Three terrific writing How To’s

No, not how to write the great [insert country of choice] novel or how to correct grammar errors.

These three recent How To’s all involve writing but they focus on quite different aspects.

How to write a cover letter that gets read (by Jason Cohen at WorkAwesome). Jason’s advice:

1. Cite external recommendations
2. Don’t use a template
3. Research the company you’re applying to
4. Be personal, not formal
5. Give reasons why you should be hired
6. Show something you, yourself, actually did

How to create a great tutorial on anything at all (by Harry at Men with Pens):

• If You Teach It, They Will Learn
• Layman’s Tongue
• Accessible Organization
• Impressive Presentation
• Crucial Content
• A Good Teacher?

How to write with a knife (by Michelle Russell at copyblogger). Michelle’s advice:

1. Find the spine of your content and stick to it
2. Cut the first paragraph
3. Don’t over-spice your words
4. Watch out for “creep-in” words
5. Cut exaggerations
6. Find a more precise word
7. Reuse the leftovers

[Links last checked September 2009]