Feeling overwhelmed by all the writing advice on the web?
Perhaps you’ve read a couple of books to improve your writing skills. And you’ve subscribed to the most popular blogs on writing.
But still …
It’s hard to know where to start, right?
You’re not alone. One of the most often asked questions in my inbox is: How do I improve my writing skills?
Let me answer that question and give you a clear action plan.
Are you up for it?
Click here to join the 16-Part Snackable Writing Course and learn how to write better marketing copy (it’s free!) >>
Step I. Understand the principles of deliberate practice
Learning to write better can feel like an overwhelming task.
But just like a chef learns how to fry an egg and how to fillet a fish—and just like a violinist practices a difficult passage over and over again—writers can practice specific writing techniques to improve their skills.
These principles of deliberate practice help accelerate your learning:
- Establish your main writing weaknesses. What exactly do you want to improve? For instance, you may want to focus on choosing the right words or writing simpler sentences.
- Read the work of other writers to understand how they apply writing techniques. If you’d like to write with more simplicity, study Hemingway’s The Old Man and the Sea. Or if you’d like to improve word choice, see how Ray Bradbury uses strong verbs in Zen in the Art of Writing; gather all your favorite examples in a swipe file—a collection of writing examples to learn from.
- Practice a specific writing technique, and compare your writing to the examples in your swipe file, so you can see how to improve further.
- Get out of your comfort zone—don’t use the examples to put yourself down; instead, challenge yourself to get better and enjoy the learning experience—nurture a growth mindset.
As Anders Ericsson, author of Peak: How All of Us Can Achieve Extraordinary Things, suggests:
In pretty much any area of human endeavor, people have a tremendous capacity to improve their performance, as long as they train in the right way.
Part 2. Think before you write
Before you cook a meal, you need a plan of action.
Who’s coming for dinner? What do they like to eat? You create a meal plan, get your groceries, and decide in what order to cook the dishes, so each dish will be ready in time.
Just like a good dinner party needs some planning, good writing starts with thinking, too:
- Who are you writing for? Good writers have a pathological interest in their readers and understand their dreams, fears, and secret wishes.
- Which reader problem will your article help solve? Or which aim will you help achieve? Good content has one clear purpose—to inspire a reader to implement your advice.
- What’s the roadmap to help your readers solve their problems or achieve their aims? The roadmap is the basis for a clear and logical article.
As a good writer, you’re a mentor to your reader. You tell her you understand her problems, explain how to solve them, and encourage her to implement your advice.
Part 3. How to structure your writing
Imagine you’re planning a 4-course dinner to entertain your guests:
- A starter to whet their appetite—how about a spicy chicken galangal soup?
- The main courses—pineapple stirfried rice, ginger-flavored steamed fish, and stirfried morning glory—to nourish your guests
- A dessert of mango with sticky rice to satisfy their sweet tooth
- Coffee, tea or cognac with perhaps a chocolate to enjoy the conversation a little longer
Good writers plan their content as a 4-course dinner, too. And each part has a clear purpose to keep readers captivated from the first to the last word:
- A powerful headline uses power words or numbers to attract attention in busy social media streams, and it mentions a specific benefit to entice followers to click to read more.
- A captivating opening promises readers you’ll help solve a problem so they feel encouraged to read on.
- A valuable main body shows, step by step, how to solve a problem or achieve an aim.
- An inspirational closing jumpstarts readers into action—you only become a true authority when readers experience the difference your advice makes to them.
Your first task as writer is to write with a specific reader and purpose in mind, and to structure your content to achieve that purpose.
Next, learn how to communicate with clarity and power …
Part 4. The 7 basic writing skills everyone must master
A chef needs to learn chopping, sautéing, roasting, boiling, and grilling.
But what are the basic writing techniques you should practice?
- Use the 4-course meal plan to create a logical flow without distractions, so readers stay on track.
- Learn how to use vivid language to make abstract ideas concrete so readers easily grasp and remember your message.
