Yes, you know your subject. You also need to think about entertaining your audience, and making your book or other writing easy to read. If your writing lacks organization and compelling, vital sentences that convince your readers to keep reading, they will leave your book or Web site immediately. There goes your "word-of-mouth" promotion.
Try my "Check and Correct" for These Top Five Mistakes
1. Stop passive sentence construction.
When you write in passive voice, your writing slides along into long sentences that slow your readers down, even bore them.
Before you put your final stamp of approval on your writing, circle all the "is," "was" and other passive verbs like: begin, start to, seems, appears, have, and could. Use your grammar check to count your passives. Aim for 2-4% only.
Correct: "Make sure that your name is included on all your household accounts and investments." "Make" and "is included" --the culprits. Create more clarity with this revision," Include your name on all household accounts and investments to keep your own credit alive after your divorce."
2. Stop all pompous language and phrases.
Well-meaning professionals often use the word, "utilize." You see this criminal in resumes, military directives and medical or lawyer documents. "Utilize" not only puts people off because we don't relate to "jargoneze," but because we want simple language. Think of Hemingway who knew that one or two syllable-words work better than longer ones.
When you aim at 10th grade level, you make it easy for your audience to "buy." Attempts to impress your audience with research babble or long words fail because they sound unreal and create a distance from the audience. Your reader wants a savvy friend, not an expert.
3. Show, don't tell to keep your audience reading.
When you take the lazy shortcut using -ly words like suddenly, or the adverb "very," your telling makes your reader yawn a "ho hum" and stop reading. Instead show "suddenly." For example, "When she saw the pistol, she ran and slammed the door behind her," shows "suddenly." Instead of "Alice was fat," say "Alice's girth prevented her from buying just one airline seat."
Circle the -ly and very words and sit down with your Thesaurus and replace them with power words that describe or show emotion.
4. Reduce your passive -ing constructions.
Think of a title that inspired you in the past. I like "Jump Start your Book Sales" by Marilyn and Tom Ross. "Jump Starting" lacks power because it doesn't ask for action. "-Ing" construction implies passive. Next time you think heading, title, or even compelling copy, think command verbs as sentence starters as well as using other strong verbs and nouns. Keep your sentences active using verbs in either present or past tense.
5. Take the "I" out of your writing to satisfy your reader
Whether you write a book introduction, biography, chapter or web sales message (did you know these are part of the essential "hot-selling points?"), keep the "I's" to a minimum. Your audience doesn't care about you, only what you can do for them.
Think about where your audience is now--their challenges or concerns. Remember to answer their question, "Why should I buy this from you?" Put a big YOU at the top of each page you write. Write three or four paragraphs. Then, circle the "I's" and vow to replace them with a "you" centered sentence or question.
So instead of telling your story, (I know that's important to you) put your story in the third person. Use another name, maybe a client's or friend's. If you think your bio is important, instead of placing a long passage on your home page, place it instead, on your "About Us" page. On your book's back cover, put your longer bio and photo inside the back cover page, so you can put more of what sells on your back cover--testimonials and benefits. Get everything you write checked by a book or writing coach to make sure it sells.
You cannot only get more sales from what you write, you can put yourself out there as the savvy friend to your audience who wants a problem solved. In the long run, these satisfied readers will return to you again and again--even buy your products and services.
Judy Cullins, 20-year book and Internet Marketing Coach, Author of 10 eBooks including "Write your eBook Fast," and "How to Market your Business on the Internet," she offers free help through her 2 monthly ezines, The Book Coach Says...and Business Tip of the Month at http://www.bookcoaching.com/opt-in.shtml and over 140 free articles. Email her at http://www.bookcoaching.com/opt-in.shtml
Oswego taxi to Midway ..What Makes a Great Headline?Headlines are far more important than... Read More
Creative Writing Tips ?It's no use coming up with a... Read More
Writing engaging articles and energizing ad copy takes... Read More
List-making is a favorite journaling technique and is often used... Read More
In the business of freelance writing, it's not enough to... Read More
Or do you?Writers write. You shouldn't wait around for inspiration... Read More
For several years before I left teaching to write full... Read More
About two weeks ago I received an article submissionthat immediately... Read More
I hate to admit this, but I rarely get an... Read More
Paulo Coelho was born on August 24th 1947 in Rio... Read More
First impressions count in writing too! So it is always... Read More
Winning writing contests can provide several advantages to writers. For... Read More
To help build your profile and reputation within a large... Read More
Paulo Coelho was born on August 24th 1947 in Rio... Read More
Want to write an article or book, but are stuck... Read More
Creative Writing Tips ?Whichever theme you choose, all the elements,... Read More
In most aspects of business, we will be expected to... Read More
People want information, they want it quick, frequently in short... Read More
There is no doubt that a staff writer enjoys advantages... Read More
There is a lot of confusion about recommendation letters.Recommendation letters... Read More
Is it possible to improve your writing instantly? The answer,... Read More
IntroductionSometimes it may be beyond a companies or individuals budget... Read More
I'm a writing fool! 2 book proposals, 1 user's guide,... Read More
Writer's forums are bustling with debate over whether or not... Read More
Everyone has a book inside them, or so the saying... Read More
shuttle from Midway Morris ..If Ben Franklin were alive today, he would be...uh, very... Read More
Sure you can write, but can you write crisp, compelling... Read More
Many writers write for the experience. Others dream of having... Read More
If you dream of turning your book into a best... Read More
Among the various foolproof methods used to boost traffic to... Read More
There is one key difference between reports and most other... Read More
Self-examination sheds light on a writers motives, goals, and aspirations,... Read More
Today I took the dog for a walk and realized... Read More
Once you've plotted out your book, developed the characters and... Read More
Writing papers and book reports has long been the bane... Read More
How do you describe a scene without slowing down the... Read More
Listen, consider this scenario.You have a deadline to honour. Time... Read More
In one of the exercises in my "Getting Started as... Read More
So you've decided to crown yourself with a title that... Read More
Q: How do I expand on an idea without getting... Read More
I started writing as a way of keeping safe memories... Read More
Paulo Coelho was born on August 24th 1947 in Rio... Read More
Writing engaging articles and energizing ad copy takes... Read More
People can't believe I did it, but I did. I... Read More
Creative Writing Tips ?It's no use coming up with a... Read More
Creative Writing Tips ?By now you should have an idea... Read More
The hardest part of nonfiction writing is finding a subject... Read More
Q and A.Best choice when subject is very verbal or... Read More
A good white paper is a paper that makes you... Read More
Most books aren't rejected because the stories are "bad." They're... Read More
Writing |