![How to Improve Your Technical Explanations [Video]](https://annejanzer.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/femgineervideoimage-300x200.png)
In this Femgineer video, Poornima Vijayashanker and I discuss techniques for being understood when you’re writing or speaking about abstract topics. Highlights include: Getting over your misconceptions about using story Balancing brevity and repetition Dumbing down vs. being clear The video covers topics from my book Writing to Be Understood. If you like the […]
Business writing
Humor in Otherwise Serious Nonfiction Writing
Let’s have a serious talk about humor. It’s tough to do well. It can be controversial. And it may land with a thud in business or nonfiction writing, particularly across cultural contexts. And yet … the careful application of humor catches the reader’s attention, sustains their interest, and, if done well, earns their trust. Many […]
Revising for Cognitive Ease
Every writer faces similar questions when revising their words: How much revision does this need? How much time am I willing to put into it? When is the piece “good enough”? Can I hand it off to someone else to edit, clean up, and take care of? You only know when you’ve done enough if […]
Tips for a Writing Style Makeover
The revision process is like a beauty makeover for your writing – it turns awkward, ungainly words into elegant prose. If you’re not happy with your writing, you can repair it in revision. Like a good make-up artist, you need to understand what you’re starting with and where you want to go. Do you want […]
Revision and the Art of Letting Go
The other day I was working with a writer who was struggling to revise a short, online marketing post with a strong call to action. The draft started with a catchy opening line – one that had worked well in another campaign. This specific post needed to communicate several ideas to set up its call […]
How to Give Effective Writing Feedback (Part Two)
Delivering Feedback That Makes a Difference Do you feel flattered when someone asks for your feedback on their writing? Don’t get ahead of yourself – your brilliant wisdom and advice may fall on deaf ears if you don’t deliver it in a way that the writer will absorb. The first post in this series talked […]
