Have you wondered why we constantly repeat variations on the phrase

Writing How To Books

when we refer to our system?

There really is a reason.

When I originally looked at the different types of books, I categorized them into two types – fact & time.  As you can tell from the first post in this series there are more. But fact & time are the two major breakdowns.

Most non-fiction books are fact based.

Fiction, on the other hand, is time based.

If you tell a story, which is what fiction purports to do, then you are describing something that takes place over and through time. This happened then, this happened now and this will happen.

Much of which is causally interrelated. (Hey, I like that phrase … one thing leads to another is SO overused don’t you think?)

Most non-fiction but not all. Histories and biographies (including auto-) are time based. They take place over time and while you may need to link the parts or explain the pieces or even make an argument,  the defining characteristic is time.

Because fiction, histories and biographies are not a collection of facts but rather time based they require the use of a different tool.

Yes, the same issues exist. Information comes out of your brain in a disorganized fashion. It needs to be organized. The best way is with a structured brainstorming tool. So far cool. Exactly the same as fact based.

The difference is that the tool needed is a form of timeline (rather than Semantic Network Diagram). Why? Because you need to organize around the timeline and it’s interrelationships. Think of it as a Timeline Network Diagram with a few added bits. Why added bits? Because you still need to organize the facts you’ll state, and the arguments you’ll make.

That’s why we try to be so clear around our system. While the process itself is the same, the tool used is not. The tool we used is based around fact organization not time and facts.

So the question often asked is “Can you use the Content Map to design a fiction book and a biography?”. Surprisingly enough the answer is YES … Are you confused yet????

You see, the content map only works for part of the job (remember the added bits?).  It isn’t the best tool for the job. A timeline based tool is.

That’s why we constantly say for Writing How To Books.

It’s not that the system doesn’t work for others … it’s just not the best system available. So why use it? Wouldn’t you rather use the best system for what you are doing? We would rather you did!

Related posts

• Writing How To Books – Final Thoughts (10)
• Writing How To Books – Collections (16)
• Writing How To Books – Fact Based Books (34)
• Writing A How To Book: Selecting a Writing System: Why You Need A Writing System (4)
• Writing A How To Book: Selecting a Writing System: Understanding What’s Available (3)

Happy Thanksgiving to our followers in the U.S.A. … it’s their Thanksgiving and Black Friday (big sales day).

Now up here, we had Thanksgiving a month or so ago. And it’s on a Monday so we don’t get a Black Friday.

So I’m going to do things a little differently!

You see, I can’t reduce our prices any lower than they are right now!

Get a copy of our complete system including templates, timelines and extra informationat the best price it will ever be…

Go HERE to get a copy of our book “How to Write How To Books in 24 Hours or Less”
including unadvertised bonuses for only $27.

And if you want even more ….

Go HERE to get our hands on coaching. Learn to create learning content such as webinars, seminars, video-inars and yes, even eBooks! At $100 off regular price.

Now remember, this is HANDS-ON Coaching by either Paul or myself. Having problems getting your eBook written? Not sure about how to design your info product? Wondering how to make a good video? Get the answers and help you need while learning about creating learning content.

So what’s so different?

Next week the price goes UP, UP, UP … and it’ll never be this low again! (Monday if I can get my act together). So don’t wait! Get it now!

Related posts

• Writing How To Books – Final Thoughts (10)
• Writing How To Books – Collections (16)
• Why You NEED A System To Write How To Book or other Non-Fiction Books (5)
• Writing How To Books – Time Based Books (8)
• Writing How To Books – Sequence Based Books (20)

So the first type of book we’re going to talk about is the Fact Based book. There is a reason for that. It’s the type of book that our system of writing is best with.

It’s a good thing then that most How To Books are fact based.

So what is a fact based book?

As I’ve already said it’s your standard how to or why to book. In this type of book, the author concentrates on assembling and presenting facts (or opinions). Basically, think of it as an argument in the debating sense of the word. The author lays out a series of facts which make his point and convince the reader to do things the way the author wishes.

