15 Writing Techniques that Only Best Writers Know

Every writer has a unique style—shaped by years of practice, experimentation, and a touch of individuality. Yet, behind the scenes, most great writers rely on certain writing techniques.

These aren’t just tips picked up overnight but methods honed over time, often passed down like secret recipes.

Some of these techniques might seem obvious at first glance, but their effectiveness lies in execution. Others are subtle—nuances that elevate good writing to legendary status.

Let’s uncover these techniques and learn how to weave them into your craft.

Ready to take notes? Let’s dive in.

1. Know What You’re Going to Write

Writing without a plan is like starting a road trip without a map. Sure, you might enjoy the ride, but chances are you’ll end up lost, frustrated, and nowhere near your destination.

Before putting pen to paper (or fingers to keyboard), spend time brainstorming. Jot down your main ideas, identify your audience, and outline your structure. For instance:

  • Who are you writing for? Is it a beginner who needs hand-holding or an expert looking for depth?
  • What’s the goal? Educate, entertain, or inspire?
  • What’s the hook? Why should someone read your piece over hundreds of others?

Examples:

  1. Blogs: Successful bloggers like Neil Patel plan their content with detailed outlines, ensuring each post answers user queries effectively.
  2. Books: J.K. Rowling meticulously outlined the entire Harry Potter series before writing.
  3. Brands: Nike’s ad campaigns often start with a clear goal and storyboard, ensuring each message aligns with their brand values.

2. Be Particular in Your Details

Specificity isn’t just a stylistic choice—it’s a necessity. Consider this example:

  • The nursery contains a wide variety of flowers.
  • The nursery boasts 23 varieties, including purple asters, bluebells, yellow buttercups, and red camellias.

Which paints a more vivid picture? The second, obviously. Details create an immersive experience for readers. They bring clarity, engagement, and trustworthiness. If you’re vague, you risk losing readers halfway.

Examples:

  1. Storytelling: Stephen King’s vivid descriptions immerse readers in his worlds.
  2. Journalism: Investigative reporters often provide detailed data and firsthand accounts to back up their stories.
  3. E-commerce: Product descriptions with specifics, like dimensions, materials, and usage scenarios, drive more conversions.

3. Keep It Simple

Albert Einstein once said, “If you can’t explain it simply, you don’t understand it well enough.” Writing is no different. Readers gravitate toward simplicity—not because they’re incapable of handling complexity, but because they appreciate clarity.

Here’s a rule of thumb: If a 12-year-old can’t understand your sentence, it’s too complicated.

Replace:

  • “Utilize” with “use.”
  • “Commence” with “start.”

Examples:

  1. Marketing Copy: Apple’s product descriptions are clear and jargon-free, ensuring universal appeal.
  2. Technical Writing: Companies like Atlassian simplify complex software concepts for users through clear documentation.
  3. Educational Content: Platforms like Khan Academy break down advanced topics into bite-sized, simple explanations.

4. Use Active Voice

Active voice is the secret weapon of compelling writing. It places the subject front and center, creating sentences that are direct and engaging. Compare:

  • Passive: The book was read by Sarah.
  • Active: Sarah read the book.

Active voice grabs attention and keeps the reader moving forward. While passive voice has its place (especially in academic or formal contexts), aim to stay active for the majority of your writing.

Examples:

  1. Social Media: Buzzfeed’s posts often use active voice to drive engagement (e.g., “Watch this dog rescue a kitten!”).
  2. Emails: Companies like Grammarly craft emails with active, action-oriented sentences to encourage user clicks.
  3. Sales Pages: Shopify’s landing pages are action-driven, using active voice to guide users toward signing up.

5. Keep Sentences Short and Crisp

This might seem counterintuitive, but short sentences are your allies. They pack a punch, deliver clarity, and allow for smoother reading. Hemingway mastered this technique, and so can you.

Long, winding sentences often confuse readers in a maze of clauses and commas. Instead, aim for precision. One idea. One sentence. Then, move on.

Examples:

  1. Blogs: Medium articles often keep sentences short for easy readability on mobile devices.
  2. Advertisements: Coca-Cola’s iconic slogans like “Taste the Feeling” are short and memorable.
  3. Scripts: TV shows like Breaking Bad use sharp, concise dialogue to heighten impact.

6. Write Short Paragraphs

Ever notice how newspapers structure their content? Each paragraph is short—rarely more than three or four sentences. This isn’t random. Short paragraphs are digestible, keeping the reader hooked.

For instance, this:

Writers often face the challenge of rambling, losing focus mid-way, and creating overly complex paragraphs that frustrate readers. Keep it concise instead.

Becomes this:

Writers often ramble.
Readers get frustrated.
Keep it concise.

Examples:

  1. News Outlets: BBC and CNN structure articles into short paragraphs for quick scanning.
  2. Online Courses: Platforms like Udemy break down lessons into bite-sized sections to keep learners engaged.
  3. Websites: Blogs like HubSpot use short paragraphs for mobile-friendly formatting.

7. Avoid Fuzz Words

Words like very, little, pretty, and rather often do more harm than good. They weaken sentences and dilute impact. For example:

  • It’s very important to write clearly.
  • Better: It’s crucial to write clearly.

