SATW: 60 Second Travel Writer #10 – Writing Tight

It seems like, increasingly, publications want shorter and shorter articles. Don’t let that throw you.
I’m Westways Travel Editor Elizabeth Harryman, and here’s a 60-Second Travel Writer Tip.
You can write tight and bright by following a few rules:
- Use Active Voice: Don’t say, “My story was ruined by an editor.” Say: “An editor ruined my story.”
- Use Action Verbs: Not: “The story is an illustration.” Say: “The story illustrates.”
- Use Simple Tenses. Not: “I’m planning to write.” Say: “I plan to write.”
- Beware of Prepositions. Instead of: “The heart of the city.” Say “The city’s heart.”
- Use Adjectives and Adverbs Sparingly. Use strong nouns and verbs instead.
- Be Specific. Just because you have a tight word count doesn’t mean you can’t use detail. Go in greater detail about fewer things. Be selective, not inclusive – choose one or two things to illustrate your point.
Think of your article as a kind of haiku. Short, but sweet.
For SATW professional development, I’m Westways Travel Editor Elizabeth Harryman.
Charles McCool
March 5, 2018 @ 7:44 pm
Short and sweet. Got it. Wonderful lesson for tight travel writing.