The Writing Edge for Business Writers: 11/20/15

Nov 20, 2015 | Better Writing

You’re a businessperson. You may not think of yourself as a writer, but you know that writing well can boost your results and your career. Naturally, you want to do better. Every week I point you to articles and blog posts that I think will teach you something or spark an idea or two. Some weeks there are more pointers than others.

This week I’m pointing you to pieces on fixing passive voice, coming up with a great book title, and the new Google+.

From James Chartrand : How To Spot, Fix and Eliminate Passive Voice In Everything You Write

“One of the keys to holding a reader’s interest from beginning to end is mastering the skill of writing in the ‘active voice’. It isn’t that difficult, actually – you do it all the time – but it’s very easy to make the mistake of slipping into passive voice throughout your work.”

From Joel Friedlander: What Every Nonfiction Author Needs to Know: The ABCD Formula for Irresistible Book Titles

“That’s why I was interested in Derek Doepker’s take on a ‘formula’ that can help you come up with a book title that fulfills its main purpose: to appeal to the readers for whom the book was intended, catching their attention and compelling them to want to know more. Here’s Derek’s formula in complete detail. Enjoy.”

From Gina Hall: Google+ revamped, stripped down to focus on building Internet communities with shared interests

“If at first you don’t succeed, redesign and try again. Google launched a stripped down version of Google+ on Tuesday with less emphasis on social networking and more focus on building communities on the Internet around shared interests.”

Sources I Check Regularly

I find the posts and articles that I share with you on The Writing Edge in many places. But there are a few that provide insightful pieces again and again. Here they are.

Digital Book World

Frances Caballo

jeffbullas.com

Joel Friedlander

Joanna Penn

Men with Pens

Merce Cardus

Problogger

Becky Robinson’s Weaving Influence