So why is our system the best method of designing and writing such a book?

First, the answer lies in the question. An argument is designed. It really doesn’t matter what form that argument takes – book, webinar, speech, debate – a well designed argument must be designed. It doesn’t just happen.

Second, a well designed argument follows a structure. A very flexible structure, true, but a single structure nonetheless. Specifically — intro, body, conclusion. Just like your teachers told you so long ago, “Tell them what you are going to say, say it, then tell them what you said.”

Finally, the creative brain doesn’t work well in structured ways. Rather it works by making connections, which can be totally illogical in their arrival.

So why does our system work so well? Because it allows you to generate ideas in arrival sequence but places them in a structured format. We do this with a technology called structured brainstorming and a tool called a structured semantic network diagram. Sometimes this is called a structured idea map or mind map. But SND is the proper (and generic) name. But call it what you will, you start off with unordered ideas and end up with a structured document.

Of course, to do this involved some 60 years of experience in multiple disciplines. And the whole process involves more than just the content map.

But the essence of why the process works for fact based books is in the content map.

Unfortunately, that isn’t the case for all types of books. In our next post we’ll look at a version that the system won’t work for. And give you some hints to a version which will.

Learn & Earn

Glen Ford
and the LearningCreators crew.

Related posts

• Writing How To Books – Final Thoughts (10)
• Writing How To Books – Collections (16)
• Writing How To Books – Time Based Books (8)
• Writing How To Books – Four Types of Books (17)
• About (0)

If you’ve taken my free course on writing how to books (if not why not? Just go here – it’s free after all!) (or better still go here and buy my book on writing how to books), then you’ve heard my rant on when to use the 25 hour system. And when not to!

But I never really talk about the alternatives and why the system works (or doesn’t).

So that’s what I’m going to talk about in this little series.

There are four basic types of non-fiction books …

• fact based
• time based
• sequence based (or process based)
• collections

Over the next four days or so I’ll go into each of these in greater detail. I’ll talk about how to recognize each of them and the best technique to use for them. I’ll also explain why the 25 hour technique is (or isn’t) a good technique for them.

By the way, I did mention the video course is free , didn’t I? (And taking the course will give you a special price on the book? )  So if you learn better by reading go here. If by video (or you want to save some money) go here.

Related posts

• Writing How To Books – Final Thoughts (10)
• Creating Learning Content – Choosing Topics (23)
• Writing How To Books – Collections (16)
• Why You NEED A System To Write How To Book or other Non-Fiction Books (5)
• Why Create Ebooks …. Part 3 for Internet Marketers and Information Product Sales (5)

So far we’ve talked about both my week (well, actually, I vented about my week) and we’ve talked about something concrete that can be done to “prevent” weeks like that.

This post I want to comment on something not-so-concrete.

Specifically, to say that weeks like last will happen! No matter how far along you get they will happen. Over and over and over. Get used to it.

Why?

Because as you get closer to your target, you will move your target. That’s normal. That’s good! It means you are growing.

The trick is to keep your focus on today’s target. Now that means two different things. Keep your focus on what you want to achieve. And also on what you will feel when you achieve it. You see we’re not just physical beings. We’re emotional, mental, social and spiritual beings.  Now the last three can’t be controlled directly. That’s why we have to achieve them. To do that we need to focus on them (first meaning). You see we’ll achieve what we focus on. If we allow that focus to shift — say to focus on what we don’t have rather than on what we want — then we will achieve that new focus instead. If it’s what we don’t want then that’s going to be a problem.

On the other hand both physical and emotional can be controlled directly. And in turn they control much of our ability to focus clearly and consistently.

In other words, if you let yourself become depressed you will focus on your failure and that’s what you will achieve. If you keep yourself up, you will focus on what you want to achieve and will, in time, achieve it.

