How To Write

How to write

Writing techniques
Writing Tips
Editing Tips

WWWWWH
WWWWWH
Technique 1
WWWWWH
5Ws and 1H
WWWWWH

Who?
What?
When?
Where?
Why?
How?

Who was involved?
What happened (what's the story)?
When did it take place?
Where did it take place?
Why did it happen?
How did it happen?

Who
Why did it happen?
How did it happen?
is the document aimed at?
will benefit from reading it?

Who was involved?
What
Why did it happen?
How did it happen?
is our product?
are the benefits?
can you expect from us?

Who was involved?
When
Why did it happen?
How did it happen?
should the document be read?
can our product be used?

Who was involved?
Where
Why did it happen?
How did it happen?
are our strengths?
does our product meet your needs?

Who was involved?
Why did it happen?
How did it happen?
is our product relevant to you?
does it work the way it does?

Who was involved?
Why did it happen?
How did it happen?
does our product work?
can you learn more?

Technique 2
Inverted Pyramid

Information they must have for your communication to be successful
STOP
Additional information that is helpful but not crucial
Be nice if they had it

STOP
Crucial information must go at the beginning
They could stop reading at any time

They could stop reading at any time
Crucial information must go at the beginning

Writing Tips

Activevs Passive
the thing doing the action is the subject of the sentence
the thing receiving the action is the object

I heard it through the Grapevine
I is the subject, the one who is doing the action.
I is hearing it, the object of the sentence.
Active

It was heard by me through the Grapevine
Passive

Passive voice is usually awkward and other times it’s vague.

Don’t sweat the grammar

Split your infinitives if you must, dangle your modifiers and feel free to end that sentence with a preposition if you feel the sentence warrants it.

Apostrophes’
Apostrophe’s
Apostrophes
http://apostrophe.me

K.I.S.S.

Worried you’re not using the right words?
Use simpler words.
Worried that your sentence isn’t clear?
Make a simpler sentence.
Worried that people won’t see your point?
Make your point simpler.

Always write well

Editing Tips

S L O W L Y
Read each word, not each sentence

but preferably
to yourself…

Learn your CRUTCH

And finally…

Further Reading
http://whatever.scalzi.com/2006/02/12/writing-tips-for-non-writers-who-dont-want-to-work-at-writing/
http://www.capulet.com/sites/capulet.com/files/TenTips.pdf
http://apostrophe.me

Questions?

http://www.onemanwrites.co.uk	65
http://209.85.129.132	1
http://www.slideshare.net	1

How To Write

by Gordon McLean on Dec 14, 2009

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