How to Improve Your Digital Writing: Leave the Gun, Take the Cannoli

byBlueJasmin

236 followers

Updated 5 years ago

You are probably wondering, “Why is she quoting The Godfather and what it has to do with digital writing?”

Plenty!

I write in English, even though it is not my first language. The digital press is godsend for foreigners who want to compete in the blogging arena targeting English-speaking audience.

But, of course, if you were born in England, the USA or Australia, doesn’t mean you will be a great content writer. It's just easier. But regardless - all of us should learn our craft and practice, practice, and practice. Right?

Can you name a few websites which grab your attention again and again through quality and easy to read and comprehend content? The sites you go on regularly and not just for news but a modern twist and exciting presentation. Forget about hot-ranking professional media.

Well, how many do you remember? If yes, what precisely do you remember?

Do you see where I am going with this?

This post focuses on how to improve your digital writing, make it splashy, and keep your reader on the page.

Interested?

Well, this is precisely where “Leave the gun, take the cannoli” comes handy.

Analyze This: Why Quotes are “Quotable?”

But fiirst, let’s talk about how you write. Shall we?

Does your writing make you woozy sometimes? Have you ever tried to stand on your head to find the right words? Maybe splashing water in your face or banging the wall?

I did!

Can you always instill emotions and entice action? How about writing short sentences?

You might think, “That’s easy.”

Good for you!

But do you know that as “never mind” as it might seem, conversation style of writing - it is ART?

In fact, have you ever thought, for example, why quotes are quotable?

Quote—and a lot of famous quotes we all know—it is a group of words from text or speech. Correct?

But what is universal about most of them?

QUOTES ARE SHORT!

Remember from Casino Royale? James Bond: "What about the winnings?" Felix Leiter: "Does it look like we need the money?" How about "Shaken not stirred?"

Of course, I don’t imply that every phrase you write will be quotable. But humor me: go back to some of your earlier posts and read them out loud: did you write as you talked to a friend? If not, can you strip content from ‘whatever’ words—the ‘guns’—and still express the critical point?

Well, a lot of articles on the Internet are not conversational. They have information but a boring choice of words, cliché phrases, wacky terminology, lack of flow and rhythm, and long sentences.

I am sure you read plenty of those, didn’t you?

What happens a couple of days later? You remember nothing! Never mind quoting anything or anyone.

So, can it be your challenge? Should we talk now about YOUR digital manuscripts?

Conversational English with Fun

Well, do you like your writing? Will a 12-year old understand it?

We all know how to chat, don’t we?

But how about writing like this, especially more than 140 characters? What about writing elegantly and cohesively, encouraging action, and make a reader feel something?

One word: it has to be SIMPLE!

Sounds familiar?

Here I have a suggestion: take a break and put yourself far away from writing. Relax, make a nice cup of your favorite tea, and put on THE GODFATHER!

Watch any part but don’t just enjoy the movie. Pay attention to how different characters communicate with each other. Write down phrases you might like the most—there is plenty of famous quotes—and some of them indeed are classic!

Interrupt your “fun” periodically and analyze those phrases—break them into pieces and try to grasp an idea of why they are so powerful.

That was precisely how I learned English. I was watching classic American movies and at the same time improving my dictionary, learning phrases and expressions and, of course, boosting my conversational English.

I was doing it over and over—The Godfather, Indiana Jones, Spartacus, James Bond, My Cousin Vinny. I know these Hollywood hits line-by-line!

5-Steps Exercise. Strip It Down and Beautify

Well, are you having fun so far?

Let’s add more challenge. Try the following.

Step 1. Continue with the movie. Now stop and describe verbally last couple of scenes in a few sentences. Speak slow and take an inventory of each word. Can you?

Now, put your words on paper.

Tough. I know--speaking of writing short stories!

Step 2. Write whatever you want and for how long you want. The first draft is for YOU!

Step 3. Strip your text from any meaningless “blurb”—anything your reader doesn’t need to grasp what’s going on: repetitive words, phrases expressing your opinion, boring adjectives… In short, leave the 'guns' – the “scary” stuff (and unnecessary!)

Now you should have nouns, verbs and some word connectors. Right?

These are 'cannoli.' We like them, and we need them. They describe the action, transfer emotions, and paint the picture.

But cannoli can be fresh and delicious or saggy and tasteless. Which one is yours?

Step 4. Write two texts and offer your loved ones or a friend to be your audience. Ask them which version is more descriptive, and which entice him or her to act or at least spark the curiosity. They will know intuitively.

OK. You have a bare bone content. Read it out loud. Do you like it? What is missing?

Step 5. Now it is time to be a beautician. Dress up your content any way you want it: make us cry, laugh, be vulnerable, get up and go… It’s YOUR story. So, tell it to us!

Warm-Up. Practice, Practice, Practice

Shall we continue?

Now it’s time to transfer your “movie” experience into real life. Try this: look around and focus on something simple: the menu on the table, an argument between friends, dog waiting for his master outside the store, whatever!

Verbally describe the situation and put the “scenario” on paper. Do it for 10-15 minutes as your writing WARM-UP.

On the train? Don’t have paper or a tablet?

No problem. “Write” your short story in your mind. I do it every day. It is like learning any other skill: foreign language, swimming or playing the cello.

EVERY PRO STARTS WITH WARM-UP!

Now I don’t even think about warming-up, but my mind is already in the creative mode. I have been consistently training my brain “writing” muscle. But!

As a swimmer, I must keep swimming to have toned arms. Even though muscles have “memory,” I should continue challenge them.

Same with writing: to become a pro, to stay in creative mode and beat the competition, you should practice, practice, and practice. Whatever it takes. Right?

But will you?

Content Writer for Mafia Boss?

What if one day you get a phone call that a mafia boss wants you as a content writer?

Jokes aside, will you manage?

If you get an interview—big $$$ are at stake—wouldn't you want to be super ready? Use my exercises as a prep. YOU NEVER KNOW who is reading your content!

We have 1.6 billion registered websites, and some of them are high quality and ass-kicking platforms.

But how many blogs did you spot which are boring as hell, written in a very convoluted manner, have long wacky sentences, no storyline, no emotions and bunch of blunt, no-action words?

Moreover, - do those people know the difference between writing for a print or internet? I hope you are not one of them.

But no matter how good you are, all of us could use a little help. True?

Well, follow my movie exercises and practice writing short stories. It might be a challenge, but it is a lot of fun. Soon it will be your second nature. And when you are good, you don’t need any rich mafia boss client or anyone else. You are your own BOSS!

So, have an excellent time and LEAVE THE GUN,TAKE THE CANNOLI.

And!

ALWAYS nurture your creative side.

Happy Writing!

Please leave a comment and share your thoughts.

BlueJ

PS: Now you can take the real cannoli. Bon Appetit!