Basically, you empower yourself.

That’s why, in my book, I tell you to make a big sign saying why you want to have a book and then post that sign where you work. It’s a way to focus your mind on success. That focus will carry you through the inevitable rough spots.

Now, I’m NOT talking about the stare into the mirror and “I am wonderful” and “I have achieved” crap. Well, not directly. Unless you are willing to work towards the end you won’t get there.

Focus alone won’t do it.

Doing it alone won’t do it either.

You need both.  Because only by having focus can you carry yourself over the inevitable rough spots. And because whatever you focus on you tend to achieve. But focus without doing is called dreaming.

And dreamers never write but writers must dream!

Get out there and learn and earn!

Glen Ford

and the LearningCreators team.

Related posts

• 2 Reasons To Write How To Books Part 2 – Publishing Your Book (2)
• What a Week! Or how NOT to build an Ebiz (2)
• On Creating Content …. Courses out there (2)
• Writing Your Internal How To Books – #1 The week from H**L! (1)
• Writing How To Books – Four Types of Books (17)

Okay, so Monday I told you about last week. And how it was just so absolutely fantastic.

But I’ve left two bits of info off.

Now, I’ve been following a number of Internet Marketers. One of whom is Anthony Robbins who has been sending me a series of interviews with major internet marketers. (Great series by the way – Tony interviews by asking questions then shutting up and listening).  Secondly, my sister has been following Tony Robbins for years and is currently being coached by one of his licensees. So she lent me some of his tapes.

Basic concept (from both) is that we need to build our inner game.  What I’ve called writing your inner how to book in the title. (See there was a point to it!)

Basically, what I learned last week is that there will be up periods and down periods. Times when it is easy to get things done and times when everything seems to be against you.

If you allow what is happening outside you to beat you down it will. And you’ll get NOTHING accomplished. (Like I did last week).

But if you keep your end up you’ll get by those weeks … and end up actually accomplishing something.

So how do you write your internal how to book?

1. Decide what you want
2. Decide where you are
3. Determine what you need to do to get there from here
4. Determine what you need to do on a weekly basis to accomplish it
5. Determine what you need to do on a daily basis
6. Do it!

So why is it so difficult?

The answer is twofold.

First, we tend to focus on only one item. And because we are focused on only that one item we lose sight of the other items of importance. We focus on our business and forget to talk to our wife and kids. We focus on others and forget to keep our bodies in shape. And once we allow one to fall behind the whole system begins to break down.

The truth is that when we write our internal how to book, we need to do so in seven areas:

1. Societal
2. Familial
3. Financial
4. Mental
5. Spiritual
6. Physical
7. Emotional

(There are several variations on this list — each promoting their own point of view — so find the one that works for you and is still complete. Don’t worry about the number of items … the point is to cover all your relationships … to society, to people in your life, to your intellect, to your body, to your God, to your emotional health.)

So start by deciding what you want – long term – in each area of your life. If your life was perfect what would each of these areas look like.

Then look at your life as it is. What’s different from where you really want to be.

Once you have that determine what you need to accomplish in order to change from where you are to where you want to be. Trust me this isn’t as easy as it seems. It may require deep questioning of why the existing is the way it is.

Then plan your changes. What do you need to do on a yearly basis? What do you need to do on a monthly basis? What do you need to do on a weekly basis? What do you need to do daily? Some things will be goal focused — to lose 50 lbs in 1 year I need to lose 1 lb per week. However, the most important items will be task or control focused — every week I need to spend 1 hr determining what I need to accomplish this week. Those are the habits you need to build in order to develop the discipline needed to accomplish your goals.

Tony Robbins says you have to schedule it. He’s sort of right. Yes, you need to schedule it.

Then get out there and actually do it!

Scheduling is half the problem but if you don’t do it you’ll never get the benefits of having done it. In other words everything up to that point (all the problems you’ve solved so far) will be for naught.

