7 Tips to Help You Write Like a Pro

Don't Be Scared of Writing

At some point in your life, you will be asked to write something. If you’re thinking about starting a blog, that time is NOW.

Whether you’re planning to start on a thousand-page novel or are simply putting together some text for your company’s website or blog, it’s important that you write in a clear and compelling style.

This article will give you 7 tips to help you start writing like a professional.

1. Determine who your audience is

When you start to write something, the not-always-so-obvious first rule is to know exactly who you are writing to. A juvenile fiction story wouldn’t be written in the same style as a sports column.

Decide exactly who your target audience is, and then write in a way they can relate to. If it’s a blog you’re writing, speak to them like you would face-to-face.

In order to ‘see’ the face of your audience, write up a description — a persona — of your typical reader, and keep that face in mind when you write.

2. Watch your language — starting with grammar

Grammar and spelling both play significant roles in the impression you create. If you’re going to write and want to be read, brush up on your grammar skills.

Write Like A Pro Fountain Pen

If you’re in doubt, you can find helpful grammar tips online or off-the-shelf in the classic volume The Elements of Style by William Strunk.

3. Stop procrastinating

Staring at a blank computer screen can be frightening — even paralyzing — so you may be tempted to put it off…then put it off some more.

Once you get started, you’ll find plenty of tempting distractions.

Don’t give in to these temptations or you’ll never finish; you may never even get started. Set goals and stay away from Farmville, at least until your article is finished.

4. Get Inspired

There is one procrastination you should allow yourself – finding the inspiration that allows you to improve your mindset or land on a new idea.

Find whatever inspires you, and give in to it, then free your mind till it settles on the right idea.

Some of the best ways to become inspired include listening to music, going on a walk in the park, or even staring out the window at a beautiful spring day.

5. Do the Research

If you want someone to take the time to read what you’ve written, you’d better make sure your facts are correct. If you don’t have time to put the work into researching your topic before you start writing, then wait until you do.

If readers find your work sloppy or faulty, they are not likely to give you a second chance.

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If you’re short on time, spread your research out; 15-30 minutes a day for a week or two may allow you to squeeze in the time you thought you couldn’t find in your schedule.

6. Always Proofread

You wrote it, you slaved over every sentence and made sure your grammar was perfect. But guess what? A few typos slipped through.

Even though typos understandably happen to even the best writers, misspelled words can change the nature of your work and make it seem unprofessional and sloppy.

Always proofread everything you write at least once, preferably more.

7. Never Give Up

Writing can be a long, frustrating, spirit-crushing process.

Whether your novel has taken five years and is still unfinished, or no one has yet accepted your article or blog post, don’t give up.

It may be a long journey, but if you stick with it, your writing will improve and you’ll find a way to get it published.

About the Author:
James Adams is a writer and an editor for CartridgeSave, store suppliers of Lexmark ink cartridges in the UK.

Additional Writing Resources

You may be interested in these other articles and videos on writing like a pro.

- Writing - Sales-Letter Magic: 10 Tips for Writing Letters That Sell

- How To Write A Press Release Video Tutorial Series

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Sales-Letter Magic: 10 Tips for Writing Letters That Sell

by Dean Rieck

Published on April 7, 2011

Tags: Content, Lead Generation, Personalization, Sales, Writing

In this article, you'll learn...

10 ways to knock 'em dead with your sales letter
Common pitfalls to avoid when crafting your next sales letter

Sales letters are powerful selling tools. They give you a simple, direct way to generate sales leads and orders.

But for many businesspeople, they present a daunting writing challenge and a host of questions to consider. How do you start a letter? When should you present your offer?

How long should the letter be?

I've been writing successful direct mail, including sales letters, for many years. And I've learned that writing a letter is like building a house. You must go step by step and put every element in the right place.

Here are 10 tips for building your own successful sales letter.

1. Consider headlines and photos

If you want your letter to appear businesslike or highly personal, I suggest that you not use a headline or graphics. However, many types of sales letters can benefit from either or both.

I often use those items for straightforward consumer mail. In a newsletter subscription offer, for example, I showed a large photo of the newsletter at the top left of page one, with a bold benefit headline on the right side. I also included a reference to the offer and a call to action.

These techniques liven up the letter, draw the eye, telegraph the offer and the main benefit, and push the letter text to the lower half of the page, making it shorter and easier to read. If you can get someone to start reading a letter, you've won half the battle.

2. Use a fitting salutation

If your budget allows, go for personalization. Any letter I receive that starts with "Dear Dean Rieck" is far more likely to get read than one with a generic salutation.

But if you can't personalize, use a salutation that connects with the reader as closely as possible in the context of your list, offer, and product. "Dear Cat Lover" for cat owners, for example.

If you're mailing to a business audience, you can use the recipient's occupational or professional title, such as "Dear Family Doctor" or "Dear Marketing Manager." If nothing else, "Dear Friend" is usually a safe bet.

3. Start your letter strong

Writing Sales Letters is Fun :-)

There are infinite ways to begin. However, I generally try to create something that's short, attention-grabbing, and maybe even a little startling. Here's an example from a letter I wrote to sell a home-buying book:

Dear Friend,
I could just kick myself!
A couple years ago, my wife and I bought a new home. After we moved in, our neighbor asked us over for coffee.

What a shock! He had the same house design, but it was full of all the extras we couldn't afford—like a fireplace, panel doors, tile, oak cabinets. It was stunning.

When I asked how much it cost, he smiled. "Nothing. I knew how to get the extras added on free." And it was so simple, I could have done it, too. If I had only known the secret!

Notice how punchy and intriguing the first line is, and how the copy plunges right into the meat of the sales pitch with a story chockfull of specifics.

Of course, a letter opening doesn't have to be this involved. Sometimes it's best to get right to the point, as I did in a business-to-business lead generation letter:

Dear John Doe,
I have a FREE Demo CD you should see. May I send it to you?
It demonstrates (the product) and how dozens of leading companies are using it to revolutionize the way they work.

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