- Learn how to write bite-sized, simple, and meaningful sentences—a good sentence is the basic ingredient of good writing.
- Compose smooth transitions so readers glide effortlessly from sentence to sentence, and from paragraph to paragraph.
- Practice how to write clearly and concisely so your message becomes strong.
- Discover how to avoid weak words, gobbledygook, and cliches; and spice up your writing with power words including sensory phrases.
- Understand the basics of keyword research and on-page optimization to increase organic search traffic.
Remember, to become a good content writer, you don’t need to turn yourself into a Stephen King, Ernest Hemingway, or Margaret Atwood.
Instead, aim to communicate your ideas with power, and make tiny ripples to change the world.
Part 5. The 5 advanced skills to write with personality and pizzazz
Once you’ve learned how to communicate with power and clarity, it’s time to create your signature style:
- Learn how to use the zoom-in-zoom-out technique to weave miniature stories into your content.
- Discover how to pace your stories and hook readers with tiny cliffhangers.
- Cook up fresh metaphors to add flavor to rehashed and boring topics.
- Write long sentences without running out of breath, and discover how to use rhythm to put music into your writing.
- Experiment with word choice and try a more conversational tone so readers start recognizing your voice.
Don’t overthink these writing techniques. Instead, write from the heart, and readers will sense the enthusiasm in your writing. That’s how you engage and spark action.
Part 6. Develop sticky writing habits
How did you learn how to cook? By watching TV and reading recipe books? Or by practicing in the kitchen?
To learn how to write, nurture a regular writing habit. Here’s how …
- Make writing a choice, and book time in your calendar for writing—if you don’t plan time to write, then it won’t get done.
- Set a tiny goal—like writing one paragraph or writing for 10 minutes a day, so it’s almost impossible not to write.
- Create a productive relationship with your inner critic, so you can become a more joyful and prolific writer.
- Start writing, even if you don’t feel motivated—your muse will reward your hard work and your words will start to flow.
- Eliminate distractions and practice how to focus—focus is your productivity super-power.
- Chop up the writing process into steps—outline, first draft, revision, final edit—and spread the work over several days so you can take advantage of percolation; review your writing with fresh eyes so you can make it even better.
Lofty goals don’t help you create a writing habit. Instead, put in the work, sentence by sentence, and paragraph by paragraph.
Over time, you’ll build your stamina and boost your confidence.
And your body of work will grow piece by piece.
How to start improving your writing
Feeling a tad overwhelmed?
Here’s your 3-point plan of action to become a better writer:
- Define the purpose of your writing first, and know whom you’re writing for.
- Get the content and the flow right—that’s the most important part of good writing.
- Pick one basic writing skill to practice this week; after you’ve mastered the basic skills, try the advanced writing techniques, one by one.
Rather than strive for greatness, aim to be consistently good enough because that’s how you’ll improve faster.
Your readers are hungry
Your readers crave your ideas.
They want to hear from you. They want to be comforted and inspired by you.
So, what are you waiting for?
Click here to join the 16-Part Snackable Writing Course and learn how to write better marketing copy (it’s free!)
Grab the embed code below to display the image on your website:
PS This post is an expanded and updated version of an article originally published on March 24th, 2015. The infographic is new.
Want to improve your writing skills further?
Join the 16-Part Snackable Writing Course (it’s free!):
- Discover the Power of the Subtle Nod and other persuasive tricks
- Learn how to cure sentence bloat and avoid irritating your readers
- Receive 16 simple tips to write more seductive content and win more business
Recommended reading to improve your writing skills:
How to improve your business writing skills
31+ best books on writing
Learn copywriting: A 5-step system to teach yourself copywriting
I can’t thank you enough for showing me the best and extraordinary techniques to be a good writer. I really appreciate your time and you.
You deserve a credit for your work 👏
Thank you, Mohamed. Happy writing!
Love this too much! Thank you!
