Write like the pros and get readers coming back for more and clients willing to pay a premium fee
Simple writing hacks? Does your writing ever feel like that limp, damp lettuce you’ve kept in the fridge too long? Yeah, me too. When you start feeling the yawn in every sentence, you know it’s time to parachute off Grammarly and inject rocket fuel into your words.
Do you feel me?
The thing is, when you regularly write for clients, it’s not always possible to add spice to your content with your undoubtedly colourful and energetic personality. To step away from the mushroom grey blah, we must find a way to add sparkle and zest so your words burst into readers’ minds like the tastebud tap of a freshly squeezed orange.
I sometimes read the work of other writers and feel the unpleasant prickle of comparison. Well, no more. I’m grabbing the word defibrillator, ready for the electric charge to zap the heart of my writing. I followed Nicolas Cole for a while on YouTube and read his book.
How about you? Ready for the 5 simple writing hacks?
5 Ways To Make Your Writing Magnificent & Magnetic
The best writers make it look easy, but they have a secret. They have the ancient scroll with the faded, but not jaded, recipe that shapes their every word. Every sentence. Every paragraph. So, sneaky old me subscribed to some of these godlike writing creatures, and I’m excited to share what I’ve learned.
Sacred Tip #1: Help Your Readers Feel Every Word
We writers all get into the habit of stereotyping our words. It takes less effort (lazy), and we get away with it. Still, let’s explore what I mean. Read the following and close your eyes for a few seconds afterwards:
- personal-development
- Word saboteur
- A better way
- Drunk as a skunk
- Neon pink smoothie
The brain recognises novelty – because it tries to protect resources by filtering out the “normal”. So, when you opened your eyes, you probably remembered:
- Word saboteur
- Drunk as a skunk
- Neon pink smoothie
These three stuck in your mind because they paint a picture. Think of the purple smoothie. Is your mouth watering? Crazy right? I’m writing this, and my mouth is watering 😊. They are sensory words, so we experience them like cool homemade lemonade on a sweltering hot day.
Sensory language evokes the senses:
- Touch: Grab these free tools …
- Taste: You will love the sweet satisfaction of …
- Sound: This offer screams bargain of the century
Everyone scrolls through written content. The brain looks for relevance and will hook onto anything that stands out. Give your readers something that they can feel, see or hear. They will stay on your page longer and probably subscribe because your words suddenly became like a sip of sugar water to an exhausted bee.
Words should stick, not slip away. Give readers something they can see, hear, and feel. And if you adopt these simple writing hacks, they’ll pay more attention to your ideas.
Sacred Tip #2: Cast A Hook & Don’t Let Go
We’re all guilty of the mundane. It’s like how we always fall back on our favourite meal, Netflix series or a chocolate fest when we feel a bit low.
Here’s what I mean:
- Your blog needs email marketing.
- Eating spinach is good for you.
- Your loved one appreciates kind words.
- A good headline is a powerful way to get readers.
YAWN YAWN YAWN
Let’s try and va-va-voom it up a bit:
- The top secret tip to increase blog subscribers by 1000%.
- Eat this food to get a 65% increase in energy, like the Duracell bunny.
- Say these 3 words if you want love in the afternoon
- How to hook readers like there’s a 75% sale on Amazon
Yeah, OK. I’m still practising, but it’s a definite improvement from the blah. Hey. These simple writing hacks are pretty cool so far, don’t you think?
The top writers call these headlines a loop. So, you open the loop with a tempter. Close it, open the next loop, and close.
Example:
- How to hook your readers (loop 1)
- Like there’s a 75% sale on Amazon (loop 2)
Get paid to write by registering for paid online writing jobs
Sacred Tip #3: Why the Heck Should Anyone Trust You?
Much as we’d love to think we’re important, our readers aren’t only looking for what they can gain from your content. They also need to know if they can trust you. After all, you could be some lazy numpty who copied and pasted ChatGPT-generated content.
We all know that ChatGPT saves time when writing. Damn, I use it myself every day. It’s fast becoming one of the simple writing hacks that writers use. You know, it’s like having my best brainstorming buddy ping me snippets of deliciously helpful stuff all day¾when I ask!
It’s no good telling your readers you know it all. You must show them. It’s like pulling out your holiday photos to prove you went to Jamaica, not a trip around a Jamaican-themed mini golf course 😊.
Don’t get pompous about it. When you know, you know. So, share your lived experience (hate that saying?) from a humble perspective that you were in your reader’s shoes not long ago.
3 Ways to Help Build Trust With Your Readers
- New to writing: Share what you’re learning from an expert or a course you’re taking. Quote research sources where possible and share statistics.
- Share your results: Share screenshots that your readers can relate to. It’s not about bragging. It’s about showing what’s possible. For example, you might say, “These 5 AI tools helped me earn $1000/month within 3 months.”
- Share testimonials: Social proof helps build trust, so gather and filter case studies and testimonials into your writing.
It’s no secret that the “show, don’t tell” concept works for writers. These simple writing hacks are the foundation for great words.
Sacred Tip #4: Use Words That Create Scrumptious Images
One way of quickly enabling your readers to visualise your words is to use metaphors. They work like warm honey slipping down a hot spoon.
See what I did there? 😊
It’s simple writing hacks 101. 😊
Don’t go mad with metaphors (hey, that would be a great book title). Sprinkle them occasionally into your content. Be creative. Avoid using time-weary metaphors that we see a gazillion times on inspirational Instagram feeds.
Maybe brainstorm with a friend over a coffee. Grab your notebook and flesh out some fun metaphors. Or, tell the left side of your brain to do one and let the little used right side have a bit of fun.
I’m gonna be brave and have a go. Here goes. Eek!
- Spring is like a brave snowdrop daring to peek above the ground
- Love is like a frisky horse jumping a tall fence, not knowing what’s on the other side and being OK about that.
- Being afraid is like your wellies getting stuck in the mud, and you think you can’t get out.
- My friend’s words burned like a shot of hot brandy.
- It felt as good as a hot rum toddy on a freezing day.
What do you think? I felt a bit nervous about being judged, but that’s OK. I’m new to this, too. It’s about training our brain to think differently. You know, access the creative side that rarely gets out for a bit of fun.
Remember that these metaphors cause your readers to stop, just for a moment and absorb the sensory feel of your words.
Sacred Tip #5: The Secret Writing Codes To Make Writing Addictive
It’s the last one on the list of simple writing hacks. Yay!
I’m a terrible fidget (ADHD) and often use sensory or shape-sorting toys to help keep me from fidgeting with my hands. When a shape clicks into place, I feel content, and that’s how readers should feel when they read our words.
Words should be smooth, effortless and enjoyable. Develop a flow, and your readers will love your work.
Here are three I picked up from top writers:
- The Parallel Effect: It’s about flow, so “That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind” (Neil Armstrong) stands out for its simple flow. Another is Winston Churchill’s “Success consists of going from failure to failure without loss of enthusiasm.”
- The Echo Start: This technique is about repeating a phrase or word at the beginning of a sentence. For instance, Winston Churchill says, “We shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills.” The sentences have a sort of stomping feeling. Rhythmic, somewhat hypnotic and addictive.
- The Letter Hook: This technique uses repeating sounds. Here are some examples:
Hahaha. Look at me! I’m already doing this technique. Don’t I feel like a smarty pants!
Conclusion
Well, my friend, this has been fun. I hope you enjoyed these simple writing hacks, too. Try them. Let me know what you think and, most importantly, have a heap of fun using these simple writing hacks.
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