How To Write Better: One Easy Tip

I've always wanted to be a good writer at work by creating better materials for those attending my training sessions so that I could help them succeed in their learning. A colleague of mine showed me just how to do that by creating Summary Leads in my writing. Good writers put the most important information in the first sentence. This Summary Lead at the beginning of a paragraph attempts to answer these elements: Who, What, When, Where, Why, and How. Training manuals, participant guides, eLearning modules, emails, articles, and text messages are best constructed this way because the reader may stop reading at any time, or the window of a smartphone may be limited in viewing size, and display only the first part of a message.

Because you've only got just a few seconds to capture the attention of your audience, most writers and editors believe that the lead should come in the first sentence or first few sentences of a written article or training module.

Perhaps one of the next most important things to keep in mind is to not teach your audience what they already know. Your written content should be more concise and respectful of your reader's time, and by respecting their intelligence, experience, and expertise. In the training industry, I've discovered the value of micro-learning and space-learning (delivering bite-sized pieces of valuable training materials over time).

 SUMMING IT ALL UP

Using summary leads in your training materials could help you become a better writer. Try to address the Who, What, When, Where, Why, and How at the beginning of your content. Also, consider making your message more concise and specific. After all, you are working hard to have your voice heard.