1.Place the most important words (and ideas) at the beginning of each sentence

 

• First word

• First impression

• Friendly 

• Encourage the reader to keep going

 

At the start of a sentence, avoid the following phrases:

• According to…

• There is a …

• It is {important, critical, advised, suggested, and so on}…

• In my opinion…

• The purpose of this [email, post, article] is…

• In 2014 [or any year]…

• I think [believe] that…

 

2.Follow a writing GPS

1.Goal

2.Reframe

3.Seek the date and examples

4.Organize

5.Write to oneperson

6.Produce The Ugly First Draft

7.Walk Away

8.Rewrite 

9.Give it a great headline

10.Have someone edit

11.One final look for readability

12.Publish,but not without answering one more question:what now?

 

3.Options for writing a

good opening

 

• Put your readers into the story

• Describe a problem your reader can relate to

• Set a stage

• Ask a question

• Quote a crazy or controversial bit of data

• Tell a story or relay a personal anecdote

• Other ideas

 

4.Options for writing a

good closing

 

• Recast the biggest takeaway of the piece

• Add an element of tonal surprise

• Let others have the last word