Class Central is learner-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.

LinkedIn Learning

Writing with Flair: How to Become an Exceptional Writer

via LinkedIn Learning

Overview

Save Big on Coursera Plus. 7,000+ courses at $160 off. Limited Time Only!
Learn practical tips to improve your writing. Explore the mindset of an elite writer and learn what top wordsmiths do to keep their writing purposeful, concise, and a joy to read.

Syllabus

1. The World of Elite Writing
  • Welcome
  • Tools, not rules
  • Proof the secret sauce works
2. Mindset of an Elite Writer
  • Mindset principle: Write with integrity
  • Mindset principle: Yearn to connect
  • Mindset principle: Know your intent
  • Mindset principle: Aspire for beauty
  • Mindset principle: Balance the ingredients like an artist
  • Mindset principle: Don't be obsessed with perfection
3. Simplicity
  • The beauty of simplicity
  • Fancy, flowery, and official language
  • Fancy, flowery, and official language: Exercises
  • Economical ("tight") writing
  • Economical ("tight") writing: Exercises
  • Redundant words
  • Redundant words: Exercises
  • More implied words
  • More implied words: Exercises
  • Long words
  • Long words: Exercises
  • Careless repetition
  • Careless repetition: Exercises
  • Rambling (saying too much)
  • Double negatives
  • Multiply entities
  • Overstretching thoughts
  • Unnecessary ceremony
  • Unnecessary ceremony: Exercises
  • Excessive punctuation
4. Clarity
  • The beauty of clarity
  • Fuzzy thinking
  • Missing links
  • Out-of-focus ideas
  • Misplaced modifiers
  • Ambiguity
  • Ambiguity: Exercises
  • Careless comparisons
  • Clumsy contrasts
  • Dubious distinctions
  • Curly writing
  • Jargon and buzzwords
  • Mixed tenses
  • It versus they
  • This, that, and the
  • Remove clutter
5. Elegance
  • The beauty of elegance
  • Presentational elegance or "house style"
  • Narrative elegance
  • Narrative elegance: Exercises
  • Stray thoughts
  • Elegant paragraphs
  • Elegant paragraphs: Exercises
  • Timing, rhythm, and musicality
  • Timing, rhythm, and musicality: Exercises
  • Elegant transitions
  • Parallel ideas
  • Parallel ideas: Exercises
  • Word echoes
6. Evocativeness
  • The beauty of evocativeness
  • Create variety
  • Create variety: Exercises
  • Add freshness
  • Dramatic and forceful writing
  • Dramatic and forceful writing: Exercises
  • Arouse the senses
  • Reversing into sentences: Part 1
  • Reversing into sentences: Part 2
  • Passive sentences
  • Passive sentences: Exercises
  • Voice, tone, and character
  • Voice, tone, and character: Exercises
Conclusion
  • Summary

Taught by

Shani Raja

Reviews

4.8 rating at LinkedIn Learning based on 1966 ratings

Start your review of Writing with Flair: How to Become an Exceptional Writer

Never Stop Learning.

Get personalized course recommendations, track subjects and courses with reminders, and more.

Someone learning on their laptop while sitting on the floor.