Does your writing engage your audience? If not, these 8 tips will change everything.
This is a guest post by Dalene Bickel. She has worked in the publishing business since her junior year of college, serving as an editor for both small and large publishers. She also has experience as a ghostwriter and has been published in a variety of publications, both local and national.
Today she shares rock solid advice on how any writer can hold a reader’s attention from the first word to the last.
Did you know that approximately 80 percent of people won’t finish reading your blog post or magazine article? Or that 57 percent of people who begin your book won’t complete it?
There are a number of factors that play into these statistics: shortened attention spans, information overload, and hectic schedules, to name a few.
As writers, we can’t resolve those particular issues, but we can prevent boring content, which is another leading contributor to abandoned reading.
Below are eight tips for writing content that not only invites your readers in, but also encourages them to stay to the end.
8 Ways to Publish Content That Will Engage Your Audience
#1 Be Descriptive
Let’s face it: Bland is boring. No one wants to feel like they’re reading a textbook.
Infuse emotion into your writing, and don’t be afraid to expand the setting and action. For example, the following is grammatically correct, but merely states facts:
My father, a volunteer fireman, was summoned by the town’s fire siren.
Now consider a more descriptive version:
My father, a volunteer fireman, was jarred to attention and summoned by the sudden, piercing wail of the town’s fire siren – a sound as mournful and chilling as the scene he would soon encounter.
When precise words fail you, turn to metaphors and similes to help you convey the meaning, but try to avoid clichés.
Infuse emotion into your writing. Bland is boring. Click To Tweet
#2 Be Bold
State your case and make your opinion known. You’re never going to please everyone, no matter how hard you try. Accept that fact and focus on the information you feel compelled to share.
Note, however, that there’s a big difference between being bold and being rude. Don’t be purposefully offensive.
#3 Be Relatable
If you are writing about a topic that you know inside and out and have achieved a level of success with, let your readers know that you understand where they are because you were once in their shoes. Share an experience that demonstrates the challenges you faced early in your career or goal, and then offer ways that they, too, can achieve success.
On the other hand, if you’re writing about something that you’ve never experienced before and are just learning about, share that with your reader as well. Allow them to join you on your journey by documenting what you’re learning, how you feel about it, and what additional information or advice you wish was available.
#4 Be Accurate
Do your research. It doesn’t matter if you’re writing a book about WWII aircraft carriers or the best ways to groom your pet—you need to be certain that the information you’re sharing with your readers is correct and that you’re using reliable sources.
Trust me. There will be readers who know more about your subject matter than you do, and they won’t hesitate to call you out publicly on social media or in the comments of your blog.
You’ve worked hard to establish your writing career; don’t ruin your reputation and brand by fabricating facts or performing inadequate research.
Let your personality shine through in your writing. Click To Tweet
#5 Be Yourself
Let your personality shine through in your writing. Unless a publication’s guidelines require formal writing practices, feel free to write in a more relaxed style. Share your thoughts, add humor, use contractions. Include words or phrases that you frequently use when speaking.
Whatever it is that makes you “you,” incorporate it into your writing. Your audience will appreciate the opportunity to get to know you.
#6 Be Relevant
What are your readers actively searching for today? What’s a popular topic or problem? Trends and statistics are constantly changing so you want to be sure to utilize the most recent research, as well as understand what your readers currently want or need.
For example, an article on how to place a collect call is probably not a prevalent concern today, but how to properly place a 911 call on your cell phone is.
#7 Be Specific
Generalities cause readers to skim your work and discard it afterward. You want your writing to be useful and memorable. One of the best ways to do that is to offer them something new and in-depth. Push yourself to dig deeper into your material to offer that nugget of wisdom or element of surprise.
Remember, your readers purchased your book or visited your blog for one of two reasons: to learn something new or to be entertained.
You want your writing to be useful and memorable. Click To Tweet
#8 Be Inviting
Encourage your readers to participate with the material or interact with you in some way. Include a Better Click to Tweet comment in the body of your blog post. Invite them to leave a comment at the bottom of your post or reply to your email. Enable them to download extra resources from your e-book or motivate them to promote your print book by inviting them to be on your launch team.
Although the concepts above won’t guarantee that your blog post will go viral or that your book will reach bestselling status, they will go a long way toward your work being read to completion…and help transform your readers into lifelong fans.
Dalene Bickel is an author, book coach, and speaker who helps nonfiction authors successfully write, develop and self-publish their books. Get your copy of her free infographic, 10 Simple Hacks to Write Your Book.
Do This Now
You’ve just learned 8 powerful tips to punch up your writing. Which one will you choose to use this week?
Share your story in the comments. If you have questions for Dalene, she’s here to give you the answers you’re looking for!
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