Thank you 🙂
Excellent article, definitely gave me some pointers on practicing writing to improve.
Thank you, Ronald. Happy writing!
It’s hard to actually put the words in my head down in writing as vivid as they appear. I don’t know if you understand. What can I do?
That’s how writing often works. The ideas in our mind seem a lot brighter than what we get on paper. We just have to accept that our first draft is a rough draft and the writing can be bad. We can make the writing more vivid when we edit. This may be a useful starting point to consider your writing process: https://www.enchantingmarketing.com/writing-strategies/
How do I know which is my weakness? As for me, all my writing is a weakness!
You start at the highest level so you ensure your content structure is right before you worry about things word choice. I’ve providing advice on how to establish (and prioritize) writing weaknesses here: https://www.enchantingmarketing.com/writing-weaknesses/
This is brand new out of the oven. I really love your communication skills. Your combination of ideas and words drives me towards excellence. I do the work and you plant the ideas. I just can’t stress enough how joyful I am to write content. Thank you a bunch, Henneke.
Thank you, Danny. Happy writing!
Dear Henneke,
Thank you for your super training in writing better through various methods. I have gained a lot, very grateful to you. Thank you.
I’m glad you found it useful, Tom. Happy writing!
Splendid Infographic.
Not a “post!” This is an asset! In excess of a reference recorded under — Bookmarks Read Later. This is a guide. One, I recognize, at whatever point considered and followed every day, will unimaginably improve making.
Your infographic is stunning. Not a word squandered. Not a sensible, to join text style decision and setup plan that didn’t serve to improve the getting experience. The exertion related to this post surprise the creative mind. Stunning!
Hi Aria, thank you so much for your compliment on my infographic. Your enthusiasm shines through your words. Happy writing!
Thank you so much for creating this piece. It has some awesome tips and advice. I only wish there was a like button on here so I could show it more love!
A comment counts as a like, too. 🙂
Thank you for stopping by, Knalid.
Hi Henneke!
i was stuck in the problem of writing a quality content. i searched a lot to finding help. and finally your site was so informative and real answer to my questions. your teaching style is so smooth and with illustrations it becomes super-easy. thanks you so much for your humble words.
Thank you so much for your compliment, Leah. Happy writing!
hi, thank you for your advices! just wanna to ask how can i improve my writing skills pertaining to essay. i’m a senior high student yet it’s still a struggle to me to write essays. whenever my teachers ask to write one I always find myself looking at my blank paper for minutes. Any advices?
I don’t really know what your teachers are looking for so I can’t really advise on how to write an essay for school. However, it’s normal to have to think for a while before starting to write. It’s actually recommended to think first before writing. .
Hi Henneke,
Wow! this is very elaborate
Thank you for sharing your writing with us.
This is a classroom for me. I learn something in every blog post
Thank you so much for your compliment, Paul, and for stopping by. I appreciate it 🙂
Happy writing!
Hi, can I ask how much time did you invest to produce this inspiring and super-practical post? Thanks Dimitri
Hi Dimitri — I do not know how much time I invested in it. An original version was published in March 2015. I updated the post in May 2019. The original version was shorter with only one image. As a rough estimate, it takes me between half an hour and one hour to create an image but I had created almost all of the drawings in this infographic for other blog posts that I wrote between 2015 and 2019. That doesn’t count the time of putting it all together in one infographic. The text was relatively quickly to update (a few hours) but I could only do that after having invested in writing all the more detailed posts over the years.
Hi Henneke,
Every time you need to edit an article. I come back here Open your tutorial, and follow. Result ? Customers recognize me in millions of other readings on the internet. You are generous with advice.
Always keep your writing perfect.
Thanks,
I’m glad you’re enjoying my blog. Happy writing, Trung!
Hi Henneke,
I searched every corner of the internet for people to teach me how to write. I stopped here and didn’t go anywhere. thank you.