That’s the second reason it’s so difficult. Thinking about it is easy. Dreaming about it is even easier. But doing it is hard. And the only way to make it easier is to get out there and just do it. It won’t take long. Once you develop those habits (you remember those things you need to do every week and every day), then you’re half way there.

Why?

Because the habits will help to carry you through the doing even when your energy is low, even when things are going wrong.

Because they will go wrong. Even after you accomplish your goal.

(For more info try Tony Robbins – The Power of Psychology).

Get Learning & Earning

Glen Ford

& the LearningCreators

Related posts

• Writing How To Books – Final Thoughts (10)
• Writing How To Books – Collections (16)
• Learning to toot your own horn! SEO & Writing How To Books (7)
• Creating Information Products But Which One? Part 7 – Price (2)
• An Atom Of Meaning — Some Internet Marketing Definitions #1 (2)

Last week  was just one of those weeks!

You know the ones, where things start out bad and then head for worse.  The week before had ended by finding out all the mistakes I made in one (count ‘em) one article. Eh, not really a biggy … these blog posts are done in a hurry (in case you haven’t noticed) and they don’t get edited (usually) so they’re bound to have a few errors. But ddddumbbbbb muckups bug me. After all these are just short articles … just how many mistakes can I make in 400 – 600 words after all? Answer … LOTS!

So I guess I set myself up by demanding error-free results of myself!

And I’m not about to add time by doing an edit to these posts. So I have to lower my expectations of myself. Not something I like doing! (Can ya guess?)

Then I broke my glasses. Doing nothing. Just sitting there and they went pop! The frame finally gave up the ghost.

Needless to say I did not need that to happen. Now, I’m a little old. Actually, I’m getting a lot old. And my poor eyes are beginning to not know if they should be near-sighted (always were) or far-sighted (ahh age — isn’t it wonderful?). So they’re both. (Hey, I’m normally confused. Why shouldn’t my eyes be as well?) In short, I need bifocals — expensive bifocals. Expensive as in I don’t have the money for them bifocals. (Now remember this is Monday … and still going downhill!)

Next off, I started off the week ending one series without having an idea for my next series. No big deal. Happens whenever I end a series in the middle of a week. I usually need a day or so to come up with the next series. And by Wednesday, I had an article — after all it was Rememberance Day and most of my uncles were in the war.  So by noon, I had an article laid out in my mind. Just one but hey, I can come up with a single no prob.

Unfortunately, it was like 5:00 by the time I was able to get working on anything to do with the business. B&*^@#%! Okay, no big problem. A day late won’t make THAT much difference — although doing it on Wednesday made more sense.

On Thursday … I got too b*^&^%%&% busy! Again!

Doing what? Taking phone calls from headhunters who really, really wanted to tell me about this great job possibility they had. Okay. I can deal with that. Money is money. I really don’t mind helping them do their job — especially if it is going to bring me work. Unfortunately, one of those was the type I ABSOLUTELY HATE. This was a guy who barely spoke English, who proceeded to describe this great job in some city in Canada called “Saskacheywan” (actually in Regina,  Saskatchewan). Now, I have to admit it was the type of work I do and yes, I have experience doing exactly that type of work. However, 1 hour later I’m killing myself laughing at him. When I asked the rate they were looking for the response was $35/hour all in.  Given that the daily allowance by the government is roughly $25/hr that wasn’t what I would call a realistic rate. Especially given that the area is still paying boom time rates and a normal rate for that type of work is just a leeeetle bit more than that. Normally, I try to turn recruiters down professionally … there are exceptions however! (FYI, that’s offering $35,000/yr for a $70,000/yr job … not counting relocation expenses or boom times). Oh, and to make matters worse — the job was first advertised six months ago!

Oh, yes, and the others who spent a great deal of my time (not wasted just spent), all had jobs that paid less than normal (around 2/3’s).  At least they were local and somewhat in the ballpark given the market.

