We don’t see what we read.
We hear it.
If each sentence is the same length, you sound boring.
Instead, aim for 20% long and 80% short.
Make your sentences sing.
Most people suck at writing.
But if you avoid these 12 common mistakes, I guarantee you won’t:
🧵
We don’t see what we read.
We hear it.
If each sentence is the same length, you sound boring.
Instead, aim for 20% long and 80% short.
Make your sentences sing.
Writing and editing are two separate skills.
Mix them and you suck at both.
Instead:
Leave 24 hours between each session (longer if possible).
Write first, edit later.
Before we read, we assess.
'Is this worth my energy?'
Be easy to read and you'll be easy to love.
Schools teach you to use complex and clever language.
But online, personality wins.
Treat writing like a conversation with a close friend.
Read it out loud before you publish.
Delete anything you wouldn’t say in person.
Stephen King once said, ‘The road to hell is paved with adverbs.’
They don’t strengthen your point.
They weaken your writing.
Use adverbs as an opportunity to swap for bolder language.
Schools punish you for not writing enough, but the internet rewards you for being succinct.
Say what needs to be said, then say no more.
Pro tip:
When you edit, reduce your word count by 30%.
Constraints are the key to creativity.
Writing is a reflection of your thoughts.
And people aren’t interested in weak ideas.
They want strength.
Be bold.
Never hedge your bets.
When you write to everyone, you write to no one.
People want to feel special.
Instead:
Imagine you're speaking to one avatar (write to your past self if you're not sure who)
The worst thing you can be online is boring.
Swap words for more exciting, emotional ones.
(Use https://t.co/TsWfm8u9CG h/t @wrongstowrite)
Passive writing is weak and wordy.
It ruins the flow.
An example:
The girl was smiled at by the boy.
The boy smiled at the girl.
Use this test 👇
12 writing mistakes to avoid:
· Adverbs
· Too wordy
· Big words
· Being boing
· Passive voice
· Hedging bets
· No specificity
· No formatting
· Writing to a crowd
· Sounding academic
· Same sentence length
· Writing & editing together
If you enjoyed this, 2 requests:
1. Drop me a follow @itskierandrew for ideas on writing, philosophy and business
2. Share the thread so others can read
Just click below and up you go, cheers.
https://t.co/8WfN86MAJI
Most people suck at writing.
— Kieran Drew (@ItsKieranDrew) August 16, 2022
But if you avoid these 12 common mistakes, I guarantee you won\u2019t:
\U0001f9f5
But if you're interested in attracting an audience, building your business and creating killer copy, you'd love my newsletter A-B-C.
Come join 5.5k writers here:
https://t.co/YePBTJOIno
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Fake chats claiming to be from the Irish African community are being disseminated by the far right in order to suggest that violence is imminent from #BLM supporters. This is straight out of the QAnon and Proud Boys playbook. Spread the word. Protest safely. #georgenkencho
There is co-ordination across the far right in Ireland now to stir both left and right in the hopes of creating a race war. Think critically! Fascists see the tragic killing of #georgenkencho, the grief of his community and pending investigation as a flashpoint for action.
Across Telegram, Twitter and Facebook disinformation is being peddled on the back of these tragic events. From false photographs to the tactics ofwhite supremacy, the far right is clumsily trying to drive hate against minority groups and figureheads.
Declan Ganley’s Burkean group and the incel wing of National Party (Gearóid Murphy, Mick O’Keeffe & Co.) as well as all the usuals are concerted in their efforts to demonstrate their white supremacist cred. The quiet parts are today being said out loud.
The best thing you can do is challenge disinformation and report posts where engagement isn’t appropriate. Many of these are blatantly racist posts designed to drive recruitment to NP and other Nationalist groups. By all means protest but stay safe.
There is co-ordination across the far right in Ireland now to stir both left and right in the hopes of creating a race war. Think critically! Fascists see the tragic killing of #georgenkencho, the grief of his community and pending investigation as a flashpoint for action.
Across Telegram, Twitter and Facebook disinformation is being peddled on the back of these tragic events. From false photographs to the tactics ofwhite supremacy, the far right is clumsily trying to drive hate against minority groups and figureheads.
Be aware, the images the #farright are sharing in the hopes of starting a race war, are not of the SPAR employee that was punched. They\u2019re older photos of a Everton fan. Be aware of the information you\u2019re sharing and that it may be false. Always #factcheck #GeorgeNkencho pic.twitter.com/4c9w4CMk5h
— antifa.drone (@antifa_drone) December 31, 2020
Declan Ganley’s Burkean group and the incel wing of National Party (Gearóid Murphy, Mick O’Keeffe & Co.) as well as all the usuals are concerted in their efforts to demonstrate their white supremacist cred. The quiet parts are today being said out loud.
There is a concerted effort in far-right Telegram groups to try and incite violence on street by targetting people for racist online abuse following the killing of George Nkencho
— Mark Malone (@soundmigration) January 1, 2021
This follows on and is part of a misinformation campaign to polarise communities at this time.
The best thing you can do is challenge disinformation and report posts where engagement isn’t appropriate. Many of these are blatantly racist posts designed to drive recruitment to NP and other Nationalist groups. By all means protest but stay safe.
Great article from @AsheSchow. I lived thru the 'Satanic Panic' of the 1980's/early 1990's asking myself "Has eveyrbody lost their GODDAMN MINDS?!"
The 3 big things that made the 1980's/early 1990's surreal for me.
1) Satanic Panic - satanism in the day cares ahhhh!
2) "Repressed memory" syndrome
3) Facilitated Communication [FC]
All 3 led to massive abuse.
"Therapists" -and I use the term to describe these quacks loosely - would hypnotize people & convince they they were 'reliving' past memories of Mom & Dad killing babies in Satanic rituals in the basement while they were growing up.
Other 'therapists' would badger kids until they invented stories about watching alligators eat babies dropped into a lake from a hot air balloon. Kids would deny anything happened for hours until the therapist 'broke through' and 'found' the 'truth'.
FC was a movement that started with the claim severely handicapped individuals were able to 'type' legible sentences & communicate if a 'helper' guided their hands over a keyboard.
For three years I have wanted to write an article on moral panics. I have collected anecdotes and similarities between today\u2019s moral panic and those of the past - particularly the Satanic Panic of the 80s.
— Ashe Schow (@AsheSchow) September 29, 2018
This is my finished product: https://t.co/otcM1uuUDk
The 3 big things that made the 1980's/early 1990's surreal for me.
1) Satanic Panic - satanism in the day cares ahhhh!
2) "Repressed memory" syndrome
3) Facilitated Communication [FC]
All 3 led to massive abuse.
"Therapists" -and I use the term to describe these quacks loosely - would hypnotize people & convince they they were 'reliving' past memories of Mom & Dad killing babies in Satanic rituals in the basement while they were growing up.
Other 'therapists' would badger kids until they invented stories about watching alligators eat babies dropped into a lake from a hot air balloon. Kids would deny anything happened for hours until the therapist 'broke through' and 'found' the 'truth'.
FC was a movement that started with the claim severely handicapped individuals were able to 'type' legible sentences & communicate if a 'helper' guided their hands over a keyboard.
