Brevity Is A Blogging Virtue

You don’t have to write a book every time you post.  Sometimes, a mere paragraph will do, provided it packs a real punch.  After all, your readers are busy people and if you constantly post long articles, they might not make the time to keep up with your blog.  Writing short, impactful posts is also a good attention-grabbing technique.  Remember, most slogans, sound bites, and other catchy messages are quick and to the point.  

Use the active voice and powerful, direct language.   Before you hit publish, scan your posts and remove anything that doesn’t move the post along or add to the message.  Yes, it is more difficult to compose tightly edited posts, but this sort of content is some of the most compelling.  Put in more work, and you’ll reap greater rewards.

When it comes to writing with brevity, Strunk & White’s Elements of Style says it best:

Omit needless words.

Ask yourself “is this necessary to get my point across?” while you are editing.  Are your words aiding the action or getting the reader stuck in the mud?  Need help discerning the wheat from the chaff?  Next week, I’ll be posting a series of articles on the basic writing skills and techniques that all bloggers need to know, so bookmark, subscribe, or come back on Monday for a discussion about the core of blogging: writing.

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