New Zealand-based author gives tips on content writing

Anita Jenkins, an author affiliated with the New Zealand Herald, noted that today’s readers are looking to understand complex issues and topics as quickly as possible and do not want to get bogged down in complicated prose. As such, the content writer’s responsibility is not only to grab the reader’s attention by making a potentially dry topic seem fascinating, but also explain complicated processes and developments in a succinct, easily comprehensible manner. Jenkins notes that the key to success is using plain language, which nowadays is applied not only in online content writing, but even in legislative and technical documents.

Whenever a content writer starts crafting an article, he/she must first ask what type of knowledge the potential reader may already have about the topic at hand. For example, if the author is writing about the difficulty of obtaining buy-to-let loans, he/she must first determine whether or not it might be appropriate to briefly explain the difference between regular mortgages and loans sought by landlords or investors. The content writer must then proceed to write as though he/she were having a professional verbal discussion with the reader. This is true for both online articles, as well as blog posts, as it makes content writing much more natural, rather than technical and aloof. Jenkins argues that it is never a good idea to rely on a lengthy or complicated term, if a shorter and more widely recognized one is also available. Additionally, it is advisable to avoid expressions taken from foreign languages whenever possible and also to try to use the passive voice sparingly. All of this helps create much more engaging written content.