Writing hacks.

Normally, when I write I do it from the position of “Fitness expert who can string some words together,” and I haven’t really done so from the position of “Writer.” For once, I’m going to do the latter here.
At multiple points throughout my career I have been employed by websites to write - they give me x money and I write y words. The last year or so I took some time off and decided that if I were to write it would be about things I find interesting.

After all, if I don’t enjoy my writing, why would you?

This is actually where the idea for Strength Prose came from. I wanted to write about strength and fitness from a position I knew well, and give that opportunity to other writers. I feel that the passion and knowledge flow through the words and off the page in a far better way like this.

Not read Strength Prose #1 yet? Get it here.

So, writing sounds like something you want to get better at? Well, here are some tips that I’ve found extremely helpful.

Tip #1.

Write How You Speak.

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This can be quite awkward for some people. What if you swear a lot? What if you say “erm,” and “uhm,” a lot. Both are fine, obviously don’t write the hesitating “err,”s but swearing is okay if it suits your audience.
The best way to understand something is to imagine teaching it to someone else and, I’m assuming if you are writing you are an expert or able to explain your chosen subject. Take how you would teach it and write it like that.
If you talk using a lot of alliteration, this is fine.If this means you write in short, succinct sentences then that’s fine, or if you are someone who is very verbose and like to fully express your vernacular, then by all means write as you would speak, verbatim.
See what I did there?

​Tip #2

Write How You Speak pt II - Just dial it up to 11.

When you’re talking to someone in person it would be very rude of them to just get up mid-sentence and leave. I know it does happen, but it’s rare as people are simply too polite. However, when reading something you can very easily just close the page and move on, if it’s not grabbing you then why should you waste time on it?
This is why you want to take the best elements of your talking/teaching style and raise it by 10%, it makes you more interesting and more engaging.
Tip #3

Positioning.

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I briefly explained my positioning above, although that was more as a benefit for those of you who don’t know me. The majority of the people reading this will know me and my background. They’ll already be aware of why I’m qualified to say what I’m saying.
This is almost like a ‘needing experience to get work’ kind of issue but if you ensure you are very good at something then people will listen, you just need to find a way to show how good you are and writing can offer you even more positioning. Not everyone can do it and even fewer are any good.

Tip #4

Have Something to Say.

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This one sounds quite obvious, but if you’re committing to focusing on your writing then you need ideas. It can be hard to generate good ideas as it could just lead to you writing in an almost Kanye/Trump stream of consciousness style of Twitter. Which is fine for some light entertainment but no one really takes it seriously.
It’s similar to selling, if you can think of a solution to a problem then those people with the problem will come find you. Solve some problems for people and you’ll have plenty of content.

Tip #5

Make it Actionable.

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Most importantly you should give people something that they can go “hey, I can really use this new knowledge now.”
Whether it be fitness, how to write or anything you’re good at helping people with you should lay out easy to follow steps for the reader to easily apply to their life immediately.


To sum up, writing can be hard but having some skill in it can help you in terms of explaining, selling and sometimes just venting. It really helps your content stand out in an age where anyone can take a nice filtered picture.

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