I also spent the rest of the day working with a client (fixed lowball price to boot) who actually hadn’t done what they thought they had done. So I ended up having to create a form so they would at least be able to do the work properly and then sent them back to do it all over again! Can I charge for that? Of course, not. So much for making my costs back!

By Friday, I should have gotten use to the way my week was going. But of course, I didn’t.

In fact, I made the mistake of reviewing the week. After all, that’s one of those things I do. It helps to get things done and focus on achievements.

Except this time.

I got nothing done last week. Absolutely NOTHING! Even my one blog post was actually written the week before — mostly!

Then to make it into just a wonderful week … I got ripped off. Yup. My car was broken into in my driveway sometime Friday night. I figure it was teenagers but still they stole a brand-new GPS that I bought with money I don’t have.  And worse — I have to replace it because I’m travelling to Ottawa for stage 2 of the clean up of my father-in-law’s apartment.

However, today — as I was writing this rant — I realized that I did accomplish one thing. I learned something! And Wednesday I’ll share it with you on my next blog post.

Get Learning, and Get Earning

Glen

& the LearningCreators team.

Related posts

• Topics (0)
• Lessons Learned #10 – Money or Time, You’ve Got To Pay (6)
• About (0)
• 2 Reasons To Write How To Books Part 1 – A Book As A Modern Business Card (3)
• Writing How To Books – Final Thoughts (10)

Breaking the rules to improve your writing

After all the mistunks I made last article, I’m almost afraid to continue this series. But a promise is a promise. (Thank you Jim (axonaxis3) ).

So far I’ve given you a whole bunch of ideas or maybe rules on how to make your writing better. How to make it easier to read and harder hitting. How to be clearer and make your writing easier to understand.

Now I’m going to tell you to forget it!

Okay, I’m exaggerating. But like any rules, there are times you want to obey them and times you need to ignore them.

The key to writing well is to know when to obey and when to not obey. As a former girlfriend once commented about my writing “Now, that we are no longer in school, we are ALLOWED to break the rules.”

By the way, how many of you noticed how many errors I made last article. Lots more than you think! (I gotsta get me some sleep! Either that or an editor with a masochistic streak!  ).

Write Like You Speak.

Okay … so where to start with this one. Your speaking voice is a part of you. It’s a combination of your personality, your history and your culture. Trust it. Listen to it. Write with it.

You don’t always have to be correct. After all, when we speak we are seldom correct in our speech. When we are perfectly correct, people tend to think we’re putting on airs. The same is true with writing.  If we always write absolutely correctly then our own personality won’t come through. That’s great if you’re a technical writer. Not so great for a business or other type of writer where personality is part of what you’re selling.  (Please like me. Pretty Please …).

On the other hand … if we write exactly like we um, you know, sortta speak sometimes. Well, you know, I don’t like to brag but it can end up in a bunch of, mmm,  four letter words. If you know what I mean.

In other words … if we write exactly like we speak, our readers will start throwing things at us. Like a speaker, a writer needs to learn to eliminate the time wasters (umms, ahhs, etc) and the unlinked ideas. Sentence fragments are okay once in a while but not all the time (unlike speech). On the other hand, run-on sentences are also okay – once in a long while – but only very infrequently. Generally speaking, swearing is only acceptable within conversation (too many people are offended by its random use).

Use Shorter Paragraphs

Although not in the calculation, just as sentence length affects reading level so does paragraph length. Generally, the more sentences in a paragraph, the more difficult it is to read.

However, remember the intro, body, closing structure. Like the overall structure, a good paragraph should have an introductory sentence, a body and a closing sentence.

Should not must!

Use your paragraphs to help the reading. Short paragraphs read quickly. Especially when they flow into the next.

Keep long paragraphs for school. (And technical and academic writing).

Mix it up

One of the downsides of all this easy reading is that everything is short and quick. That’s why it’s easy to read.

Unfortunately, that’s also why it is exhausting!