I’m glad you found my website, Trung. Happy writing!
Thank you for the amazing post.
Can you recommend some books for writing?
Because books are really helpful for developing new ideas and learning something new.
You can find a list of recommended books on writing here: https://www.enchantingmarketing.com/best-books-on-writing/
Thank you for the wonderful informative blog post. Motivating and precise.
I’m glad you enjoyed it, Cally, Happy writing!
Hi! Henneke.
Awesome post. More informative and fun. Images makes it more interesting.
I’m glad you like the drawings in this post. Happy writing, Kalpana!
Really appreciate your writing, keep writing good stuff Henneke
Thanks! Happy writing, Kevin 🙂
Wow! Looks really juicy and beautiful!
Thank you, Helen. Happy writing!
Wow!!! I love this article. I’ve seen a lot of linking to useful posts and I’m going to take my time to read all of them. Thanks for this great resource.
Yes, this is an overview of my most useful articles on improving your writing skills. I hope you’ll enjoy reading them. Happy writing, Eriq!
Henneke, I love this article, especially the graphics. I’m bookmarking it for continued reference.
Thank you, Patricia. This is like a summary of my whole blog 🙂
Henneke, I heard you on ‘Experts on the Wire” and adored loads of what you said. I just skimmed some of your creations and instantly became a fan. I am eagerly anticipating reading your newsletter and learning more from your individual perspective.
P.S. On EOTW, you said the word “really” like really, really a lot. But English is not your first language so I will ignore your overwhelming usage of this “weak” word 😉
Welcome, Robert, and thank you for becoming a fan. Rest assured, you’ll rarely come across “really” in my writing 😉
I really (!) appreciate your comment on “really.” I’ll try cutting down on the usage next time.
so powerful, so helpful, so meaningful ….
so glad to read that
so happy to find your website
thanks so so so much
Thank you, Kasia. Happy writing!
Hi! Im going to 10th grade and I want to improve my writing skills as much as I can over summer. THANK YOU for posting this. I’m in the progress of learning English.
Thank you, Thu. Happy writing!
Great tips here and love the infographic! I love the idea of cliff hangers and hooks for readers. I like doing this and often use the “more on this later” hook or use a story which is unfinished and then return to it later.
Yes, “more on this later” is a good hook, too! Thank you for stopping by, Tim.
I love the analogy of comparing writing with preparing a meal. Really thinking about what the readers may want to consume.
Thank you, Shantell. I love referring to cooking and food on my blog 🙂
Well I still believe in this statement “practice make perfection” when you develop an habit of writing regularly,you start writitng like a pro-just with little time,so write regularly.
Sure, practice is essential to improving any skill. And you can accelerate your progress when you know exactly what to practice, how to practice, and what standard you’re aiming for.
In summary,
1. Keep it simple but accurate and don’t over-complicate things.
2. Get some keywords and key phrases prepared.
3. Don’t use contractions like don’t for do not instead use the direct word.
4. Don’t use dead weight words like “very”, “a lot”, “so” instead use a high quality word that compensates the use of such filler adjectives.
Also, avoid phrases as “there is” and “there are”
5. Prioritize accuracy over fluency.
6. Recheck your writings once done and identify mistakes with trying to correct them to the most extent.
7. Refer right document and material relevant to your preparation and the pattern of exam. Read examples for each type of questions that could be asked.
8. Get your work corrected with a qualified, interested and relevant teacher. Pay them if possible as that may guarantee a proper review.
What’s wrong with contractions? I use them all the time. They make writing more conversational.
And a natural flow of writing is as important as accuracy.
I have love to write even before I know what writing is. I just want to start writing not for the pay but to pen down my thoughts and probably to have a listening ear.
Is that normal? Am I normal? Can I be regarded as a writer too?
