10 Rules of Writing to Wordsmith Effectively
Writing can be difficult when you’re struggling to come up with content or when you’re trying to find your voice. It’s even more so when you’re attempting to follow all the ‘rules’ and try to be effective simultaneously.
We all know that feeling, sitting down to write and not knowing what to say or do. That or we’re not following some rules of thumb and end up with a piece not well thought out, jumbled, or needing a complete re-write.
Even if you’re a seasoned writer, you may have these moments, and that’s completely alright. For those that are newer to the craft, this isn’t something to get frustrated over, but to embrace and learn over time to change.
When you sit down to write, make sure you’re trying to follow a few rules of thumb. To be effective in your writing and get the point across, usually, these are best if you try to incorporate as many as possible; however, that may not always be the case.
10 Rules to be Effective at Writing
Don’t edit as you write
While this is tempting to save time and energy, this is a bad idea to do while you’re writing as it will only take more time in the long run and possibly stall you in your progress. Get those words down first and then edit. You’ll find that things go much quicker, and your thoughts aren’t as disjointed.
Keep it simple
Be concise. Please keep it simple and keep it to the point. No one wants to read something and have to look up words in the dictionary while they’re reading. Most people prefer something they can scan over quickly or read in-depth without getting interrupted.
Break writing rules with intention
If you’re going to break the rules of writing, do it with a specific intention. Sometimes you need to follow the rules, and then sometimes breaking them makes sense. Use your judgment, the style, voice, and purpose of the article or piece that you’re writing as your guide.
Always read your draft aloud.
Doing this will point out any flaws that you might have in your writing and point out anything that might not make sense. Run-on sentences are often something that gets exposed when reading out loud.
Read it again
Once you’ve read your draft and edited it, reread it. Sometimes edits can change the way an article sounds. Make sure you read it aloud again to see if any further edits need to be made. Don’t be afraid to have a second draft.
Know your target audience
Knowing your target audience is the most important part of writing. Are you writing for those that read books? Writing for a new publication? Writing for listicles or informative articles that explain what people need help with? Figure out what that audience is, and adjust accordingly.
Try not to use passive voice.
This rule is all over the place in writing. And despite it being taboo, it’s also used all over the place. Try to avoid passive voice, as it makes your writing less direct.
Write to express, not impress your audience
If the audience wants to be impressed, they’ll probably read a piece by a noble peace prize winner or a doctoral thesis. Trying to impress with large words and complex ideas isn’t always the greatest of ideas unless that’s the target audience you’re going for.
Word size matters. Again, keep it simple
This is important when writing as most people have an average active vocabulary of 20,000 words, whereas their passive vocabulary is 40,000 words. While this may sound like a lot, if you’re using large words unfamiliar to the average person, you’re likely going to have them get lost in translation.
Write like it’s your job
This can’t be stressed enough when you write for a living or even do it part-time. Sitting down to write like it’s your job is key to success. Set aside a schedule and stick to it. Ensure you think of this as an activity that you’re committed to for a certain amount of hours every day, and you’ll improve drastically.
Following these rules can daunt; however, whether you follow all of them or some of them, they can help you become a better writer. The most important one of all, though, is to write like it’s your job. If you do that, you’ll improve over time and find that you’re likely to enjoy it more and be more productive.
