Develop Your Writing Style and Structure for Engaging Content

Your writing doesn't suck.

Your 3rd grade English class sucked.

Online writing 101:

— Jamie Russo (@jamierusso) March 18, 2023

1. Embrace the writing process:

Don't expect your first draft to be perfect. Give yourself room to improve.

• Draft
• Edit
• Polish

Writing is a journey. Give yourself room to make mistakes.

— Jamie Russo (@jamierusso) March 18, 2023

2. Establish a writing routine:

Set aside time each day to write. Discipline will improve your writing over time.

• Write for 25 mins
• Break for 5
• Repeat

Regular writing fosters creativity.

— Jamie Russo (@jamierusso) March 18, 2023

3. Read widely and critically:

Active readers pay attention to writing techniques, structures, and storytelling methods. Read various...

• Authors
• Genres
• Styles

Learn from other writers and apply those lessons to your own writing.

— Jamie Russo (@jamierusso) March 18, 2023

4. Develop your unique voice:

Experiment with different writing styles until you find one that works well for you and your audience.

• Style
• Tone
• Perspective

This helps create unique and memorable work.

— Jamie Russo (@jamierusso) March 18, 2023

5. Focus on structure and pacing:

Your story should move at a steady pace without lulls or rushed sections.

• Beginning
• Middle
• End

Your structure and pacing engage readers.

— Jamie Russo (@jamierusso) March 18, 2023

6. Seek feedback and learn from criticism:

Share your work with others through writing groups.

• Seek criticism
• Seek feedback
• Seek improvement

Weaknesses are areas for improvement.

— Jamie Russo (@jamierusso) March 18, 2023

7. Write for your target audience:

Know who your reader is and write for them.

• Language
• Preference
• Expectation

Tailor your writing to resonate with the right person.

— Jamie Russo (@jamierusso) March 18, 2023

8. Experiment with different styles:

Discover your strengths, preferences, and areas for improvement.

• Try new styles
• Try new genres
• Try new mediums

Find your voice and develop your skills.

— Jamie Russo (@jamierusso) March 18, 2023

9. Learn the rules, then break them:

Study the conventions of grammar, style, and genre. But don't be afraid to bend or break the rules.

• Rules
• Are
• Meant
• To
• Be
• Broken

This is how you develop your unique voice and writing style.

— Jamie Russo (@jamierusso) March 18, 2023

10. Practice self-editing:

Objectively assess and revise your work. Many tools can help.

• Grammarly
• Spellcheck
• Hemingway

Polish the finished product.

— Jamie Russo (@jamierusso) March 18, 2023

11. Begin with a strong opening:

Capture attention with a compelling hook.

• Open the loop
• Build a cliffhanger
• Increase readers' desire

Readers are hardwired to seek more information.

— Jamie Russo (@jamierusso) March 18, 2023

12. Vary sentence structure and length:

Use a mix of simple, compound, and complex sentences. This creates...

• Rhythm
• Variety
• Interest

Vary sentence length to turn words into music.

— Jamie Russo (@jamierusso) March 18, 2023

13. Limit the use of adverbs and adjectives:

Effective words provide meaning.

• Strong verbs
• Precise nouns

Write for impact. Edit for concision.

— Jamie Russo (@jamierusso) March 18, 2023

14. Master the art of subtext:

Add depth and nuance to your writing through subtext.

• Practice the iceberg theory
• (Write just enough)
• Let readers fill in the blanks

Many readers desire rich complex stories.

— Jamie Russo (@jamierusso) March 18, 2023

15. Avoid info-dumping:

Reveal information gradually as it serves your story.

• Embrace backstory
• World-building
• Exposition

This makes stories more engaging.

— Jamie Russo (@jamierusso) March 18, 2023

16. How to write well:

• Embrace the process
• Develop your voice
• Establish a routine
• No info-dumping
• Sentence length
• Target audience
• Master subtext
• Seek feedback
• Limit adverbs
• Read widely
• Experiment
• Break rules
• Pacing
• Hook
• Edit

— Jamie Russo (@jamierusso) March 18, 2023