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5. Avoiding throat clearing<\/strong>. It was tempting to write an introduction\u00a0to this list, but the title says enough.<\/p>\n 4. Slashing whole thoughts. <\/strong>It\u2019s easy to wordsmith\u00a0sentences, but\u00a0truly slimming content means slashing\u00a0nice-to-have\u00a0ideas\u00a0if they aren\u2019t priority thoughts.<\/p>\n 3.\u00a0Maintaining voice and connection.<\/strong> I hate to\u00a0admit it, but an\u00a0audience isn\u2019t given; it\u2019s earned. While I love to think that my readers are drawn naturally to my genius ideas, an occasional moment of in\u00b7im\u00b7i\u00b7ta\u00b7ble human honesty helps build and maintain the relationship. It\u2019s okay to address you directly. I love you.<\/p>\n 2.\u00a0Loosening arguments.<\/strong>\u00a0Each piece has\u00a0a unique\u00a0balance of\u00a0length, attention, and quality. A thesis without arguments is vacuous. There is such a thing as too skinny to function.<\/p>\n 1.\u00a0Formulaic Construction<\/strong> is unimaginative. The plethora of 3, 4, and 5 item listicles may make the 4\u00b11 rule\u00a0seem tired,\u00a0but there is comforting familiarity in these structures. Sometimes, tried and true is\u00a0what works.<\/p>\n Crossposted from my\u00a0now-retired blog, Writing for Learner Engagement.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" 5. Avoiding throat clearing. It was tempting to write an introduction\u00a0to this list, but the title says enough. 4. Slashing whole thoughts. It\u2019s easy to wordsmith\u00a0sentences, but\u00a0truly slimming content means slashing\u00a0nice-to-have\u00a0ideas\u00a0if they aren\u2019t priority thoughts. 3.\u00a0Maintaining voice and connection. I hate to\u00a0admit it, but an\u00a0audience isn\u2019t given; it\u2019s earned. While I love to think that … <\/p>\n