Three types of list stories to try
Not all list stories are created equal. BuzzFeed’s Jack Shepherd lists three types of lists for Nieman Lab:
- Listicles.
Writing and editing
Write a great list with this listicle template
6 tips for crafting list articles, blog posts
People love listicles. Lists get attention, reach skimmers and scanners, get remembered and shared.
No wonder you see so many communicators write listicles and long-form list posts for their social media and content marketing streams.… Read the full article
Stop it with the ing-ing
Present participle heads may be worse than labels
Barney Kilgore, the legendary editor of The Wall Street Journal, once wrote: “If I see ‘upcoming’ slip in[to] the paper again, I’ll be downcoming and someone will be outgoing.”
I’m with Barney: Stop ing-ing.… Read the full article
Which headline verbs should you use?
‘A story is a verb, not a noun’
When it comes to headlines, The New York Times’ leap into action: People, places and things arrest, attack, confront, explode, fight, grow, spread, struggle and work.… Read the full article
Write about people doing things
To cut your syllable count, make subjects characters
“It is good to write clearly,” wrote Joseph M. Williams, “and anyone can.”
Williams developed “The Little Red Schoolhouse” writing course at the University of Chicago.… Read the full article
Harness the power of one
Single-syllable words can shock, jolt and pop
By Mim Harrison, author of Smart Words
“Samuel Clemens” meanders. “Mark Twain” stands up straight and takes charge.
John F.… Read the full article
Don’t commit verbicide: Choose verbs, not nouns
Action words streamline syllables
This just in, writes one of my favorite correspondents, sharing a sentence his subject matter expert has written:
Somebody just kill me now, my friend writes.… Read the full article
Write like the Times: Keep words short
The Times’ word length averages 4.9 characters
When I recommend to my clients that they limit their word length to 5 characters per word, they roll their eyes and chortle.… Read the full article
Write like Churchill — in one-syllable words
‘Short words are best, and old words when short are the best of all’
What do you notice about this passage, excerpted from an article in The Economist?… Read the full article
Short, familiar words boost readability
Word length top predictor of readability, according to 90 years of research
Here’s the problem with long sentences: Every time you add a word, you reduce comprehension.… Read the full article