Hi all,
It was a great experience writing my first article at TRHS. But i want to improve. I want to push further and take out the best within me. I have concepts, ideas, but they will be ineffective unless i can put them in simple words with impact. From my own experience. I get easily bored by long boring, articulate sentences. But simple and beautiful writing goes straight to the heart. I want to learn and master that skill. Best way to start is to ask someone who has that skill. There are so many prolific and excellent writers here. It would be great if you all can help me on this journey.
Keep smiling 🙂
Anamika Joshi
Hi Vaibhav
After reading this post of yours, the first thing I did was to read your first article on TRHS – on EMI. And it has come out really well. What I am unable to figure out is the exact hurdle you are facing. The question you have posed is so broad that it would take a lot of guesses to strike right with the answer you are actually looking for. What ideas exactly are you talking about and where do you fall short in actually weaving them into simple and effective words. Are you unable to structure them properly or do you think you miss the flow and the essence of the actual subject in your way.
Since the query is not very clear to me and as I writer, I always find every writing project a learning experience in itself, still here are few things which I can surely share. I hope it comes handy:
– When an idea pops up in your mind and you have the luxury of putting aside all other work to open up a word file to start writing on it, just make pointers on things you wish to cover around that idea in your article.
– These pointers may not be written in the actual flow that you would follow but will help you not wander away from your core idea which you want to share.
– Now the major part starts with the headline. Keep it as inviting as possible, no matter how simple the subject is which you want to cover.
– start with a short sentence.. This I personally insist for myself. Avoid too-long sentences overall.
– Don’t think of ‘vocabulary’ before writing a piece. Instead focus on the ‘idea’ and keep it as simple as possible. Vocabulary gets displayed in the way you have structured a sentence rather than on the words which you have used. (personal view)
– Think of the audience for whom you are writing the article. Will they connect with it and what could be actually the thing which they would like to have in the article. It helps greatly.
– Follow your heart. Writing comes from the heart and there is no rule to it. Only presumptions. And every writer follows a different thought process in bringing the best out of words.
– Hear to whatever people would suggest you over here. And you will find yourself strike a chord with few points which you were finding difficult to actually recognize and follow.
I have no idea whether or not you were looking for the above points. And there are many other points which could be shared only after the question is clear.
Keep rocking! Keep Writing!
Best Wishes
Anamika Joshi
nailbites
Mohul Ghosh
Hi Vaibhav,
From your query, it seems that your major issues are:
– Improvement in your writing
– Writing simple words with impact
– Starting the process of creating words
And there is only one solution to all these problems: Write more. Write like crazy. Don’t assume that your words will bore the readers or make them happy.. That is not your task.
Your only task is to write. When I was young, studying in school, I would just pick my diary and keep on writing. At that age, I wrote around 10 pages a day. Simple thoughts, simple words.. But I just loved reading my words on paper!
And now, as I call myself a Writer, I never fail to write atleast 1000-1500 words a day.
The impact and short sentences which you are mentioning; will just come automatically. There won’t be a new day, a new morning when you get up, open your diary and suddenly those short crispy sentences comes out of their own.. You just need to write and write and write.. and gradually the picture which you want to show will slowly appear..
Those ideas and concepts which you are talking about.. they are worthless unless you put them down on paper. Again, you are assuming that because you hate long sentences, your readers will get bored too. You just need to throw away the feedback phobia and write the damn thing down.
And, in terms of inspiration for writing, I will suggest reading Seth Godin. He is the co-founder of Yahoo and founder of Squidoo, and called as America’s greatest marketer. He blogs at sethgodin.com and writes just the way you want: short, crispy sentences with heavy impact.
Bringing that style took him 20+ years of writing daily.. he publishes a blog daily for the last 25 years it seems!
If you want to know, Why to Write, then read this blog: https://sethgodin.typepad.com/seths_blog/2010/01/why-write-a-book.html
If you want to avoid Writer’s Block, then read this blog: https://sethgodin.typepad.com/seths_blog/2012/12/writers-block-and-the-drip.html
If you want to learn, how to write like a pro blogger, read this: https://sethgodin.typepad.com/seths_blog/2008/04/write-like-a-bl.html and https://sethgodin.typepad.com/seths_blog/2006/11/how_to_write_a_.html
Wishing you all the best.. Writing is a great hobby-turned-profession.. its liberating and sets you free.. If you love writing, then don’t waste this opportunity..
with best regards,
Mohul
mohulghosh.com
PS: Thanks for the opportunity, Asha!
asha chaudhry
:)))))))))
i promised vaibhav i’d get rockstars to guide him. it’s amazing how none of you guys ever let us down. touch wood. wonderful suggestions – both of you!
