Mission Drive’s Copywriter Rhiannon here, hello! For some of us, writing feels fluid and easy. For others, less so. It’s easy to get stuck and it’s easy to become bogged down in text. As a former journalist turned copywriter, all of my skills were learned on the job. Here are my top tips from 20 years of professional writing:
Brevity
Make your sentences shorter. If you can say the same thing in fewer words, do it. It doesn’t make it boring. It makes it easier for your reader to digest. You’ll still sound smart, I promise. It’ll also help you stick to your word count.
Explaining acronyms / abbreviations / people
Never assume someone knows what AI or POC is. Standard rule is to write it out in full just for the first time you mention it, with the acronym in brackets. Similarly don’t assume your readers know who the famous person or company you’ve referenced is. Explain briefly or provide a link.
Metaphors and similes
Brevity is ace. But it doesn't mean you have to ditch all your good metaphors and similes. They are excellent and often amusing ways to explain tricky concepts. They create a fun mental image for the reader and a fresh take.
Reincorporation
Not sure how to end your article? Use the classic improv tip of reincorporation. Just look at what you said at the beginning of the piece, and work it into the ending. Just like bookends.
Jokes and LOLS
Jokes will make copy longer. But they’re ace. So here’s what you can do: write your piece first. Get the order of play and flow sorted. Then when it’s all done, go back to the start and see where you can add in funny quips or amusing similes. This way you can pace your funnies appropriately, and still hit your word count.
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