P.S. Thank you for this post, it will go a long way for me
Thank you for providing such invaluable information for free. I had many light bulb moments while reading this post. I have also registered for your 16 part course and the first snack made me laugh! I must be the most wanted criminal of all! ? I am trying not to use exclamation but can’t help it! Help! Hahaha
Hi Preeti
I’m glad you found this post useful. Happy snacking!?
And thank you for stopping by.
Great read!
Thanks!
Tremendous, Henneke. Thanks for resending this – hate to have missed it. It’s a goldmine, better still, the Kimberly diamond mine of outstanding tips and know-how. Cheers and best to you.
Thank you so much, Paul. I’m glad you found this little goldmine 🙂
Happy writing!
Hi Henneke,
This is yet another wonderful post from you.
I love the headline the part of escape content mediocrity.
BTW I think you should remove the date showing in the comment section, since the post is not dated.
Anyway thanks for this wonderful read.
Cheers
Eniola
Thank you. I’m glad you liked it!
And I’ve changed the order of the comments so the most recent one comes at the top 🙂
“Establish your main writing weaknesses. What exactly do you want to improve?”
This is a serious issue for me. I can’t pinpoint what exactly is wrong with my writing. I just know that when I compare it to writings like yours, it looks bad.
What’s your advice for a newbie writer like me?
The big points are usually what I mention at the start: Writing for one reader, helping him solve his problems, staying on point (no irrelevant information), and making abstract ideas concrete.
Great teaching article Henneke, thanks!
Vimal Thapa
Thank you, Vimal. Happy writing!
You are welcome
I enjoyed this post in 2015 and the expanded version is so welcome.
As I read through it, what struck me most (apart from the wealth of learning on offer) was what an incredible body of work you have built up… quietly helping us solve our writing problems week after week.
It’s inspiring, generous … and always implementable.
Thank you!
You know what I was surprised about? That I could include existing images for all of these tips. Who knew I’d build up a body of writing, but of drawings, too?
Thank you so much for cheering me on all these years. ?
Henneke,
This is not a “post!” This is resource! More than a reference filed under —Bookmarks Read Later. This is a guide. One, I believe, if studied and followed daily, will vastly improve writing. ( Read ….my writing.)
Your infographic is amazing. Not a word wasted. Not a graphic, to include font choice and layout design that didn’t serve to enhance the reading experience. The effort involved in this post staggers the imagination. Amazing!
Thank you for your generous compliment, Curtis.
Maybe I could have sold this as a writing course instead of publishing it for free. But I had a great time putting the infographic together and I’m happy to share with everyone 🙂
By part 3 I was looking for the recipe links. Hungry!
Ha ha.
A great summary of writing tips. You are so generous, Henneke.
Ha, yes! Maybe it’s time to change my business and focus on food instead 😉
Thank you, Brooke!
Knocked it out of the park with this one, my friend! ♥️
What I love is how this process shows up again and again. It breaks down for anything, whether it’s writing, dog training, building sport skills, and so on.
And the infographic … ?
Thank you so much, Kathy! It’s so true: once you know how to get better in one skill, you can apply it to so many other skills, too. It also applies to learning how to draw!
Thank you so much.
Am a fan of art. So reading this makes learning fun and exciting thank you so much.
Especially magnifying the writing content and making small daily goals. This am willing to try.
Thank you Henneke.
I’m glad you enjoyed the drawings. Thank you for stopping by 🙂
Hi Henneke,
Thank you for continuing to be an inspiration. I’ve learnt so much from your articles, even by scanning the articles themselves. I’m sure there is more for me when I sit down and read it deeply not to talk when I start applying the principles you espouse in each one. Thanks so much.
Thank you, Chenden. I’m glad you’re enjoying my blog 🙂
Just wonderful Henneke! The build up to the advanced techniques was the icing on the cake.
The icing on the cake … that’s the perfect metaphor 🙂
Thank you, Paul!
The graphic adds to the content in a measurable way drawing you into the article. Great job. The watercolors give it a subtle intrusion that is not distracting but captivating.
