Here’s what you need to know about good storytelling.
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Over the years, I’ve had lots of folks ask me about how they can get their company, founder story, marketing strategy, etc., spotlighted in business publications (like the ones I write for.) So today, I’m going to share a few tips and tricks in case this is a goal you have for 2024.
Read moreWhy should we bother to write?
If you, too, wrestle with the concept of "why bother?" when it comes to writing, this is some excellent food for thought.
Read moreDo you need a writing coach?
Considering hiring a writing coach? Here are the questions to ask yourself before you make an investment. A writing coach can help you improve, become more accountable, and establish a writing practice, but you need to be sure it's a good fit before spending your hard-earned money.
Read moreRepurposing a Blog Post Into New Formats
Once you’ve completed a long-form blog post, you’ve done the research, gathered the key data/research/stats, tied in visuals, and created a helpful walk-through on a certain topic. That content you worked so hard to put together shouldn’t just sit there and collect digital dust after the initial publish promotion.
This is the era of repurposing content. So…why not do that?
Read moreThe Future of Content is Parasocial
Want your content to stand out? Think about making it parasocial in 2023 in beyond. Moving forward, freelance writers can expect to see more content not driven by topics, but by online personalities and their various personal interests.
Read moreWhat People Look for When Hiring Writers
What are the indicators/characteristics/qualities of a great candidate for a writing-related role, in-house or freelance? I posed this question over on Twitter and got some excellent responses from people in the hiring seat, so I wanted to share those here. Hopefully you’ll find it as useful as I did.
Read moreWriting Tips From a College Professor
So often, we tend to take advice from the noisy marketers on social media (disguising themselves as expert writers) who just want you to buy their course or training or whatever-the-hell. That's why today, I wanted to bring you some advice from someone who is truly in it every single day. Meet Professor Laura Bandy.
Read moreRising to High Editorial Expectations as a Writer
I’ve written for a handful of places that maintain extremely high editorial expectations. And every time, those expectations have pushed me (and other contributors) to rise to the high bar they set. Here's what you can learn from their processes.
Read moreAI-Powered Writing Tools & Implications for Freelance Writers
The internet is flooded with headlines about Artificial Intelligence (AI)-powered writing tools and how they’re going to eventually replace writers.
But…will they, though? Let’s find out.
Read moreLeveraging Internal Dialogue in Writing
Lately, the books I’ve picked up to read all have a common theme: They have a narrator or character who allows us deep inside his or her mind.
I’ve been drawn to this writing style because it’s one of the few environments in which we, as readers, get to hear another person’s inner dialogue, thoughts, worries, and authentic assessments of the world around him or her.
Read moreThis Email Subject Line Generated a 60.1% Open Rate
Curiosity is an incredibly powerful tool writers can use to spark action in the reader.
We all know about clickbait headlines. This is not about that.
This is about biology and psychology at play. It’s evidence of how humans’ brains are wired to fill information gaps, to eliminate uncertainty, and to get to the bottom of things.
Read moreHow to Build a Style Guide
If you're wondering how to build a style guide for writers, look no further. This post covers tips, resources, and suggestions for helping you complete yours.
Read moreStorytelling 101 for Founders
Today, I’m going to share a few storytelling tips and tricks in hopes of addressing the roadblocks that get in the way of smart founders sharing their insights in a written format. Why? Because we NEED to hear these stories. Especially when they’re coming from founders/leaders within underrepresented groups.
Read moreBlog Content Strategy for 2022
If you own a company and are interested in starting a blog, what should you know?
Content creation (see also: blogging) can be overwhelming if you’ve never done it before. As an experienced content marketer with more than eight years under my belt in this space, here's what I’d recommend.
Read more4 Secrets to Writing Great Copy
If you're writing copy (as in, writing to sell something), there are four things I recommend doing.
Find out what they are and how to do them.
Read moreHow to Break the Fourth Wall in Writing
Today, I'm going to teach you an easy way to help your writing connect with readers.
You know how sometimes you’ll read something and it comes across as stiff, overly formal, or stuffy?
It happens a lot (especially in the business world.) The cure for this situation is to break down the walls between the writer and the reader so there’s a deeper feeling of connection, emotional resonance, and an overall more conversational tone.
