and language, being playful and flirtatious with words

Curiosity about your own writing: spending time writing just for you, and learning from what you write

Curiosity about your readers: how well do you know your readers?  Getting to know them better, fleshing them out as real people makes the writing process more engaging and enjoyable

Curious perspective: changing your point of view and looking at things in a new light can reawaken your own interest in what you're writing about

Curiously specific: getting below the surface, being specific about what you see, hear and feel will make your writing more vivid.  It can also reawaken your senses, and make you more interested in the world round about you - which does tend to be good for the motivation...

Do you use any of these techniques to get you past that 'same old, same old' feeling?  Or do you have other tips and techniques you'd be willing to share?

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You can listen to the podcast by following this link or going to my gcast page. You can explore the archive of Confident Writing podcasts here.

Linked pieces:

The motivation to write
5 top tips for beating blogger's block
Who are you writing for?

Do you have a writing question you'd like me to cover in a podcast or writing tips piece?  You can let me know in the comment box below or e-mail me at joanna@confidentwriting.com

Joanna Young, The Confident Writing Coach
Because our words count

PS Sorry if my voice sounds a little flat in this week's podcast - it's not that I'm lacking motivation, honest, I think I'm coming down with a cold and it's amplified in the audio...

How to be a total reader magnet: pulling the readers that you want

Photo by Moriza

It's party season for writers as 2007 draws to a close.  It's never been easier to write and publish your own work.  But with over 70 million blogs out there how do you make your writing stand out from the crowd?  It's one to thing to grab your reader's attention with a provocative headline or two, but how do you keep them interested - and make sure they come back for more?

Here are 10 tried and tested techniques to turn your readers' heads - and then seduce them with the power of your words.

DO use headlines that demand your reader's attention.  It's a great way to get yourself noticed.  But make sure you deliver on the initial promise.  Follow up with a strong lead paragraph.  You don't want your readers to think you're a tease.

DON'T make basic grammar mistakes. They can be a real turn off.

DO use plain everyday words.  They're a sign of a quality writer, hinting at an underlying self-confidence... which is guaranteed to attract.

DON'T dress up your writing.  Fancy fonts, clever use of color and complex headings can leave you looking like an over-wrapped Christmas tree.  Forget the tinsel.  Understated does it.  Let us see the power and the beauty of your underlying message.

DO use short sentences.  They keep your reader's attention.  Stop their eyes from wandering off.  Oh and they're another great way to demonstrate confidence in the power of your own words.

DON'T stick rigidly to the rules.  The language rules we learned at school can make our writing stilted and formal.  Playfulness can be fun.

DO include something of yourself.  You don't need to wear your heart on your sleeve, but sharing something of yourself - your story, your values, your persona - can create a most powerful connection.

DON'T witter on. Drone on with long sentences and never-ending paragraphs and your readers will soon go elsewhere for kicks.  Stick to the point.  Say what you need to say - and move on.  It's guaranteed to keep them coming back for more.

DO get into the mood.  Work on your own frame of mind before you start to write.  If you want your readers to feel - curious, amused, engaged, flirtatious... what better than to get into that state yourself?  You might just find that it's contagious.

DON'T be afraid to experiment.  Yes you want to develop a style, a voice that's recognizably yours - but hey it's the party season, so why not let your hair down, experiment a little, and try something new.

Who knows where it might take you?

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This post was inspired by CopyBlogger Brian Clark's headline writing challenge: The Cosmo Headline Technique for Blogging Inspiration.

My headline (and copywriting techniques, in case you're wondering why this blog post sounds a little different!) is inspired by the December UK issue - a treasure chest of outrageous headline if you want to give this writing experiment a whirl.

And if you've enjoyed this piece why not come back for more?

Joanna Young, The Confident Writing Coach
Because our words count

How do I structure my writing?

I was talking to a friend and former colleague about a writing workshop I'm hoping to run somewhere warm and sunny next year.  More on this to follow... but while he was excited about my plans, he indicated that a workshop a bit closer to home would be appreciated too.  I was a bit surprised because I know he thinks of writing as a task akin to watching paint dry - so I asked what he'd want me to cover.  Writing for the web is his main interest, but the question he really wants me to answer is this: "how do I structure my writing?"

I know this is a common question, challenge and frustration for writers whether you're putting pen to paper for college, business or pleasure.  I will work on a workshop in Scotland in the not too distant future, but in the meantime I've used this week's podcast (3 minutes 21 seconds) to answer the question: how do I structure my writing?

Here are five things you can do:

• Get clear on your point before you start
• Work out what state you want your readers to be in at the end
• Think about how to get your readers from where they are to where you want them to be
• Edit your writing to cut out distractions and make the path from A to B as easy as possible
• Ask yourself hard questions at the end:
  • did you make your point?
  • what state did you convey?
  • is the path from A to B as easy as possible?

What suggestions would you give in answer to the question?

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You can listen to the podcast by following this link or going to my gcast page. You can explore the archive of Confident Writing podcasts here.

Linked pieces:

Create a clear path through your words (podcast)
Getting clear on your point

Do you have a writing question you'd like me to cover in a podcast or writing tips piece?  You can let me know in the comment box below or e-mail me at joanna@confidentwriting.com

Joanna Young, The Confident Writing Coach
Because our words count