Follow the rules but don’t be boring.

There are a thousand articles featuring the best tips on how to be a better writer.

I still read most of them that pop up as being recommended for me on a given platform. If they follow rule #4 below, I can quickly see if there are any that might lend to me bettering my craft or not. The irony is that even with so many “Top 10” lists, I feel like I still can get a gentle reminder or learn something from each one.

Go ahead, skim through these. Some may seem (and be) outright obvious. But maybe there’s a refresher in here somewhere, possibly something new to try.

1. Have a good title that reflects what the article is about

The best way to catch a reader’s attention is to start with a good title that lets them know what they’re about to dig into.

Try starting off with a basic headline and begin writing. The best title sometimes presents itself after the article is written.

Keep in mind that we’re all human and the majority of us seem to prefer some form of proper formatting. Use a title case converter to help make sure that the title grabs some attention.

2. Have a subtitle

Subtitles are used to elaborate on the title and help to pull the reader in. They provide a deeper dive into the topic and can be as important as the title, so spend a few moments creating one.

3. Use at least one photo or image

If the one-two punch of the title and subtitle isn’t completely successful, this can help to convince the reader to click. If a picture is worth a thousand words, think of how it can complement a 500-word piece of writing. Unsplash and pixabay are great places for free photos and images. Be sure to properly credit the photographer.

4. Create an outline using subheadings

Starting with an outline helps to guide the content and can help us steer of writer’s block. Subheadings are a birds-eye view of the entire feature. People skim, so be sure to properly arrange and fine-tune the subheadings so that each one reflects the content of the upcoming section.

5. Have the opening, argument, and conclusion in the first few sentences

Yes- lay it all out here for the reader to know what they’re about to spend their time on. It’s all going to be given away in the end regardless. Remember, the short version first, the detailed version to follow.

6. Try to steer clear of the words “you” and “your”

Admittedly, I personally use them in many of my articles and blog posts. I often imagine having a conversation with another person when I write.

When the conversation is meant to include a broader audience, try substituting words like you and your with I, me, we, us, our, etc. instead. This helps to make the reader feel more included in the topic. This is a tricky one at first, but after being mindful of it in a single article, it becomes much easier and can completely change how we write.

(Side note: I only used “you” and “your” in #6 of this entire article, and only to reference the point.)

7. Keep it at a 5th-8th grade reading level

Knowing big words is great, but no one wants to have to Google the meaning of a word in the middle of reading. The online Hemingway app shows the reading level in seconds, and it’s free. Just copy and paste the article into the text area.

8. Include hyperlinks for sources

It’s not necessary to elaborate on where the source for a piece of information came from, but it’s important to include a link somewhere in the text of the article to allow the reader to check it out for themselves if they so desire. It also allows us to properly quote others without committing plagiarism.

9. Break the rules once in a while

Seriously. If we all follow the first eight tips here and nothing else, everything will read like our eighth-grade textbooks. Don’t be afraid to color outside the lines a bit. Just be unique.

10. Be genuine

We don’t write what we think people want to hear.

We’re the writers. We write what we want them to hear. They get to decide if they want to listen.

Don’t worry about offending anyone. Our goal isn’t to try to be offensive, but it’s important to say what we mean and stick to what we believe. Some will stop reading and not come back. Those readers aren’t our audience, the ones who stay and come back are.

Being nice and including empathy where it fits can also help to keep readers engaged.

11. Spell check is still free

The way to instantly lose a reader is to present an 8th-grade level article that looks like it was edited by a 1st-grade student.

Sign up for Grammarly. It’s also free and it takes seconds to copy and paste the text into it. The tool instantly points out spelling, punctuation, and grammatical errors and also gives a few recommendations that can be accepted or ignored.

12. Before clicking “Publish,” step away

Go grab coffee, breakfast, lunch, or take a walk. Come back, read it again and make sure that everything from the title to the last sentence satisfies the original intent of the article. Doing this allows us to be our own fresh set of eyes so that we can fine-tune things before sending our thoughts and ideas out into the world.

A final thought- Brevity is the key to good communication. Whenever possible, say what needs to be said and move along. Don’t keep it short just for the sake of it, but rambling tends to lose a reader’s interest.