This type of writing is far easier to read (and it’s much more memorable.)
I was recently reminded of a brilliant way to accomplish this: It’s called breaking the fourth wall.
The fourth wall is a term that comes from the acting world, referring to the fourth “wall” that actors pretend separates them from the audience. When an actor directly addresses the audience, it’s called “breaking the fourth wall.”
But this isn’t limited to visual formats.
In writing, you can also break the fourth wall by speaking directly to your readers. Sometimes these are called “asides” or “authorial interjections." It often means the writer pauses one thought to hop in with his or her internal monologue, directed at the reader.
Here’s an example: “I love living in New York. (Well...only the East Village. I wouldn't be caught dead signing a lease in Midtown). The culture and excitement here can’t be beat.”
See how the original thought is broken up by a peek at the writer’s thoughts and feelings? It’s essentially a cheat coat for more conversational, natural-sounding writing.
Of course, you can’t use this tactic just anywhere. There are pros and cons to deploying it (as there are with most things!)
Pros of Asides in Writing
They help stress important ideas/provide a deeper understanding around the complexities of events or concepts
They help illuminate the writer’s thoughts, feelings, or opinions
They allow the writer to reveal something they want the readers to know
They make the reader feel personally addressed
They allow the writer to advise and act as a guide for readers
Cons of Asides in Writing
If done too subtly, they can go unnoticed or be interpreted as sloppy, unfocused writing
They can sometimes disrupt the pacing of your writing, thus hurting overall readability
They can seem clumsy or awkward if correct punctuation isn’t used
So...how do you do it right? There are a few easy ways:
First person
In the first person format, the writer is already relaying the story to the reader. This means addressing the reader in a slightly more direct way can happen naturally.
Example: I'm always running late for work. In reality, it's because I oversleep, but I tell my boss it's because of terrible traffic. Added downside: I'm always left with the final grainy dregs in the break room coffee pot.
Using asides while writing in first person helps the writer create a feeling like putting a hand on the reader’s arm to say: “Here’s what I really think about this”, or, “Here’s what this really means.”
Em dashes, parenthesis, and footnotes
Interjecting a sentence with a thought inside em dashes or parentheses makes it easy for you to briefly re-direct the reader’s attention to a point you want to make or a piece of information you think he/she should know.
Example: Micheal roamed down the street, his shoes tripping along the rough stones. His ambling, slow pace was unusual to the people watching from balconies in his neighborhood—they were used to seeing him zip along at a fast clip, head down, arms swinging—but tonight, limbs heavy with wine, he moved without any sense of hurry, as if underwater.
This approach works well in highly conversational writing, but keep in mind that it can break up the flow of your writing. Try to keep the interjections short and then get back to what you were saying.
Or, if you’d rather keep things moving and use a less invasive approach, you could instead use footnotes to relay these comments to the reader at the bottom of a page. Writer's call.
No matter which approach you choose, remember: Writing this way helps you quickly and easily connect with your readers.
It's also a shortcut to more stylized writing, giving your writing voice a more signature sound and flow.
The bottom line here: The fourth wall can be broken.
The question is: Are you willing to give it a try?
Want more insight on how to write conversationally? I've got a whole chapter on it in my eBook!
10 actionable writing how-tos that will help you write better, faster plus 6 bonus lessons with writing exercises and workbook.
15 Writing Tips from a Professional Editor
I recently reached out to Jess Huckins, a professional editor and writer of 12+ years who has produced content for massive companies like Workhuman, Microsoft, and Tom Brady’s TB12—among others. Everyone approaches editing a little bit differently, but here are a few common things she always keeps an eye out for.
Read moreHow to be Mindful of Others' Points of View When Writing
Words create three-dimensional objects and settings that can be viewed from different angles, perspectives, and through various lenses.
Translation: What you write might look/sound/feel one way to you, but could, in fact, come across totally different to your readers.
How to Become a Better Writer in 30 Days
You won’t transform into a masterful writer overnight, but you can become a better writer in just 30 days—as long as you have the right approach.
Here’s what you need to consider going into this.
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