Your Custom Text Here
Writing serves as a bridge between internal thoughts and external communication. It transforms our internal dialogues into something others can access and understand.
Exceptional writing, therefore, is the result of exceptional thinking. To convey ideas clearly and persuasively, writers must cultivate a methodical and logical approach to their thoughts, translating into clearer, more effective writing.
Read moreIn a world where algorithms and analytics often dictate marketing strategies, I argue that content marketers should embrace a more human-centric approach through narrative-style storytelling.
Sure, SEO plays a role in driving website traffic and visibility. But when we lean on it too heavily, it can overshadow the fundamental truth that content marketing is ultimately about connecting with people on a deeper level.
Read moreTalented writers have a gift for sifting through large swaths of information and finding an interesting kernel that would make for a great story.
Developing this skill is part of most journalists' training; it goes beyond the basic “who, what, where, when, why, how” that help them nail down the essentials of the story they’re trying to tell.
To find a great story angle, you need skills outside the realm of writing.
Read moreHere’s what you need to know about good storytelling.
Read moreOver 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 moreIf you, too, wrestle with the concept of "why bother?" when it comes to writing, this is some excellent food for thought.
Read moreConsidering 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 moreOnce 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 moreWant 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 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 moreSo 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 moreI’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 moreThe 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 moreLately, 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 moreCuriosity 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 moreIf 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 moreToday, 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 moreIf 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 moreIf 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 moreToday, 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!)
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
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:
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.”
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?
10 actionable writing how-tos that will help you write better, faster plus 6 bonus lessons with writing exercises and workbook.
590 Tahoe Keys Blvd, South Lake Tahoe, CA 96150
