"Brevity is the sister of talent." — Anton Chekhov, Russian playwright Readers want less Establish copy length limits Size does matter. All things else being equal, your readers would rather read a short piece than a long piece. In writing — as in eating, imbibing, reality TV viewing and so much else in life — it's good to set limits. In other words, establish an … [Read more...] about Readers want less | December 2009
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Streamline your sentences | November 2009
"No iron can pierce the heart with such force as a period put just at the right place." — Isaac Babel, Russian journalist Streamline your sentences Add a word, reduce comprehension Readers get lost in long sentences. If too many words separate the subject, the verb and the object, readers have to go hunting for them. Then they have to string your sentence back together … [Read more...] about Streamline your sentences | November 2009
Do readers skip your paragraphs? | October 2009
"Long paragraphs are a visual predictor that a story won't work." — Jon Ziomek, associate professor at the medill School of Journalism Are readers skipping your paragraphs? Readers make at-a-glance decisions about your copy based on paragraph length How long is too long? When it comes to paragraphs, the shorter the paragraph, the better, according to The Poynter … [Read more...] about Do readers skip your paragraphs? | October 2009
In your own words | September 2009
"All the fun's in how you say a thing." — Robert Frost, four-time Pulitzer Prize-winning poet In your own words Become a recreational word coiner with these four approaches from Barbara Wallraff One creative way to express your message is by "neologizing," or coining a new word. Barbara Wallraff, the author of "Word Fugitives," an Atlantic Monthly column that coins … [Read more...] about In your own words | September 2009