Examples:

  1. Authors: George Orwell’s essays avoid fillers, focusing on strong, direct language.
  2. Editing Tools: Hemingway Editor highlights adverbs and qualifiers, encouraging tighter prose.
  3. Academics: Research papers emphasize precise wording over vague qualifiers.

8. Edit Ruthlessly

Here’s where Seth Godin would nod in agreement. Editing isn’t about perfection—it’s about clarity. Seth often emphasizes shipping the work, but he also advocates trimming the fat.

When editing, ask:

  • Does this sentence serve a purpose?
  • Can this idea be expressed in fewer words?
  • Have I removed jargon and made the content approachable?

Examples:

  1. Publishing: Editors at The New Yorker rigorously refine articles to maintain their signature style.
  2. Content Creators: YouTubers like Ali Abdaal spend hours editing scripts for conciseness.
  3. Product Teams: Slack’s user interfaces prioritize clarity by refining copy through multiple iterations.

9. Avoid Redundancy

Repetition kills momentum. If you’ve said something once, trust your reader to remember. For example:

  • The cake was delicious because it was soft, moist, and incredibly tasty.
  • Better: The cake was soft, moist, and delicious.

Examples:

  1. Writing Apps: ProWritingAid flags redundant phrases during proofreading.
  2. Marketing Campaigns: Amazon avoids repetitive language in product descriptions to keep users engaged.
  3. Speeches: Leaders like Barack Obama use concise, impactful language in their speeches.

10. Stay Focused

Ever been on a detour that felt endless? That’s how your readers feel when you ramble. Stick to the point. Outline your piece before writing and refer back to it to stay on track.

When tempted to veer off-topic, pause and ask, Does this add value? If not, scrap it.

Examples:

  1. E-books: Authors like Seth Godin maintain laser focus on their core message, avoiding unnecessary tangents.
  2. Podcasts: Popular shows like The Tim Ferriss Show stick to clearly defined themes per episode.
  3. Video Scripts: TED Talks follow strict time limits, ensuring speakers remain concise and focused.

11. Write for Your Reader, Not Yourself

This is a cornerstone of Seth Godin’s philosophy. Writing isn’t about self-expression—it’s about serving your audience. Every word, sentence, and paragraph should solve a problem, answer a question, or fulfill a need.

Examples:

  1. Customer-Centric Brands: HubSpot’s blogs provide actionable insights tailored to marketers and businesses.
  2. Educational Writers: Salman Khan’s Khan Academy content simplifies math for students worldwide.
  3. Consultants: McKinsey’s reports prioritize actionable recommendations for clients.

12. Embrace AI Tools

Artificial intelligence isn’t just a buzzword—it’s a powerful ally for writers. AI writing tools like ChatGPT, Claude and ProWritingAid can help:

  • Generate ideas and outlines.
  • Identify grammar and style issues.
  • Improve readability and tone.

Examples:

  1. Content Creators: Bloggers use Jasper to create draft content quickly.
  2. Brands: Grammarly Business ensures error-free communication across teams.
  3. Marketing Agencies: AI tools analyze performance metrics for headline optimization.

13. Optimize for SEO

Search Engine Optimization (SEO) isn’t just for marketers; it’s a vital skill for writers. SEO tools like Yoast SEO, SEOPress and Rank Math can guide you on:

Examples:

  1. E-commerce: Shopify store owners optimize product pages for high-ranking keywords.
  2. Blogs: Recipe sites like AllRecipes use structured data for better Google visibility.
  3. Corporate Websites: IBM’s content marketing team prioritizes SEO to target enterprise clients.

14. Incorporate NLP Techniques

Natural Language Processing (NLP) isn’t just for developers; it’s a game-changer for writers too. By understanding how search engines process language, you can:

  • Write in a way that matches user intent.
  • Answer questions directly for featured snippets.
  • Structure your content to be more engaging and accessible.

Examples:

  1. SEO Writers: Use NLP-powered tools like Surfer SEO for better content alignment.
  2. Chatbots: Brands like Sephora utilize NLP for customer interactions.
  3. Content Creation: AI tools help identify semantic keywords for richer articles.

15. Repurpose Your Content

Why write once when you can leverage it across multiple platforms? Repurposing extends the lifespan of your work. For example:

  • Turn a blog post into an infographic, a podcast script, or social media snippets.
  • Expand sections of an article into standalone pieces.
  • Compile related content into an ebook or resource guide.

Examples:

  1. Influencers: Gary Vaynerchuk repurposes content into videos, blogs, and tweets.
  2. Brands: Canva’s tutorials double as YouTube videos and blog articles.
  3. Educational Platforms: Coursera repurposes lecture content into shorter promotional videos.

Conclusion

Legendary writing isn’t about knowing all the rules. It’s about mastering a handful of techniques and using them consistently. Whether you’re crafting a blog post, novel, or email, these 15 strategies can transform your writing.

Start with clarity. Add specificity. Embrace AI and SEO tools to amplify your reach. Edit with purpose. And above all, write for your readers.

Keep improving, stay curious, and remember: even legends started as beginners. Now, it’s your turn to write your way to greatness!