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- Key Types of Writing 4:47
- Preparation 8:08
- Structure and Formatting 5:36
- Writing Types, Preparation, and Structure 10 questions
- Common Grammatical Errors 10:56
- Common Grammatical Errors 8 questions
- Commonly Confused Words 7:57
- Commonly Confused Words 10 questions
- Writing Review and Strategy 6:18
- Final Grammar Review 10 questions
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Part of writing effectively is knowing how much to write. Short-form and long-form writing pieces serve different purposes.
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Part of writing effectively is knowing how
much to write.
0:00
This is something many of us struggle
with,
0:03
especially when we have a lot to say.
0:05
If you happen to know a lot about a
certain subject, you could
0:07
write about something for days, but is
your audience willing to read it all?
0:09
Are they willing to listen to all of it?
0:14
It's vital to know when to engage people,
0:16
through short form and long form writing
pieces.
0:19
Now, short form writing pieces appear a
lot on social media.
0:23
A Twitter has a 140 character limit.
0:27
And when you create fairly long posts on
Facebook or Google
0:29
Plus or LinkedIn, data has shown that
shorter posts create more engagement.
0:34
Now that means that, more users are gonna
0:39
interact and read with the stuff that you
produce.
0:41
And short form content might also include
emails or chats, even text messages.
0:45
So, with the speed at which this content
is consumed and produced, as well,
0:50
you know, shorter context just makes a lot
of sense for many different purposes.
0:57
Of longer form writing pieces might
include things
1:02
like blog posts, press releases,
presentations, and other publications.
1:05
These generally have a work flow of some
sort, often involving a content
1:10
management system, sort of like Wordpress,
or a series of editorial reviews or both.
1:14
And longer pieces are generally well
planned, more refined, and
1:20
they include more formatting, to make the
piece more readable.
1:24
This is most visible within blogs and
websites, where
1:29
titles are tags with header tags to
produce SEO value.
1:32
But it's also to format it in a way to
make it stand out visibly.
1:37
Now these pieces can also have section
headers, and bullet points, and
1:42
data graphs and other ways to call out
important information within the piece.
1:45
And while short form pieces are usually
created very quickly, often, you know,
1:50
within moments, longer form pieces get
drafted,
1:54
and edited and processed in multiple ways.
1:57
To maximize the impact of it, whenever it
does get published.
2:00
But, regardless of the size of the
2:05
writing piece, it's important to meet
certain guidelines.
2:06
First, whatever you write should have a
focus.
2:10
If you're applying for a job, are you
focusing on the
2:15
requirements and the description that they
provided in the job description?
2:18
If you are replying to an email, are you
answering the
2:24
question that was raised or are
2:27
you providing helpful clarification on
something?
2:29
It's easy to get off on tangents sometimes
when you
2:32
have a lot to say, so, stay focused, and
organized.
2:35
Secondly, the speed at which you deliver
the
2:40
writing piece, might be more important
than the format.
2:42
If a boss or a team member requires an
immediate response, or
2:45
a customer has a serious problem,
2:49
an eloquently prepared response would be
wonderful.
2:51
But if time is a factor, deliver the best
2:54
response you can in the shortest amount of
time possible.
2:57
And this is going to vary depending on the
issue and your situation, but generally,
3:00
letting people know that you're going to
address
3:04
their issue soon is something that they'll
appreciate.
3:06
The voice or the tone of your written
piece is another consideration.
3:11
When dealing with clients, team members or
contractors, it's
3:15
vital to keep the tone of your
communications professional.
3:19
And perhaps a little more formal than
usual,
3:23
especially when writing to them for the
first time.
3:26
You never know if something will get
forwarded or shared, and may
3:29
end up in the hand of decision makers that
you didn't expect.
3:32
And if you're writing description pages or
instructions on how to use features
3:36
on a site, your tone might work if it's
less formal and more friendly.
3:41
As we've said, it's important to consider
the target when you write, because
3:46
you want to speak to them in a language or
fashion that they understand.
3:50
And lastly, take responsibility for
whatever you write.
3:55
People assume, that the content they read
on blogs, or social
4:00
channels, or websites and other locations,
is original unless you mention otherwise.
4:04
And they'll believe that you know, you
originated the
4:10
idea unless you give them a reason to
doubt you.
4:13
Therefore, wherever whether you're writing
blog posts,
4:17
or research pieces, inspirational
messages, or what
4:21
have you, even the product descriptions on
your site, be original, and be honest.
4:25
The best way to attract clients, and
customers,
4:31
and other followers, is to provide value
through honesty.
4:33
And that leads me to one more
4:36
thing, plagiarism, plagiarism is a serious
concern.
4:39
Don't betray the reader's trust, by
lifting material from other sources.
4:45
There's always a way that you can say
something in your own words.
4:51
So, you know, work on it, find your voice,
4:54
think of your audience, and give them what
they need.
4:57
At the same time, if you do want to
include content from
5:00
another source, do it, but always cite it,
be honest about it.
5:05
Don't be afraid, that by including content
5:10
from someone else, that you're maybe
showing some
5:13
kind of weakness, or that you're showing
that you're not as smart as someone else.
5:15
The fact that you're drawing inspiration
from others, and going through the effort
5:21
of giving them credit, shows that you're
resourceful, and that you have integrity.
5:25
That means a lot, to your readers and to
the sources that you give credit to.
5:31
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