It’s easy to get caught up in the race to impress our readers with fancy vocabulary and complex sentence structures. But there is something that is more important than that, and that is remembering that when writing, our primary goal is to connect with our audience.
Let’s explore how to focus on improving instead of impressing and offer some practical advice on how to apply it to your online writing.
Know Your Audience 🔗
The first step to improving your online writing is to understand your audience. Who are you writing for? Once you have a clear understanding of your audience, you can tailor your writing to meet their needs.
Writing for an audience that you know will resonate with them much faster and easier. It will feel warm and accepted. And that is the essence of the well-written word, getting in touch with the mentality and soul of the person that reads your content.
Use language that is familiar to them and avoid jargon or technical terms that may be confusing.
Keep It Simple 🔗
One of the most effective ways to improve your writing is to keep it simple.
Use short sentences and paragraphs to make your content easy to read and digest. Avoid using overly complex language that may alienate your readers.
Remember, the goal is to communicate effectively, not to impress your audience with your vocabulary.
Use Active Voice 🔗
Using active voice is a simple way to make your writing more engaging and impactful. Active voice puts the focus on the subject of the sentence, making the action more immediate and direct.
Why is passive voice difficult for the readers, on the other hand? It’s because passive voice can make your writing sound vague and impersonal. Additionally, it can result in longer, more convoluted sentences that are harder to read and comprehend.
In contrast, active voice puts the focus on the subject performing the action, which makes the sentence more direct, engaging, and easier to understand.
Whenever possible, use active voice to make your writing more dynamic.
Edit, a lot! 🔗
Editing is an essential part of the writing process, and it’s crucial to approach it with a critical eye. When editing your work, ask yourself if each sentence and paragraph is necessary and adds value to your piece.
Cut out any unnecessary words or phrases that detract from your message. Shakespeare once said, “Brevity is the soul of wit”, and that is as true today, as it was 500 years ago.
Practice, Practice, Practice 🔗
Finally, the best way to improve your writing is to practice regularly. Set aside time each day to write, even if it’s just a few sentences.
The more you write, the more you’ll improve. Don’t be afraid to experiment with different styles and approaches to find what works best for you.
Conclusion 🔗
As online writers, our focus should be on improving our writing to connect with our audience, rather than impressing them with fancy vocabulary and complex sentences.
By understanding our audience, keeping it simple, using active voice, editing ruthlessly, and practicing regularly, we can become more effective and impactful writers.
So, next time you sit down to write, remember to focus on improving, not impressing.