Improve your writing skills

Robert Bullard – Perfect Textwww.perfecttext.org

What makes writing hard?

Origins and influencesSchool / College don’t always helpNor grocers or employersUnlike speech …Any support/training? Or feedback!

The writing processAnxiety and pressureQuantity rich, time poor; readers impatientReader’s choice Writing as an ‘art’?

GOLDEN RULE:

Think, who is your AUDIENCE

Writing Tips ① – For structure and clarity

Structure ClarityAudience – Purpose – Effect Less is moreWordcount model POWERShapes 5WsAIDCA

Writing Tips ② – For effectiveness and impact

Topping and tailing – introductions, flow/signposts, paragraphs, endings

‘Brush strokes’ – quotes, questions, senses, similes, metaphors, analogies

Patterns – repetition, word order, 3s, punctuation, subheadings, stories

AVOID turn-offs – jargon, clichés, long sentences ... mistakes

“DESTROY some of the grammatical myths…”

1.) You can start a sentence with and, but, because, so or however.

2.) You can split infinitives. So you can say to boldly go.

3.) You can end a sentence with a preposition. In fact, it is something we should

stand up for.

4.) And you can use the same word twice in a sentence if you can't find a

better word.

Of course, this does not mean you should break these so-called rules all the time - just when they make a sentence flow better.

SOURCE: How to Write Plain English – Plain English Campaign

• 17 chapters – from planning your work, to proofreading• 10 tips per chapter → 170 total• Example texts, with commentaries• Key points highlighted• References for further reading• Exercises to cement your learning• Available from: Blackwells, Amazon

and my website

RRP £12.00 Today, £8.00

Any Questions?

Robert Bullard

Perfect Text, Oxford

Copywriting – Copy-editing/Proofreading – Training in Writing Skills

www.perfecttext.org07765 227 530