Language & Concision Strategies

Writing Skills: Starting with the Basics

1. Write strong sentences:

• Be specific about details and facts (It was not just just a lacrosse stick; it was a 1987 wooden Cranberry Victoria signed by Gary and Paul Gates.)
• Be concise:
  1. eliminate vague and unnecessary words: very, really, totally, that’s, so
  2. cut long sentences in two
  3. Don’t use “big words” to sound more literary (remember simple, clear, strong)
  4. Tighten by replacing “in order to”(to), “start to” (eliminate), “there are”(rearrange sentence) with tighter phrasing
     1. “There are many ways to write a great sentence.”
     2. “Many ways exist to write a great sentence.”
• Keep your focus: eliminate any words that don’t enhance your purpose.
• Write in the active voice: the subject should always be doing the action (The leaves were blown by the wind = passive; The wind blew the leaves = active)

2. Engage your reader

Speak in a “conversation” voice. Use punctuation to create a flow. (consider the dash, semicolon, brackets or purposeful fragments to create rhythm and direct your reader)

3. Word Choice

Pick words for meaning, sound (alliteration), imagery, sensory and connotative reasons. Drive your sentences w/ strong action verbs (avoid overuse of “to be”).

4. Voice

Word choice, sentence length and rhythm help create voice.

• Write without a filter for your first draft and then highlight the sentences that strike you.
• Do you see a pattern? These patterns can be the beginning of voice.
• Consider the authors that you enjoy. What is it about their language and rhythm that appeals to you?
• Being conscious of your choices will help you develop a distinct voice.

5. Create “sound bites”

Create small moments in your writing that stand out for their use of poetic techniques (repetition, sensory language, figurative language, etc)

6. Avoid Cliche

Analogies, similes and metaphors can be powerful, but avoid overused comparisons (My love is like a red rose; I have butterflies in my stomach; my heart sank like a rock, etc.) We have heard them all. Consider unique comparisons to create more interesting writing: My palm grazed the cactus couch with caution. (Why palm and not hand? Why caution instead of trepidation? What is evoked through the use of cactus?)

7. Play with sequencing

Don’t always feel like you have to begin at the beginning. Start in the middle. Begin at the end. Playing with sequencing can build suspense and create a more dynamic story; just be careful that transitions for flashbacks and anecdotes are smooth and clearly lead the reader through the puzzle.

Additional Resources

The following resources were used to create the above tips. Below are links to the original sites for more in-depth explanations:

The 5 keys to writing persuasive sentences for busy readers

How to sculpt concise sentences

4 Types of Weak Words