Author Henry Miller understood the importance of singletasking, and recommends that writers, "Work on one thing at a time until finished.". If you open a window and make love to the world, so to speak, your story will get pneumonia." When's the last time you read something that made you seriously question your opinion, in a real…. Whether you are writing for a bunch of 5 yr olds or for science scholars – the style will differ. Brevity, so long as it does not forsake clarity, should always be used. 2. All supporting paragraphs on target in support of the thesis? Make sure that what you're giving up is worth it. Clarity. Any rough spots where sentences do not flow smoothly and clearly? Writer and filmmaker Susan Sontag writes in one of her diaries: There is a great deal that either has to be given up or be taken away from you if you are going to succeed in writing a body of work. so are speaking and listening . This post was written before the passing of William Zinsser. Therefore clarity… . Large words strung together by complex principles can isolate your audience and reflect poorly on yourself. Paragraphs ‘break up’ the information you want to present to your reader, structuring it in such a way that guides the reader through a series of related ideas. The five Features of Effective Writing are focus; organisation; support and elaboration; grammatical conventions; and style. It involves processes like critical thinking, communication, and creativity. 3. Create a free website or blog at WordPress.com. Our writing relies on simplicity of topic and delivery. Brevity. And how is clarity to be achieved? If for some reason. This inspirational quote about travel is attributed to Saint Augustine of Hippo. Unless you are writing your personal journal, you need to constantly keep your audience in mind. What do they need to hear? About the Author Herbert Lui. Good to look at and sturdy in construction. Rule 4. Enter your email address to follow The Lone Technical Writer and receive notifications of new posts by email. For writing on short notice, (ex. The stresses that are applied to the body in training must be the same as those experienced in your chosen sport or adventure. The cup is called the Good Writing Mug. Scope determines what topics you will cover. simple For technical writers there is a counterpart. Principles of Effective Writing What makes a good writer (outside of poets, maybe): Having something to say. Ensure That Your Idea Is Relevant: No matter how appealing or tempting your idea looks, the first and foremost thing you should check without jumping to other things is “How relevant is your idea to the organization.” Change ). You'd be more effective communicating your ideas if you present them clearly, one at a time—even for ones that seem more overwhelming, like relationship questions, job interview questions, or anything else. Read everything—trash, classics, good and bad, and see how they do it. You'll become more creative. Specific evidence? Talk to as many different people as you like. ( Log Out /  Writing paragraphs ‐ important structural principles Good, focussed writing is underpinned by a clear paragraph structure. Worksheet - Explain Worksheet (Practice Exercise). PickTheBrain.com brings to light 5 rules from said essay that will bring out your writing from the pack. Each audience views the topic a different way and has different expectations. Whenever you say yes to something, you're also implicitly saying no to something else—either in the present or in the future. Purpose tells your reader why they are reading. The five Features of Effective Writing are focus; organisation; support and elaboration; grammatical conventions; and style. Make an animated explainer video for free at: http://www.rawshorts.com Now you create your own explainer videos and animated presentations for free. We are conditioned to add fluff and explanation beyond what is necessary. Four Basic Principles of Business Writing. Learn and practice proof­reading techniques. Check for typical errors, including errors about time, place, and people. ________ From a writing context, pretend you're writing to your best friend at work (but be sure to clean up anything too honest when you edit). 7. When you own a business, you need to wear many hats. People will take your message more seriously when the evidence is right in front of them. You'll absorb it. For example, instead of telling the reader, "Jim was sad," a writer might describe how "Jenny saw Jim crying in the bathroom" or how "Jim walked with his shoulders slouched and head bowed" (Sidebar: I am clearly not a professional novelist).