Abey John
Anamika and Mohul are spot on. Here are a few more pointers:
1. Get Elements of Style by Strunk and White. Its a 1920s book but more relevant today than ever for web writing.
2. Follow copyblogger.com. Break your ideas into paras. One idea per para. Lots more ideas and advice there.
3. Use a readability tool like read-able.com. Your mission should you chose to accept it is to get a Flesch-Kincaid Grade level score of 6 or less. Just tested all your readability scores. You guys all rock on the readability tool. Including you Vaibhav. 🙂 Asha!!! Flesch-Kincaid tells me your Grade score is 1.5!!! Which effectively means that a US grade 4 student can read your sentence with perfect comprehension. I am so bummed and so jealous!!! :))
4. For web writing hook your reader with the headline. And punch through their inertia with the opening para. Think of it like the fishing reel. Hook them and then keep playing out the reel smoothly. Ace copywriters call it the slippery slope. Essentially you want to sink your fangs into their minds and even though a 7.7 earthquake is happenin around them they just can’t tear themselves away till they finish your piece and leave a comment. 🙂 Look up 52 headline hacks by Jon Morrow its a free pdf. Don’t blindly use those headlines. It’s been overused now and wont be as effective but it will give you a sense of the triggers you need work into your copy. Follow John Carlton’s blog on copywriting.
5. Let me reiterate what Mohul said. Write lots. Read lots more. Take a popular post and analyze it and see the tricks and devices that the writer is using. But yes when you write I will reiterate what Anamika said: just let if flow first, bad grammar and crappy metaphors and listless modifiers and all. Go back and fix it later.
6. Death to passive voice. 🙂 Write in the active voice.
7. Bonus booster shot if you are on the ‘I wanna be a writer’ path – read Stephen King’s On Writing.
8. Finally, once you know all these rules and tricks, find ways to break ’em without losing your readers. :))
asha chaudhry
one weekend i’m gonna do NOTHING BUT READ ALL THE AMAZING COMMENTS we get on trhs.
abey…. i seriously need to sit with you and update my non-tech self. pondi here i come. before that let me google half the stuff you just said!
Abey John
🙂 please come! :))
vaibhav more
Hi Anamika,
My First words are ” Thank you”.
Sometimes when i have an idea for a short story, a thoughtful article or an insight in my mind, i fumble to find the right flow to articulate the same. Most of the times i end up writing that does not convey the impact of the idea in my mind.This is where i am struggling.
The points you have shared here are so clear and concise. Wow and thank you again.
A lot to learn from you.
Humbled by your genuine feedback,
Vaibhav
vaibhav more
Hello Mohul ( shall i call you BabuMoshai?)
Seriously, Thank you for the motivation and for breaking some of my illusions.The links you have shared are awesome. I love the way you have been following your passion.
This journey is becoming more exciting than ever due to your advice.
Salute to your passion and way you inspire,
Vaibhav
vaibhav more
🙂
You are just awesome.
You are the holding glue, the smiling face, the invisible mentor of TRHS.
What can i say more? The way you make things happen by your active support and encouragement is just amazing.
Keep smiling ( as always)
🙂
vaibhav more
This is ICING ON THE CAKE!
I am not sure i can take all the stuff you have written at once! It reflects an experience and insight of a lifetime.
Thank you Abey.
Seriously! Respect!
Vaibhav.
P.S : All your posts and comments are always a great treat.
Mohul Ghosh
8th point sums it all, Abey.. #Salute for that.. I have often observed that the best sellers just break the rules. Shift the status-quo..
But, to do that, you gotto understand the rules first!
And for headlines, I love the line from Django Unchained: “As I have your curiosity, let me have your attention”. Besides your awesome SEO reply that day, this is your best writing advice I ever read, anywhere on the web.
@Vaibhav: Print it out, frame it, place it near your bed.. Its just mind blowing tips!
Mohul Ghosh
Thanks Vaibhav.. would love to read more words from you!
Anamika Joshi
Abey I am feeling dizzy.. How the hell you hold so much info in that ‘almost fixed sized’ brain…. Awesome.. Salute!!!
Abey John
read it and forget it, it will come back to you when you need it. 🙂
Abey John
Yet to watch Django Unchained…. Tarantino is an all time favorite. 🙂
Abey John
Aaah Anamika, you assume that your consciousness is in your brain. 🙂 The reality it is it is more like hermione’s bag than ‘almost fixed sized’… :))