1-3 of the Top 10 Techniques For Writing Like a Pro

For those of you who missed my Blog Talk Radio Show-Baby Boomers Sandwich this morning you may listen to it by clicking on: www.BlogTalkRadio.com/sandra-haymon

Barbara McNichol, expert editor and author was my special guest. Barbara offered a FREE download of her 10 Top Techniques for Perfecting Your Prose So You Can Write Like a Pro.

You may download your own copy of this helpful tool by going to http://www.barbaramcnichol.com/.

Here's the first 3 of Barbara's top 10 techniques. I will include the remaining 7 techniques later this week.

10 Top Techniques for Perfecting Your Prose So You Can Write Like a Pro

By Barbara McNichol

As a writer with a message to share and a story to tell, you want to communicate clearly so your readers will do, think, or remember exactly what you want.

By consistently applying the following 10 techniques to your writing, you’ll add persuasion to your writing and quickly see your results improve.

Keep this list in front of you the next time you write an article or chapter, and refer to it as you craft your paragraphs.

#1. Match the Word to Its Precise Meaning

Do you write “further” when you mean “farther” or “accept” instead of “except”? Selecting the correct word from similar-but-different options saves confusion for the reader and embarrassment for you as the writer.

Jump into your dictionary to know whether to select “choose” vs. “chose” within the context of your paragraph. Better yet, keep a reference guide like Word Trippers handy—one that clarifies word so you select the perfect one when it matters most.

#2. Show, Don’t Tell

Do your best to describe what’s happening without using adverbs and adjectives. e.g., Don’t say, “She felt sad” when you can say “tears rolled down her cheek.” Don’t say, “She was happy to get the compliment” when you can say something like “she skipped around in a circle, her mood lightened by the compliment she received.”

#3. Add Alliteration (and Other Figures of Speech)

Figures of speech add fun and persuasion to your writing. A few examples:

Alliteration: The first letter gets repeated. e.g., “It will dazzle and delight you.”

Simile: Makes a comparison using the word “like.” e.g., “It creeps up on you like a thick fog.” “Think like an editor.”

Metaphor: Says that something IS something else. e.g., “Keep the train of thought on track.” “Make hay while the sun shines.”

Chiamus: A sentence that mirrors itself. e.g., “Ask not what your country can do for you but what you can do for your country.” “Success in not the key to happiness; happiness is the key to success.”

Join me tomorrow for tips 4-6 of Barbara's top 10 techniques., adn listen to this episode at www.BlogTalkRadio.com/sandra-haymon

Sincerely,

Sandra-Caregiver Guru

P.S. Be sure to sign up for my event The Sacred Journey of caregiving-A Transformational Approach to Life, Tuesday, October 5, 2010, at the Air Conference Centre, 3419 east University Dr., Phoenix, AZ. Seats are strictly limited, so be sure to register today: http://www.thesacredjourneyofcaregiving.com/