After all, you wouldn’t run a marathon all out at sprinter’s speed, now would you? No, of course not. By the time you finish, you would be exhausted. The same is true for your writing and the poor reader. You need to pace their efforts. Give them a break where the sentences go on just a little longer.

Give them paragraphs where they can take a breath and not have to rush. Inevitably, these paragraphs will have a higher grade average since the number of words per sentence has increased. But by balancing the long and the short, by altering how you speak you can slow the reader down and give them a break without affecting the readability negatively. At least not too negatively.

In addition, one length is boring and insulting. Remember your “See Dick run” days? Now we laugh at it. There are two further problems with short sentences beyond the exhaustion aspect.

The first is the same sentence length time after time is boring.

The second is that if we write at too low a level – unless the content is REALLY, REALLY good – we tend to insult the writer. Generally, try to keep the writing around the grade 5-6 range. Below 3 begins to be insulting. Above 6 requires effort on the part of the reader to follow the thoughts of the writer. Try to match the grade level to the time availability of the audience (the busier, the lower the grade).

So I hope you have enjoyed the series. Let me know. This series was suggested by one of our students. If there is something you would like me to expound on please feel free to suggest away.

Learn and Earn

Glen Ford

Related posts

• Writing How To Books – Four Types of Books (17)
• Writing How To Books – Final Thoughts (10)
• Writing How To Books – Collections (16)
• Writing How To Books – Time Based Books (8)
• Writing How To Books – Fact Based Books (34)

Reducing Syllables per Word in Your Writing

There is a problem.  It is an unassailable conundrum of literary wordsmithing. A characteristic common to any real writer worth his or her lexical dictionary is that we love lexicons and the collections of derivational morphemes and words in a thesaurus. In short we have great large vocabularies which we love to demonstrate.

It’s a good thing there are no real writers here! Just us poor folks trying to teach by writing how to books.

Okay, so far we’ve talked about reducing the number of words. By keeping your sentences short and simple, you keep your writing readable. Cool.

Same thing applies to word use. Keep your words simple and your writing is easier to read. For Flesch-Kincaid that means the lower the average number of syllables per word the easier it is to read. For us, that means use real words not sophisticated expressions of vocabulary. By real, I mean the type of words you’d use when talking to a friend over a coffee.

But in practical terms there’s two tricks you can try….

Have a KISS over Coffee …

Remember the advice “write like you speak”? Imagine your audience representative (you do have one, don’t you?) is sitting across the table from you in Tim Hortons. Okay, for you poor folks in the U.S. make that a Dunkin’ Donuts. Unless you’re lucky and have a local Timmy’s. Starbucks is too swish for our example.

Would you speak to him or her in deep erudite phraseology or just plain street level talk? Okay, now get rid of all the swear words. Now you’ve got the appropriate way to write to your target market.  Easy huh?

In more practical terms, read through your writing. Anywhere you’ve used a complex representative of erudite discussion, replace it with a simple word. It sounds silly but your readers will love you for it. And hey, if you just absolutely must show off your vocabulary, you can always use words like erudite. It’s shorter than educated anyway. But limit yourself. You can lose your reader with short words too!

Lose weight – get active!

One of the indicators of overly educated speech is the use of passive voice. What is passive voice? It’s using phrases in place of verbs. It’s having your subject acted upon rather than your subject acting. Having been rewritten, the sentence is now being presented in passive voice. It’s quite common when trying to sound formal.

However, using passive voice tends to increase both the length of the words and the number of words. Additionally the quality of the writing is reduced. In this case, quality means the ability to draw in your reader and keep their interest. A characteristic sometimes described as powerful writing.

So find all those examples of you having used passive voice. And replace them. Use the active voice. Rewrite the sentence to use the active version. Your writing will be more powerful and more easily read.

Of course, being easier and faster to read isn’t the end all and be all. Next post, I’ll talk about when you don’t want to follow my advice.

