You’ll have noticed that I share a lot of posts about good writing! Once again, my roundup of social media posts you might have missed touches on tips for better writing, overcoming writer’s block, using gender-inclusive language and more.
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If you’re writing about science for kids (and lots of us, to be honest), use short and declarative sentences and visual language to paint a picture. No complex structures or strings of adjectives. Stick to one idea per sentence. And keep it interesting! The Open Notebook explains.
Want to write a good profile? Get inspiration from a surprising source: a good obituary, says Jim Ylisela.
I love these examples of writing a profile, like starting with an anecdote, from Tom Corfman.
Here’s a list of 50 writing tools from Roy Peter Clark, from Nuts and Bolts (“Begin sentences with subjects and verbs”) to Useful Habits (“Limit self-criticism in the early drafts”).
If you’re creating a presentation, don’t start with the slides. Start with your audience, work back from the outcome and grab a stack of Post-it notes, say Broom & Moon.
“Words need light to survive” and other insights about writing from Ann Handley. (Also, LOL to hiding her diary key in Barbie’s head.)
How to overcome writer’s block, or put words on paper when your brain is resisting. Ann Wylie has a five-step creative process that starts with foraging for information.
Six tips for using gender-inclusive language in your communications, including “Avoid gendered addresses” (like “Hey guys!”) and “Don’t specify gender if it’s not relevant (like “female doctor”) via Mitel.
How should we talk and write about dementia? Conscious Style Guide says choose better terminology to reduce the stigma and make a diagnosis not feel like a death sentence.
The more DEI programs are explained, the more people like them, reports a Washington Post-Ipsos poll.
Good interviews help you tell better stories, says journalist Kim Cross. She recommends pre-interviewing to find and focus the story idea, then interviewing for ”narrative arc,” timeline and distinct “scenes.” Find details in Nieman Storyboard.
What other helpful or interesting posts about writing have you found online? Please share in the comments or drop me a note.
Photo by John Jennings on Unsplash
Related reading:
Interviewing, quoting and more writing tips
Turning numbers into compelling stories and more writing tips
Helpful tips for and examples of plain language