Writing Bullets: how to do it for maximum effect

Bullets are a major weapon in your writing armoury.

Want to whiz your reader through your text?
Want to make your points fast?
Want to catch those scanners and skimmers on your website?

Bullets are what you need.

Writing them for effect is vital.  Here's how:

• cover only one point at a time
• pull out the juiciest information to highlight
• add the page number for a book where they can find more of the information
• answer questions they might want to ask
• slip in teasers for in-depth information
• make them active and positive

How do you set about constructing bullets?

1. Take the piece of tex you're writing and on index cards, write down the  most important facts, featrues of the product or service you're promoting.
2. For each fact and feature, create a benefit for the user.
3. Look at each benefit in turn and write it in not more than 10 words.  you can use longer bullets but limiting yourself to 10 words makes you focus on the essentials.

It takes practice at dashing off bullets but once you've acquired the skill you'll be amazed how many ways you can use that skill.

1. Create bullets for anything you write - a great way to give you the skeleton of a piece.
2. Write a 60 second introduction to your business using connected bullets.
3. Talk or write about the essential benefits of your business - fast.

Bullets are the essential bones of your business writing.  If you can't make lively bullets from what you're writing, you sneed to change it.

Quotes for writers

'A human being is a part of a whole called by us the universe.'  Albert Einstein

Writing science fiction?

The fourth Alt.Fiction is programmed to take place on 12th June 2010 in QUAD; Derby’s brand new state-of-the-art multi-media venue.


Alt.Fiction is made up of a number of different types of sessions, such as readings, workshops, discussion panels and Q&A sessions.This year BBC books – publishers of tie-in-novels from the ‘Doctor Who’, ‘Torchwood’ and ‘Being Human’ series – have confirmed their attendance
http://www.altfiction.co.uk/

Business Writing essential: sub-headings

Sub-headings need to be seen as key parts of your text.

Sub-headings create focus

Sub-headings act as the landing lights for your reader coming in.  Without them, all the reader and the search engines might see is a mass of dark text with no guide as to what are the most important parts for them to read.

Sub-headings make it easy for your reader

What we have to do is ease our reader through the text in the way we want them to go.  Make them work hard and they're likely to bail out.

How do you produce effective sub-headings?

Sub-headings provide exactly the same service as do headlines.  They are simply further down the page.  Headlines are there to coax you to read the first line of the text.  Sub-headings are there to coax you to read the next section.

Think of the story you want them to read

Guiding them through the story via the sub-headings means that if they dip in half way down the piece, the sub-heading where they dip in should be as compelling a part of the story as is the headline.

Pull them into the conversation via the sub-headings

Using open questions in the sub-headings starts them thinking about the conversation that's happening in your piece.  Teasing them and intriguing them with interesting facts is another way of doing it.

You only have one chance to attract their interest.  Hiding the most important or fascinating facts deep in your text won't help you gain their interest.

Be bold, be up-front and be genuine with your sub-headings.  Construct them properly and they'll work hard for you.

Quotes for writers

'The best way out is always through.'  Robert Frost

Writing your book: 5 ideas to begin

If you see writing a book as a major task, then you're not alone.  Since few business people attempt it even when they think there are benefits to be gained, it's one of those tasks that will be done, "When I have time.".

What if instead of it being a major undertaking, it becomes only a progression of the writing you do anyway?  Thinking about it that way can transform it into an end in sight as you write daily.

Here are 5 ideas on what you can use:

1      Blog entries

You're already writing these on a regular basis aren't you?  If not then you should make it a priority because it works for you on two levels.  It provides interesting material to send to your contacts and just as important, search engines love content.  Think about constructing your blogs around thems that would provide section or chapter headings for your book.

2.     Frequently Asked Questions 

Most websites have sections based around this them.  Sometimes they're called other things, but offer information that is searched for on a regular basis.  In your busienss you'll have something that voers all the basic informaiton about what you do.  It's the type of topic often covered in offline brochures.  again you can adapt the contents of your basic informaiton into a short book.  This will carry more weight with readers than a brochure, no matter how substantial.

3      How to manuals

These can be an extension of or an alternative to the FAQ segment.  They need to be easy to read and understand for the reader.  Comprehensive but not intimidating.  All businesses contain large amounts of information that often goes to waste because it's in jargon form or seen as 'internal' documents.  Sharing how you produce your products or services can  make a connection with prospective clients or purchasers.

4      Journals 

Depending on the type of writing you do, or your prospective audience, journal entries you make anyway can form the foundation of a book.  Many books by journalists have started life as regular column entries which at a later date have been turned into books.  If you think that a column may be 250-500 words per entry, over the course of a year you may have written between 20-25000 words.  More than enough for a 100 page small book, especially when you add in a foreword, an introductory section and closing chapter.

5      Social media entries 

Already this has been done.  Maybe you think it's stupid but if you accept that a book can be any size you want it to be these days, and you can produce as few or as many copies as you want, then it becomes less stupid.

Any book can enhance your reputation as an expert, speaker, business consultant or what you want it to be.  Focus on how you can fit the book into your marketing strategy... before you begin to write it.  Check out what esists already then create your unique take on the subject.

Today's quote

“Self-awareness. . . is a neutral mode that maintains self-reflectiveness even in the midst of turbulent emotions.” Daniel Goleman