I’m glad you like the drawings and find them adding value rather than distracting. I color the drawings with colored pencils 🙂
Superb article lady! Descriptive yet impressive .. 🙂
Thank you so much, Vatsala. It was a big job to put this all together 🙂
Really thank you, Henneke. I have seen many blogs and posts about how to do content writing well, and I got lots of information from those posts, but your post not only inspired me but also raised my confidence. I never usually comment on posts, because I am not confident enough. But now here I am commenting!! Thank you once again
I appreciate your comment, Vineeth. Happy writing!
Practicing empathy really seems like a smart idea when writing. That way, you can engage your readers and play to their emotions. Even if what you are writing is something they don’t agree with! You can still sympathize with them, and that may even help them to sympathize with you and your ideas.
This helps a lot it makes me want to write more and more without stop
Thank you
I love this article. I think it might help make my budding freelance writing career become lucrative.
Good luck!
I loved that you used a cooking metaphor to highlight each point. Even for the person who doesn’t cook it works. They know how to eat, or in this case, read and know what good content looks like. What is so often needed is just what you gave, good examples.
Thank you, Joyce. I love using cooking metaphors (and examples!) in my writing. Thank you for stopping by!
The more I read about your rationale about writing, the more enchanted I get. Your teaming up with Julia is fascinating. I am doing the same with Mr Coco Suarez, I call him my companion and helper. But no, I do not know how to draw, I just take photographs with my cell. Someone might think I am crazy. Well I am, but not that much. Ha! I am not a blogger yet, but I am working on it. I have already a domain name. The topic nutrition and health. So you talking so much in your comparisons about cooking, restaurant and so forth… I identify so much with your menus. Thank you for your energies using it helping us. Great help! You say you’re blogging or 3 years… wao… and are so season it already. God bless!
Good luck with starting your blog, Aida. Sounds like you’ve picked a good topic!
Hi Henneke,
These are awesome tips that will not only make the writing genius but also delicious “rotis”. Umm they are delicious.
Thanks for the tips and I am waiting t using them in my freelance writing business.
Great!
Happy cooking 🙂
All good advice. That’s what I love about writing. You can always learn. There’s no end zone here. I doubt even Tolstoy said, “I’m done. I have nothing left to learn.”
Yes, writing is a lifelong journey. Fortunately, it’s a fun journey 🙂
A great checklist Henneke! What I love about this post is that you have made it really simple to quickly read through. I keep learning from you every time I read one of your posts.
I edit and format quite rigorously to improve readability 🙂
Glad you enjoyed it, Peter!
Henneke,
I’m in awe of you! You are truly brilliant. I don’t post often here, but know that I read just about everything you write (I try. Being a SAHM to twin toddlers and a freelance writer give me very little time).
I’m going to bookmark this site so I can come back to it when I can spare a couple of minutes.
Thanks for sharing your insightful list.
Elna
Twin toddlers? That sounds like far more than a full time job already.
I’m amazed you’re still finding time for freelance clients (and to stop by here now and then!).
I’m surprised I have time to cook and clean! My husband works from home as well and I have great in-laws to help relieve me when needed (like every day!).
I recently acquired 4 clients in a row, so I’m working hard at being as productive and efficient as possible.
Thanks for these tips again!
Great list, oh boy do I need some more “flavored words”. If I saw “awesome” one more time in an email or social media post I might just shoot myself lol.
Thanks Henneke!
Please, please, don’t shoot yourself Sarah. Just delete the email (and unsubscribe if it’s an e-newsletter!) 🙂
Thank you for stopping by!
lol I was talking about emails and social media posts that I WRITE. See how bad my writing is? 🙂
I guess I could delete them but my poor subscribers…I feel for them!
Seriously, your content is always really helpful to me as I strive to improve.
Hi Henneke,
Great post.
