Fluff, filler, bullshit, call it what you want, just don’t call it good writing. In this episode of the WriterAccess podcast, Josh Bernoff lays out the nature of “weasel words” and bulk in writing, how it sneaks in, and how and why to get rid of it. The author of Marketing in the Groundswell, The Mobile Mind Shift, and the new release, Writing Without Bullshit: Boost Your Career By Saying What You Mean shares insights into the craft of writing, the purpose of content and the art of being direct for thirty seven intriguing, funny, informative minutes.
- Is industry jargon actually useful?
- Should we be trying to set a new bar in quality of writing?
- What is the difference between a goal and an assignment?
- Do readers want writers to be more direct?
- How do you balance directness and formality?
“The purpose of an editor is not to tell you what to write, but to show you what you cannot see.”
“Jargon is extremely useful, it makes writers seem like sophisticated insiders!”
“I don’t think that diplomats will ever be able to survive without bullshit.”
Writing Without Bullshit is a can’t-miss episode for longtime and new listeners alike. Josh Bernoff’s insights into the task of creating lean, readable content is invaluable whether you’re a content writer or you’re looking for a way to improve your abilities at selling your product, selling your abilities, and selling yourself.
Gilbert S has been a professional writer for the better part of a decade, working his way up from the half-cent a word trenches of the low end content mills to writing premium content for high profile clients.
