I’m always looking for reminders about good writing, and here’s another collection of advice. While I’ve shared these on social media, what are the chances you happened to be on X or Facebook or LinkedIn at the right time to see them?
There are 12 basics of interviewing, listening and note-taking, like back up a recording with notes and go in prepared. An illustrated version of a Poynter article by Roy Peter Clark.
So what if you use the passive voice? Well, “You’re introducing more steps between reading and comprehension, and in an industry where you’re constantly fighting for attention, why would you want to do that?” Plus it avoids responsibility. Allison Carter for PR Daily.
How to write like a business journalism award winner, with a look at some of the opening sentences of what else but award winners, by Tom Corfman.
Turn features (stuff) into benefits (what people can do with the stuff). Ann Wylie shows how.
If you have to talk about a program or a product, talk about the people whose life it changed. Broom & Moon spell it out (via Clare Lynch).
The term ‘elderly’ is ageist and signifies “a much-disparaged ‘other’” says Steven Shields. Eliminate age bias from your writing and use ‘older persons,’ ‘older adults’ and ‘persons 65 years and older’ NOT ‘seniors,’ ‘elderly,’ ‘the aged’ and similar ‘othering’ language.
Flashback to what an inclusive language toolkit should cover (like avoid sports and war analogies), by Kim Clark for Ragan Communications.
Avoid “Quotes that say nothing – and take so long to do it” and more ineffective corporate communications, by Jim Ylisela.
How to tell stories that “settle in and flop on the couch,” with Ann Handley’s tale of an impromptu eclipse-watching gathering.
Flashback to “How to write a lede your editor – and your readers – will love” via The Open Notebook.
The best (unexpected and possibly most enjoyable) writing advice you will ever read, from Josh Bernoff.
Bonus post about words
Have you heard of the “Ig Nobel prize”? It’s for works that “make you laugh and then make you think.” Research into déjà vu and its opposite, “jamais vu,” has won an Ig Nobel. I’ve had jamais vu when writing a familiar word and suddenly it looks wrong.
What other helpful or interesting posts have you found online? Please share in the comments or drop me a note.
Photo by Scott Graham on Unsplash.
Related reading:
Turning numbers into compelling stories and more writing tips
Helpful tips for and examples of plain language
How to avoid ‘badjectives’ and more writing tips