Related posts

• Why Create Ebooks …. Part 3 for Internet Marketers and Information Product Sales (5)
• Physically Writing Your eBook – Letting The Computer Do All The Work (20)
• Lessons Learned #2 – Quality in WordPress Themes #1 (14)
• It’s Friday already (5)
• Writing How To Books – Final Thoughts (10)

Reducing Words per Sentence in Your Writing

The first three techniques I’m going to suggest are designed simply to reduce the number of words in your sentences. After all, as you go through the school system you are taught to create more and more complex thoughts. This complexity often rolls over into your sentence structure. Long, complex sentences are the foe of understanding. They build gates around the mind which the rams of your thoughts must contend against.

Puff, huff, puff, huff …. Salbutamol quick!

Bluntly, keep it super simple! More words. More difficulty reading. Less words. Easier to read.

One thought at a time

The first technique is to keep it simple. One thought = one sentence. Stop trying to cram all the exceptions into one sentence. If I’m trying to explain the rolling of the cart wheels while simultaneously explaining how the wheels are made of wood and iron and the iron has been lovingly smashed by the hand of the big, burly smitty with the burned leg and the secret of the sword, then I’m going to tend to create run-on sentences. Break the sentence apart. Tell me about the rolling cart wheels. Tell me how the wood and iron squeak together. If you must explain that the rim was forged by the same smitty. The burly artificer of the magic sword. But please, please, tell it to me one idea at a time. Lose the run on sentences. Be merciful, us old fogeys can’t follow that many thoughts. We get bored.

Mind you, if you’re writing a how to book you wouldn’t combine a sentence containing several elements of the situation and the story into a single, comprehensive sentence, which causes one to fall asleep by the time the full sentence has been completed, now would you? Not if you’re smart. One thought. One sentence. Multiple thoughts. Multiple sentences.

Conjunctions belong at the beginning

When you were in school, your teacher taught you not to begin sentences with coordinating conjunctions such as and or but. But now that you are an adult … feel free. Conjunctions are used to connect subordinate and co-ordinate phrases. Words like if, and, or and but are used to join multiple thoughts together. As we said earlier, multiple thoughts need multiple sentences, and single sentences should be limited to single thoughts.  So break them apart. If only to make it easier to read. Who cares if you end up with a sentence fragment. We think in fragments. We talk in fragments. So write in fragments when appropriate.

Getting blitzed on Adjectives and Adverbs.

Adjectives and adverbs are like fine wine. They compliment the nouns and verbs they accompany. They are selected and blended to add just the right piquancy to the verbal meal. So stop getting blitzed on the Wild Turkey and Strawberry Zinfandel of words.

If every grass blade is a deep, shamrock and moss green, then you probably are using too many words. Scrap probably. You are using too many words. In fact, there is a name for that writing. It’s called purple prose. It was a dark and stormy night. No it was night. The wind was blowing. We get the picture already.

There is no need to write purple prose. Especially when writing how to books. Keep your adjectives and adverbs spare and infrequent. Trust your reader. Anywhere you have multiple adjectives or adverbs per noun or verb … remove them. Light green grass? Try just grass. We already know it should be green. You’ll be surprised how many words per sentence you’ll lose!

As I’ve written this I’d like to blame my tone on Halloween candy. But the truth is that having extremely long sentences is a case of laziness. It’s foolishly used as an ego enhancer. All it takes is a bit of effort. Figure out where you’ve used one of the mistakes above. Rewrite the sentence. Break it up. Shorten it. Your readers will thank you. And your writing will improve immensely.

Keep Learning, Keep Earning

Glen Ford

& the LearningCreators team

Related posts

• Lessons Learned #2 – Quality in WordPress Themes #1 (14)
• We’re BAAACKkkk …. Oh my head! (6)
• Just Getting Started — Blogging by the slow of wit …. (2)
• It’s Friday already (5)
• About (0)