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Writing Skills Cheat Sheet
© 2003 University of Life Press
After writing up your basic ideas, follow these steps to add the skills
that will make your writing powerful, interesting, and earn a high grade. HINT,
HINT: once you've followed these steps, FOLLOW THEM AGAIN. Chances are, your
writing will benefit from at least three times the amount of details you originally wrote.
Show not Tell/Concrete Details
- Give many details. Paint a vivid picture for readers.
- Organize your description like a camera lens would see it, or in some other clear order.
Abstractions
- Abstract ideas add great richness, depth and meaning.
- After a story, add thoughts to help readers interpret the experience and apply it to
themselves.
Sensory Details
- Mention very specific body parts.
- Use words that sound like what you’re describing.
- Use comparisons to familiar or easily-imagined sensations.
- Describe reactions – actions, expressions, thoughts…
- Use strong action verbs.
- Use many senses.
- Criss-cross senses. Taste with your face, etc.
Dialogue
- Use realistic words.
- Describe speakers, expression, tone and surroundings.
- Add action.
- Add internal dialogue.
- Add ideas or themes.
- "S/He said" is not necessary every time.
Comparison
- Brainstorm up a list of things that have not too much, not too little in common.
- Don’t settle for a one-liner when repeating/developing your comparison could get
you better mileage.
Rhythm
- Short hard sounds, words, sentences, paragraphs build tension.
- Long, soft ones ease tension.
- Use sentence variety – vary sentence lengths.
Organization
- Failure to organize is the MAIN cause for writer’s block
- Well-planned organization is the MAIN cause for ease in revision and easy-to-follow
papers
- Follow the process! Write an outline even if you already have a draft.
Revision
If a paragraph/sentence/page isn’t good enough, you have 4 choices:
- Increase. Build it up.
- Improve/clarify.
- Reduce/delete.
- Reorganize. Move it somewhere better.
Break the Rules NOTE: BtR may be substituted by a Survey - include at least 5 quotes
from an open-ended question.
- Break many rules of "normal" writing for a strong effect and to emphasize
something.
- Make it CLEAR enough that you’re doing it on purpose by going to the extreme.
- Be careful – double check what effect you’re creating.
Bonus Writing Tips
- Avoid "I think" or "I feel" in formal or semi-formal papers.
- Replace "There are" and "It is" with stronger subjects.
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