Creating fresh metaphors and mini-stories are things I still struggle with. The mini-stories especially because I don’t know what to write about. So, what I started doing was jotting down notes of interesting things that has happened in my life, or that I see (or hear) every day that I can then refer back to. And even weave it into my posts. Is that a good strategy? I think I need to read your mini-stories post again.
Anyway, loved the post and the practical tips, Henneke. And of course the illustrations as well. Keep up the excellent work.
– Andrew
Hi Andrew
I usually start with the idea I want to communicate and then think about a story or metaphor I can use to illustrate it.
You might want to check out the book Made to Stick by Chip and Dan Heath, or The Tall Lady With the Iceberg by Anne Miller. The former is about story telling and using metaphors, the latter about using metaphors in sales situations, but most of the book applies to using metaphors in blog posts, too.
Glad you enjoyed the post!
This advice and tips are so practical and simple to learn. Good reading too.
Thanks Henneke 🙂
Thank you, Busyra 🙂
Henneke,
I love the way you write your posts and have started to emulate your style. Thanks for this latest post – using sensory words while having “structured” writing can be difficult. You make it look easy. I can’t wait for your next post. Have a nice vacation.
I think the key is to do the writing in several steps. First structure your posts, then edit sentence by sentence to see where you can add a dash of creativity and personality.
Henneke,
Well on your way to a book for sure. Title is there. Outline is clear. Content is well in hand. Scribble in the connective tissue and bingo! Well, maybe that last Bingo part might take a little more than pixy dust. But, the Henneke magic will bring it off. 🙂
In the Bluebird world the female builds the nest. But, the male as suitor demonstrates his good provider role by being the first on scene with nesting material.
To us, it looks like Leonardo, if he hasn’t yet won her heart, is making sure she doesn’t miss his efforts in that direction.
http://www.poetslovebirds.com
Haha! If it only was so easy, Curtis. Scribbling in the connective tissue seems much harder than it sounds 😀
But eventually I’ll get there!
Hi Henneke,
I have been reading a lot of blogs in the past year and your’s is just outstanding, for it’s ease on readability. Of course also on value of information.
Love you Annamarie
Thank you for your loyal readership, Annamarie! 🙂
Hey Henneke
I’m am truly inspired by the way you take a big topic like how to improve your writing and break it down into bite size pieces.
Plus your tips have given me a ton of areas that I can focus on one at a time to improve my writing.
#16 really hit home reason being because it works for me when a writer shows empathy in their content it helps me connect with them which in turn make them pop into my head every now and again to check if they have new content
Anyway great post thanks for sharing.
Yes, #16 is my favorite tip, too.
It’s easy to fall into the trap of writing something just because we know it and not because we’re helping our readers. Empathy requires discipline.
I’m glad you enjoyed this post, Mark. Thank you for stopping by 🙂
This is an awesome article and exactly what I needed to hear. I have been blogging for several years but I feel like I am just now beginning to understand how to make my blog posts more engaging. I really enjoy your style of writing and look forward to reading your articles. Thanks for your inspiration!
Thank you, Sheri 🙂
Glad you enjoyed it!
What a wonderfully breezy style you have, Henneke! Yet always so full of practical, powerful suggestions! Love the illustrations, too. your sweet, whimsical personality really shines through them 🙂 Keep up the great work!
Thank you so much, Juliet.
You put a smile on my face 🙂
Hey Henneke,
This was a great post and it shows that I’m on the right track. I like to add more descriptive emotional words when it comes to my headlines and content. But I will take your advice on studying more sales copy and direct mail. But this post definitely helps because you show the whole entire picture of great writing!
Thanks for the share! Have a great rest of the week!
I’ve learned a ton from studying sales copy!
Glad you feel on the right track.
🙂
And now all I want to do is write. . . and cook. 🙂
Thank you for the enchanting post, Henneke!
Me, too. I want to cook! 🙂
Thank you for stopping by, Anna
I love how you broke down the process into 4 distinct steps, Henneke. It makes it feel more doable and not so overwhelming when you can approach it in this step-by-step way.
