Work on these writing weaknesses.
- What’s the elevator pitch? Distill your article to a single idea.
- Start a swipe file. Compare your writing to others, see what they do differently. Try it and repeat.
- Be clear on who you are writing for. One person. An auditorium. The whole world. Know the difference.
- Identify the problems your writing can (help) solve.
- Write 10 headlines for every post.
- Write a full block of text. Then separate each sentence on its own line. Fill in the gaps. Or delete the sentences. Your choice.
- Change the font size. Re-read the post. You’ll be surprised.
- Improve one sentence. Then the…
This is confusing and I’m here for it.
The graffiti artist gets mad when his non-graffiti art gets badly tagged.
I understand that he’s making a “statement” about what art…
Take chances with your content.
Just know when you’re taking a chance.
It’s not random. And it depends it on your industry/niche for how much those chances will pay off.
…
It’s not about bigger words, but using them in different ways
The songwriter Jeff Tweedy has this habit of hotwiring words to develop new lyrics and ideas.
The idea is to use simple words to create imagery, breaking out of older patterns.
I found this idea from Enchanting Marketing and decided to try it myself.
Tweedy suggests doing this by making a list of nouns and verbs and then trying to connect them in a way you haven’t thought about before.
To do this, think of verbs around a topic and then nouns around a completely different topic.
Here are two lists — one are nouns about flowers (there were some…
I like this for a few reasons:
- Typical poetry is being dismantled
- It’s relatable. Kate’s poetry captures a *moment* and though it may not last long (who knows?) most writing doesn’t. There are lots of writers who…
Do you have a list of frenemies?
Competitors?
You know those writers you’re trying to beat out…
They may not even be direct competitors with what you’re writing or blogging about.
But you check their stories. Look at their shares. Think about how much they make (if anything).
They are your competitors.
And they must be destroyed.
Eh, not exactly.
One more thing:
Why repeating yourself is okay, even necessary.
Talk soon-
-Josh @ Create Make Write
Do you have a list of frenemies?
Competitors?
You know those writers you’re trying to beat out…
They may not even be direct competitors with what you’re writing or blogging about.
But you check their stories. Look at their shares. Think about how much they make (if anything).
They are your competitors.
And they must be destroyed.
Eh, not exactly. But I can see why they’re powerfully motivating.
Don’t Have Too Many. Be Specific With Your Competitors
The writer Roxane Gay is semi-famous for having her lists of nemeses.
She apparently keeps their names in the notes app on her phone. But there are only six.
There’s actually something…
Repeat yourself.
Repeat yourself.
Repeat yourself.
Most people won’t get it the first time.
Go back to the same themes, ideas, and desires.
You’ll become known for “something” and then people will expect more of that from you.
It’s similar to picking a niche. But it’s also a way for you to continually write about what you’re interested in.
And if you’re interested in multiple things, find a throughline.
This is harder than you think, and I haven’t figured it out yet, but seems well worth it.
This is especially true in blogging. Hit on similar themes, recast current events…
Great post from Lenny Rachitsky breaking down the different content types that major co’s are using for content growth:
It’s a blend of SEO, editorial, UGC, and virality.
If you’re…
This Mexican restaurant near where I live has the best copywriting.
I order there on occasion, but often drive by just to see the signs:
Here’s the most recent one that resonates as a parent.
And here’s another one:
