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5 Steps To Becoming A Better Writer In 2017

Regardless of the field you work in, writing is a task everyone has to face. Some write more than others, but nobody is excused. How many emails, blogs, social media posts, or presentations do you create on a weekly basis? Today, all writing is meant to educate or advertise.

Here are 5 writing tips that will improve your writing and communication skills in 2017.

 

  1. Edit your first paragraph

Setting the tone, giving context and establishing a structure are some of the most difficult tasks when writing the first paragraph. Going back to the beginning of the draft and continuously editing the first paragraph allows the writer to “warm-up”. Find what fits well and delete what doesn’t, so our readers don’t have to struggle with us.

  1. Embrace the reader

When referring to the audience, using pronouns such as “you” or “we” creates a captivating style of writing. Although this technique isn’t always in line with editorial guidelines, you will find it makes your writing direct, short, and more lively (active verbs).

  1. Short and sweet

Keep it simple! Keeping jargon out of your writing will help readers who may not know as much about your field, understand. You can reduce this by reading your writing from the perspective of someone who knows nothing about the topic, and inspecting it for confusing ideas or misunderstood terminology.

  1. Control the exaggerations

We often like to illustrate and exaggerate our writing with words like “very”, “incredibly”, “most”, or “often”. Too many overstatements can minimize the effect of your message. Replacing these hyperboles with precise and sincere statements allows for the message to be clear and available to the reader.

  1. Headlines and subject lines are key

Article headlines and email subjects are crucial components of writing. If your title is expressive, memorable, short and literal, more people are likely to open and read your piece. Although it is easier said than done, there are tools available to analyze the quality of headlines. Practice and analysis will help determine what titles work best.

 

Writing is a skill that can always be improved. Committing to becoming a confident communicator begins with impactful writing. In 2017, having an established plan to communicate ideas provides the basis for powerful business writing.

SDSU Senior Joins H&A for Spring Internship

Michele Chapman, a senior at San Diego State University, has joined H&A as an intern account coordinator.

Graduating from SDSU in May with a Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism with an emphasis in Public Relations and a minor in Sociology, Michele will assist clients with writing and editing press releases and media advisories, client research, and special event planning.

Meet Sam, H&A’s Newest Intern!

San Diego native, Sam Donk has joined Heying & Associates for a spring internship as an intern account coordinator.

Sam will graduate from San Diego State in May with a double major in Communication and Spanish. At H&A, he will serve as an account assistant for several of the firm’s public relations and marketing clients including various regional law firms and educational clients.

New Year, New Book of Lists

Happy New Year! H&A is starting 2017 on a good note – we are featured in the San Diego Business Journal Book of Lists 2017. We are ranked #15 on the Public Relations Agencies list. H&A is also noted as one of 13 agencies listed with a female principal. If you would like to download a copy, click here (you can find us on page 25).

We can’t wait to see what else 2017 has in store for us and our clients!

Taking Adult Education to the Highest Level

Marcela Gomez is a student who benefited from adult education and stayed with it all of the way from intermediate English as a Second Language (ESL) classes through earning her Master’s Degree at California State University San Marcos. She then circled back to help students who have the same challenges she had at a Palomar College – where her journey began.

To read more about Marcela’s awe-inspiring story, click here.

Writing Tips to Spice Up Bland Topics

The PR world is often fast-paced and full of excitement. But sometimes you get stuck with a not-so-exciting topic to write about or present on. While the task of turning something that may seem dry or uninteresting into something that people would care about may seem daunting, there are several ways you can spice it up for your audience – visuals, industry experts, and intriguing data.

To learn more about transforming a boring topic into a compelling piece of work, click here.