In a earlier weblog we appeared on the construction of a information story and the significance of the inverted triangle. We checked out how one can determine all of the necessary components of a narrative — WWWWWH — earlier than combining them into one sentence. This construction is vital as a result of it offers you the framework for the ‘story’ — or no matter it’s that you just’re writing.
It’s additionally important as a result of it means you will have the uncooked supplies to start writing. However having the construction — or completely different components — in place is just a part of the story. Now it’s time to enhance the appear and feel of our intro to make it extra interesting to readers.
Relating to information writing, the intro is an important a part of the story. Why? As a result of it presents data in a transparent and methodical method.
As we all know, by summing up the story in a sentence or two we are able to make sure that even when the reader doesn’t learn on, a minimum of they depart with an important data. However we wish them to learn on.
The issue is, you solely have a number of seconds to persuade those who your piece of writing is price studying. To try this — and that can assist you refine your writing — there are three key issues to recollect:
- Use your greatest phrases
- Consider an angle
- Say it up entrance
Let’s have a look at these in a bit extra element.
Use your greatest phrases
It goes with out saying that phrase choice is essential. The phrases you utilize can elevate your textual content off the web page and elevate it to someplace particular. Or, they’ll depart the reader feeling flat and uninspired.
Probably the greatest methods to make sure that you utilize your greatest phrases and phrases is to play a easy recreation of phrase affiliation.
No matter you write about, there might be some phrase associations that would add a bit sparkle to your textual content. For some folks, this comes naturally, whereas for others it’s extra of a wrestle. Regardless of. If phrase affiliation is one thing that doesn’t come naturally to you, then contemplate writing a number of helpful phrases down earlier than you begin to construct up some potential vocabulary.
For example, within the final weblog we heard about The Inexperienced Wine Co-Op’s choice to make use of plastic bottles for its wine.
That prompts me to consider phrases akin to wine, wine bottle, cork, corkscrew, carafe, mulled wine, classic, Bordeaux, Chardonnay, grapes, bitter grapes, off-licence, inexperienced, nostril, bouquet, connoisseurs, vino, rosé, bottle banks, glass, smashing…
The corporate’s choice to cut back its carbon footprint makes me consider phrases and phrases like inexperienced, environmental, eco warrior, eco-friendly, biodegradable…
By spending a bit time making a personalised set of vocabulary, I can now begin to revise my intro. So, as a substitute of:
The Inexperienced Wine Co-Op has launched a plastic wine bottle which it claims may assist lower its carbon footprint.
We may have:
The Inexperienced Wine Co-Op has uncorked a plastic wine bottle which it claims may assist lower its carbon footprint.
The Inexperienced Wine Co-Op has popped the cork on a plastic wine bottle as a part of its plan to chop carbon emissions.
The Inexperienced Wine Co-Op has popped the cork on an eco-friendly plastic wine bottle as a part of bold plans to slash its carbon emissions.
Just by utilizing extra fascinating language, the launch of a plastic wine bottle turns into a cork-popping get together in celebration of an eco-friendly initiative. How far you determine to make use of language to elevate your textual content relies on numerous issues.
In essence, although, how far you push this component of creativity relies on your viewers, the rationale for writing, and what format that writing takes.
Over time, you’ll develop a really feel for what’s proper and what’s improper. A set of phrases which might be completely acceptable in an advert marketing campaign aimed toward younger folks is probably not proper to explain a B2B tech product. My private desire is ‘much less is extra’. If there’s an excessive amount of wordplay, the language can get in the way in which of what you’re making an attempt to say. In the end, although, it must be all about your reader.
So, what’s your angle?
Clearly, being artistic with phrases can assist convey some shine to a textual content, but it surely’s not the one approach to obtain this.
I’ve skilled individuals who cross their arms and inform me in no unsure phrases that the usage of artistic language will not be for them. Their strategy to writing, they inform me, is extra factual. They’re uncomfortable utilizing a palate of extra vibrant language.
However this isn’t an issue. Being artistic isn’t nearly utilizing flowery language. You will be equally artistic by getting the fitting angle. Or, in different phrases, by approaching a narrative from a special perspective, you may also make a reader sit up and take discover.
For example, as a substitute of:
The Inexperienced Wine Co-Op has popped the cork on an eco-friendly plastic wine bottle as a part of bold plans to slash its carbon emissions.
You possibly can change the angle of the story in order that it’s written from the wine drinkers’ perspective:
Wine drinkers can now do their bit for the atmosphere after The Inexperienced Wine Co-Op launched a brand new plastic wine bottle.
or:
Wine drinkers are being assured that the style of their favorite wine is not going to be affected following The Inexperienced Wine Co-Op’s choice to make use of recyclable plastic bottles as a substitute of glass.
Add in a bit phrase aptitude and you would get this:
Chardonnay-sipping wine drinkers can now do their bit for the atmosphere after The Inexperienced Wine Co-Op launched a brand new eco-friendly plastic wine bottle.
Wine connoisseurs are being assured that the style of their favorite Merlot is not going to be affected following The Inexperienced Wine Co-Op’s choice to make use of recyclable plastic bottles as a substitute of glass.
Enjoying with angles is all about artistic considering — not artistic phrases. For example, what about toying with a special environmental angle that has but to be highlighted?
The traditional cork-producing oak forests of Sardinia could possibly be underneath menace after The Inexperienced Wine Co-Op turned the newest grocery store to ditch conventional glass wine bottles in favour of recyclable plastic containers.
Cork from Sardinian oak bushes is famed for its use in wine bottles. However with the appearance of plastic bottles, there are fears cork farmers could possibly be put out of enterprise and the forests misplaced endlessly.
Some may describe this as coming from left discipline or ‘considering exterior of the field’. To me, it’s merely what is feasible when you perceive the function that completely different angles can play. It’s not a ‘present’ or all the way down to the truth that somebody is ‘good with phrases’. It’s a couple of thought course of that when you perceive a number of the guidelines, you possibly can discover and exploit.
Say it up entrance
That’s the straightforward half. By utilizing the inverted triangle or pyramid, you robotically say an important issues first.