Writing Hint #2 Avoid repetition
There is one error I find myself falling into on occasions. Too many occasions now that I think about it. Repetition of words in close proximity to each other can be off-putting to the reader. It also shows a lack of proof reading and a certain amount of laziness on the part of the writer.
I came across this great quote recently:
“If you re-read your work, you will find on re-reading that a great deal of repetition can be avoided by re-reading and editing.”
So I’d better follow my own advice. Proof read carefully, and edit, edit, edit… oops now I’m repeating myself.
UPDATE: A reader has kindly suggested that I should consider revising the first two sentences. I’ve done the very thing I was advising against, repeating the word ‘occasions’ (now underlined) . Ooops.
Writing Hint #1 Proof Reading
4 Comments »14th August, 2006; Category: Writing Hints
Proof reading what you write is essential. That goes without saying – but I’ll say it anyway. Anything you publish on your blog or send to a print publisher needs to be as perfect as you can make it. You owe it to your readers.
I recently came across this quote which sums it up beautifully:
“Proof read carefully to see if you any words out.”
That says it all!
Related article:
How to be good at Copywriting
I am not into copywriting but for some people this could be a useful skill to develop. The skills are particularly appropriate for bloggers who want to increase their traffic.
Brian Clark, on his blog called Copyblogger has written a post called Copywriting 101.
Copywriting skills are an essential element to the new conversational style of marketing. Whether you’re looking to sell something or to build traffic by earning links from others, you’ll need to tell compelling stories that grab attention and connect with people. This tutorial is designed to get you up and running with the basics of copywriting in ten easy lessons.
The ten lessons in this tutorial are worth reading, even if you are not into copywriting. Many of the skills are, I believe, transferable.
A Creative Journal
A Creative Journal is a blog about writing, especially journal writing. It include ideas for writing, hints, tips, inspiration and writing prompts.
Several recent articles have some interesting writing helps. In one such article called Doodle Journal the author suggests that writers could benefit greatly from “doodle writing” – similar in content to doodle drawing. The suggestion is to write in a stream-of-consciousness style as a writing exercise or a warm-up to one’s major writing project at the time. Sounds like fun and is never meant for publication, only ever for an audience of one.
Another article of intrest to me is called Journal Writing as a Learning Tool.
Teachers are constantly looking for ways to make learning easier for their students. One technique gaining more attention recently is journal writing.
I have to disagree with the author. Journal writing has been a part of good classroom practice here in Australia at least, for well over a decade. It is not a recent idea. I used the techniques to great effect in my own classroom just about every day for the last 15 years.
To access the site click here.
Related Articles:
Avoid cliches like the plague
1 Comment »3rd July, 2006; Category: Writing Hints
There is an excellent article about eliminating cliches in your writing on the Writers’ Digest web page. It’s called Beyond Basic Blunders. It is quite a long and thorough article full of simple to follow hints on making your writing cringe-proof.
Clichés come in all shapes and sizes. There are just as many clichéd scenes as phrases and words. For instance, how may times have you seen a book begin with a main character being “rudely awakened” from a “sound sleep” by a “clanging” alarm clock? Have you written an opening like this yourself? Wondering where to start, you opt for first thing in the morning. Speaking of clichés, been there, done that. We all have. Don’t ever do it again.
Yes sir.
I think I’d better stop this post before I, too, fall into the trap of writing phrases that are beyond the pale, full of hackneyed statements that make you think I am as nutty as a fruitcake. I’d better write this carefully in case I get a tongue lashing from my readers. I can see the writing on the wall already, and that’s nothing to write home about. I wasn’t born yesterday and I know when I’m skating on thin ice. I need to keep on top of things and turn over a new leaf.
And I think I know when enough is enough.
To be serious for a moment, I found this cliche finder an interesting site.