Read more in order to write better

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I remember getting my first library card. I was five years old and about to start first grade. Trips to the library with my parents were already a regular part of our week, but now I had my own card. I checked out as many books as allowed each week. My mother had to make me turn off my light at night because I read until the last possible moment.

I’ve never stopped.

Reading has always been a huge part of my life, and an important element in my work. Several times a week I come across a sentence or paragraph that is so well-written I have to read it over again a few times, just to let the words continue to move me, inspire me, challenge me. The good writing of other people makes my writing better, because the way they put words together seeps into my subconscious and makes me more creative.

If you write for yourself, for your business, or for social media, you will be a better writer if you read good writing.

  • Read in your field. You’ll learn what others are doing, how they are growing, and how they solve issues similar to the ones you face. You’ll also pick up on writing styles you want to emulate, while realizing that some styles of writing don’t impress you as much.
  • Read outside your field. Sometimes you can learn more from someone whose expertise is quite different from yours. A good science writer might reveal something about how the brain processes motivation; a teacher of a religion other than your own can offer you new insights into the human condition; an artist’s perspective may help you re-evaluate the look of your product.
  • Read good fiction and poetry. When you are reading for pleasure, your intuition, judgment, and wisdom may grow in unexpected ways.

Reading fosters growth—in your work and in your self. Don’t let all the tasks on your to-do list keep you from personal development.

Make time to read. The fruits of that effort will benefit everything you do.book on table, LR adjusted, copyright, low, MBSwriting blog, 3-18

© Melissa Bane Sevier, 2018

Change Up Your Writing Style to Fit Your Target Audience

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“Try as we might, we write what we write.” ― bg Thurston
Formal? Casual? Humorous? What writing style should you use?
When I read old documents or stories, I’m often amazed by how much writing styles have changed. Over the years, my own style has morphed into many different forms. Yours has, too, even if you don’t realize it. You wouldn’t use the same style for writing a term paper as you would for a tweet, but how do you know what style to use for everything in between?
It depends.
The speed of change in our day has accelerated. Social media, texting, and constant digital communication affect writing styles. We struggle to keep up while remembering that all writing situations aren’t the same.
  • Writing a résumé and cover letter to introduce yourself to a new employer? You’ll want a more formal, no-nonsense style. Depending on the type of job you may also want to refer to your website or social media presence, which could reflect a more casual voice.
  • Composing a blog? Appropriate styles may be anything from teaching a craft (very detailed instructions) to convincing someone of the rightness of your opinion (cogent, well-arranged points), from storytelling to selling a product. The most important thing with a blog is to develop a voice that fits the subject and the intended audience. Changing the tone can keep readers interested enough to keep coming back.
  • Sending a business email or newsletter? Be clear, reasonable, and concise. The voice you use will depend on the audience you’re trying to reach.
  • Creating a book or short piece of fiction or nonfiction? Your options are wide open. Think about what you want a reader to learn, or how you want a reader to feel. Play around with different styles, but remember that every paragraph must be engaging if you want people to keep turning the next page.
To be a better writer across a variety of genres and styles, read widely. Study at least twenty résumés before writing your own. Save business emails you’ve received that were extremely well-written, and examine what makes them good. When a paragraph in a book or story blows you away, reread it a few times and absorb the stylistic elements that make it good. Use humor if you’re good at it and if it fits the style of the situation; avoid humor where it might distract or offend.
As with almost any skill, to get better at writing, keep writing. Be self-critical. Ask for the opinions of people you respect.
And if you need some help analyzing your style, or you’d like assistance with creating, contact me.
You can do this. Keep experimenting and learning. It will pay off in the end.
© Melissa Bane Sevier, 2018

Setting achievable goals for the new year

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Many, maybe most, people see the new year as an opportunity to do something, well, new. Maybe your goal is to grow your business, or to shrink your waistline. Maybe it’s to meet new people or to garner new clients. Maybe it’s to climb Kilimanjaro or to start walking around the block. Whatever you imagine, here are some concrete ways to make your goals more achievable.
  1. Write them down. Make a list, but don’t make it too long. Be sure that the goals you set are ones you really believe you can meet.
  2. Set checkpoints. If you want to grow your business, what do you need to do in January? By April? Midyear? Make monthly lists of things to be accomplished.
  3. Don’t keep your goals secret. Tell your business partner, your management team, your friend. Those who support your vision will help you make it happen.
  4. Be forgiving. If you don’t reach your January goal, take a step back and ask why. How can it be revised in order to move forward?
  5. Celebrate success. Every time you make a successful business contact, write it down on a “success list.” Keep a record of the miles you’ve walked and be happy for what you’ve achieved. Success breeds success.
Whatever you strive for in 2018, may your year be full of happiness, peace, and personal growth.
© Melissa Bane Sevier, 2018