5 Simple Writing Tips to Enhance Your Design & Content
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Glantz emphasizes that good design and good writing are mutually enhancing, creating truly engaging content. The combination of compelling language and great visuals is crucial for capturing audience attention and driving engagement. For instance, Glantz's brand storyteller, Danny Schuman, achieved over 28,000 views on a LinkedIn post by effectively merging an intriguing opening line with a strong image. This synergy ensures that content is not only aesthetically pleasing but also powerfully communicative.
Here’s How to Write Better
There’s a convenience store in Mexico worth five million dollars.
Did that catch your attention? It’s not clickbait. It’s the first line of a post that I wrote a few years ago that got over 28,000 views in LinkedIn. And it’s not just an intriguing line of copy; it also has a great image to go with it.
In our world where content is king, the kind of content that really engages combines great visuals and compelling language. Good design is simply made better with good writing, and good writing is made better with good design. If you ever need to write about your brand, services or product, you can improve your writing skills. This improved content will give your design team the fodder they need to make a great piece of communications. Yes, even better than the unintentionally successful example above!
Maybe becoming a great writer isn’t in the cards—I know I’ll never be a great designer, but I can design a few things because I’ve learned a few things. So here are a few simple tips to help you become a better writer.
How Can Walking Improve Your Writing?
Walking can significantly improve your writing by disengaging your conscious brain and fostering creativity. When you find yourself stuck staring at your laptop or notepad, walk away. Science has proven that disengaging from a challenge allows your brain's creative parts to blossom. Prepare some notes or bullet points in your head, or jot them down, and bring them with you on your walk. If you have a dog, take her along; many writers, including the author, find inspiration during walks with their pets, even writing entire books this way.
When that happens, walk away. Science has proven that when you disengage from a challenge you abandon your conscious brain, and turn things over to a part of the brain where creativity blossoms. So when you’re really stuck, or when you’re trying to figure out what to write about, prepare some notes in your head, maybe even jot a few short bullet points on a Post-It note, and bring them with you as you start your walk.
And if you have a dog, put a leash on her and take her with. My dog Nola is my writing muse. Whenever she and I can get outside and take a long walk, good things happen in my writing. In fact I wrote most of my book The Worst Business Model in the World walking her!
Why Is It Important to Write Down Ideas Immediately?
It is important to write down ideas immediately because, regardless of how clear an idea seems when you think it up, it will not be the same if you write it down later. You may think you’ll remember your brilliant thoughts perfectly, but capturing them right away ensures you don't lose those pearls of greatness. Find a method that works best for you, whether it's an app like VoiceMemos for recording thoughts on the go, or jotting them down physically. The key is to capture your voice and content in its raw form, providing the necessary material to shape into great writing later.
You may think you’ll remember your brilliant thoughts perfectly when you eventually write them down, but regardless of how crystal clear an idea was when you thought it up, IT WILL NOT BE THE SAME IF YOU WRITE IT DOWN LATER. So please, for the sake of everything that’s good and holy when it comes to thinking up great stuff, capture your ideas right away. Find what method works best for you. Tattoo it on your arm. However you go about it, don’t lose those pearls of greatness.
I use an app on my phone called VoiceMemos. It’s super simple. I just hit record and talk, and pause when I need to. When I get back to my laptop, I have the raw materials I need to create something great. I transcribe it word for word, print it, read it, and start editing it on paper. That way I’ve captured my voice and the content, and can then get down to shaping it into writing better fit for readers.
How Can You Find Inspiration to Overcome Writer's Block?
You can find inspiration to overcome writer's block by seeking out sources of information and reading widely. As Sebastian Junger noted, 'Writer’s block means I don’t have enough information.' When stuck, go to a source of inspiration, such as your favorite blog, site, book, or magazine, and dig in. Reading and collecting information will spark new ideas and provide the fodder you need. For example, the author found inspiration for a popular post by reading the Sunday New York Times. Remember to capture these ideas as they come.
When I find myself stuck, I go to a source of inspiration, which often means reading whatever I can get my hands on. In fact, the article I reference at the start of this post about the convenience store in Mexico City was something I came across when I was reading the Sunday New York Times.
It may be your favorite blog or site or book or magazine. Pick something that interests you and dig in. Inspiration will come as you’re reading and collecting information. And did I mention it’s important to write it down?
Why Should You Review Your Writing After a Break?
You should review your writing after a break because time allows for fresh perspective, leading to improved clarity and conciseness. Like a fine wine, writing often gets better with age; taking a good night's rest before revisiting your words helps you identify and strip away excess language. When you look at your content with fresh eyes, you'll be amazed at how much extraneous wording can be removed, making your message more compelling and powerful by capturing the essence of your story concisely.
Tuck your words in when you hit the sack and let them benefit from a good night’s rest. When you take a look at them in the light of a new day, you’ll be amazed at how much excess language you used to make a simple point. When you can strip away the extraneous words, your content will be more compelling. Writing is more powerful when you capture the essence of a story in a thimble instead of a mug.
How Can You Create a Strong and Engaging Conclusion for Your Writing?
You can create a strong and engaging conclusion for your writing by giving people something memorable, such as asking a question or offering a challenge. The goal is to serve your audience's interests, provide closure, and foster a positive connection, rather than self-promotion. When better writing combines with design, your entire marketing strategy improves, leading to great content. As you improve your writing, consider where you'll find inspiration and how you'll capture your thoughts for your next piece.
Consider these suggestions and watch your writing improve. When better writing combines with design, your whole marketing game gets better, and we can work together to create great content. In the words of the immortal Jerry McGuire, “Help us help you!”
As you begin to improve your writing, Here are a couple of questions for you to consider: Where will you walk when you start writing your next great piece? And how will you capture your thoughts?
Find Danny Schuman on LinkedIn.
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