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The Writer’s Guide
The fundamentals and secret sauce of successful non-fiction writing for a general audience. Subscribe for weekly updates at writersguide.substack.com
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7 Ways to Make Readers Stop Reading
7 Ways to Make Readers Stop Reading
Readers, not you, decide when your story ends
Robert Roy Britt
Dec 18, 2024
The Most Important Words in Your Story
The Most Important Words in Your Story
You’ve heard about the importance of first impressions. Yeah, true in writing, too.
Robert Roy Britt
Oct 6, 2024
Skepticism: The Writer’s Most Important Skill
Skepticism: The Writer’s Most Important Skill
A case study on a simple, oft-repeated fact that’s just not true
Robert Roy Britt
Aug 1, 2024
A Day in The Life of Rob, a Very Busy Writer and Editor
A Day in The Life of Rob, a Very Busy Writer and Editor
Someone wanted to know how I get so much done, so here you go
Robert Roy Britt
Jul 22, 2024
You Can’t Please Everyone with Your Writing
You Can’t Please Everyone with Your Writing
It’s OK, even necessary, to piss some readers off now and then
Robert Roy Britt
Jul 11, 2024
Why I Write for 12-Year-Olds
Why I Write for 12-Year-Olds
I’m not writing YA nonfiction. I just don’t want to limit my audience by turning people off.
Robert Roy Britt
Jul 5, 2024
The Best Headlines: Short and Simple
The Best Headlines: Short and Simple
Writers generally suck at headline writing, according to new research that reveals what works best.
Robert Roy Britt
Jun 5, 2024
How to Find and Improve Your Writing Voice
How to Find and Improve Your Writing Voice
Like Caitlin Clark’s phenomenal jump shot, great writing voices can’t just be “found”
Robert Roy Britt
May 17, 2024
How a Medium Article Hit №1
How a Medium Article Hit №1
The story behind the most popular story in March
Robert Roy Britt
Apr 29, 2024
The Illusion of Writer’s Block
The Illusion of Writer’s Block
It’s not a thing. And here’s how to shake it and get that draft done.
Robert Roy Britt
Apr 24, 2024
20 Words Writers Screw Up Often
20 Words Writers Screw Up Often
Misused words that negatively impact (or rather affect) your writing, as seen by an editor
Robert Roy Britt
Apr 20, 2024
I Was Doing Medium’s ‘Topic’ Tags All Wrong
I Was Doing Medium’s ‘Topic’ Tags All Wrong
Having finally learned how to maximize Topics to get in front of more readers, I’m gobsmacked by my ignorance
Robert Roy Britt
Mar 20, 2024
Improve Your Writing with These 3 ‘Specific’ Tips
Improve Your Writing with These 3 ‘Specific’ Tips
Avoid vagueness that kills credibility and ruins otherwise great articles
Robert Roy Britt
Mar 16, 2024
Don’t Ask Questions in Your Stories
Don’t Ask Questions in Your Stories
Your job is to answer questions, not pose them. Can you guess the 3 reasons why this is so important?
Robert Roy Britt
Mar 4, 2024
How to End a Story
How to End a Story
Specific tactics for a successful finish of any non-fiction article
Robert Roy Britt
Feb 29, 2024
10 Writing Tips from a Book Every Writer Should Own
10 Writing Tips from a Book Every Writer Should Own
If you don’t already have this little gem, get it. Your readers will thank you (and so will your editor).
Robert Roy Britt
Feb 1, 2024
Where Do Great Story Ideas Come From?
Where Do Great Story Ideas Come From?
How to dream up and otherwise spot more stories than you’ll have time to write
Robert Roy Britt
Jan 26, 2024
How Much Time Should You Spend Writing a Story?
How Much Time Should You Spend Writing a Story?
That’s the wrong question, but I do have some answers
Robert Roy Britt
Jan 22, 2024
How Image Choices Can Stigmatize, Even When the Story is Responsible
Writers, editors and publishers can easily screw up in subtle but hurtful ways, wittingly or otherwise
Robert Roy Britt
Jan 6, 2024
The Evolving Language of Mental Health
The Evolving Language of Mental Health
Like it or not, language changes. Are you keeping up with the vocabulary shifts on sensitive topics?
Robert Roy Britt
Dec 9, 2023
What’s the Point of Your Story?
What’s the Point of Your Story?
Seriously, it’s so often not clear. Here’s a guide to making your point.
Robert Roy Britt
Dec 1, 2023
Cadence and Flow: How to Make Your Articles Sing
Cadence and Flow: How to Make Your Articles Sing
Turn mundane writing into music to reader’s eyes
Robert Roy Britt
Nov 18, 2023
How to Deal with Weird or Nasty Reader Comments
How to Deal with Weird or Nasty Reader Comments
When to dive in and when to walk away
Robert Roy Britt
Nov 10, 2023
Writers on Writing: Follow Your Curiosity
Writers on Writing: Follow Your Curiosity
Elizabeth Knight, a nurse practitioner and health coach, combines deep professional expertise, genuine curiosity and lots of enthusiasm to…
Robert Roy Britt
Nov 8, 2023
How Much Time Should You Spend Writing a Story?
How Much Time Should You Spend Writing a Story?
That’s the wrong question, but I do have some answers
Robert Roy Britt
Nov 3, 2023
Writer’s on Writing: On Inserting Yourself into a Story
Writer’s on Writing: On Inserting Yourself into a Story
Eric Kort, a physician and mindfulness coach, uses his own expertise and anecdotes as glue to hold the research and reporting together
Robert Roy Britt
Nov 2, 2023
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