My favourite tip was definitely this one: “Practice empathy—understanding how you can help your reader is the basic ingredient of nourishing content.” I couldn’t agree more.
Yes, that’s my favorite tip, too 🙂
I was afraid that 27 ways would feel overwhelming, but I wanted to write an overview post. I’m glad you mention it feels doable!
I hear ya, Henneke. 27 tips is a lot. But the way that you wrote it definitely made it feel achievable 🙂
Great! That was my intention.
And it IS doable. 🙂
Henneke,
Love this article. Particularly apt as I am trying to improve both my writing and culinary skills. The cooking suffers because often I am trying to meet a deadline and get distracted by the keyboard. Your article is saved to pocket and pinned on the memory board. I will endeavour to master the mini skills in both areas of my life. Thank you and have a lovely Easter break. PS. I love the illustrations.
I think my cooking has been suffering a bit since I’ve started to draw. It’s time to get creative in the kitchen again! 🙂
What yummy tips. Thanks for your tasty offerings.
Bon appétit 🙂
Thank you, Susan.
Perfect timing, Henneke! Looking at all the writing I should be doing this week left me feeling rather drained this morning. But now, I’m inspired again and ready to go. Though, I do have to make sure I don’t end up spending most of my time reading all your practical tips and actually do the writing. Thanks!
Yes, don’t hang around here for too long, Noreen 😉
Glad to hear you’re feeling inspired again. Good luck with your writing!
Great article Henneke! Somehow, while reading this article, I had in mind how to write in social networks such as Twitter or Facebook. I think some of your tips can be applied to those too- so thanks for the double advice!
Happy holidays 🙂
Yep, totally true. Writing for social media is writing, too, and a good way to practice! Twitter, for instance, is good for learning how to write soundbites 🙂
Hi Henneke,
Thank you for this invaluable post filled with so many helpful tips and suggestions.
I’ll refer to this post many times when I am writing.
Marie
Glad you enjoyed it, Marie 🙂
What happened to your avatar? You used to have a photo, didn’t you?
“Read a lot, write a lot, and have a good mentor to guide you in the right direction.” Thanks for the practical, doable step by step guidance Henneke.
Ha yes! The mentor is a good addition 🙂
Dear Henneke….
Your tips are so inspirational and helpful for writing. you are our mentor here.
Thank you.
Thank you. I do my best to help 🙂
Your tips make me want to write more and more. This is such an inspiring piece. Thanks for the good read.
Write more and cook more? I see you’re into cooking, too! 🙂
Hi Henneke.
Thanks as always for all your helpful posts that wing their way to my inbox.
I have implemented your advice to my blog posts and i feel my writing is getting so much better.
This is like playing my guitar, i know how to play musical scales but the notes are bland and boring if i don’t learn how to construct engaging music. Or like a painter who has a palette of colours but is not sure how to make an inspiring picture on his canvas.
The same with words. I’m learning to sort the wheat from the chaff and become a better writer.
I look forward to more of your posts after your Easter break and also look forward to escaping content mediocrity.
Thanks again, and all the best.
Pete.
Hi Pete
I’m so glad to hear my blog posts are helping you improve your writing. That’s the cherry on the cake for me 🙂
Great post Henneke!
It truly helps to see the whole meal, not just one dish.
Is this picture an intro for an infographic? 🙂
Yeah, perhaps I can do more with the picture.
I made the mistake to use watercolors as a background, so it’s hard to re-use (and in hindsight, I don’t like it so much you lose the subtle color variations after scanning). But I can always draw it again! 🙂
I think the graphic, and the way it communicates the structure of the content. The graphic creates a inquest image/brand which is unique to you.
Fascinating, useful post.
Thank you for your compliment, Roger. That’s what I’m trying to do – create images that aren’t simply decoration but that also add meaning to the post, while building a unique brand. The style is still evolving, but that’s only natural, I guess.