How NOT to Write Content Like Captain Holt

 

You know what I really can't handle? Writing that is extremely predictable. The type of writing that appears to be long and bides its time. There is no life. No chance at relatability. Quite frankly, no one wants to read that.

Some articles seem exactly like a good joke delivered by Captain Holt from Brooklyn Nine-Nine. Technically right but dull, void of emotion. That is created when writing has no energy.

The truth is, creative content writing is not about sounding so sophisticated or super smart; it's about making the reader understand what you want to convey. Include a simple example, make an allusion to something going viral, or describe a detail as if explaining it to a good friend, and BAM! people tie in.

And here is the kicker – this is not only true in blogs, or articles, or some long essay-type piece. The same rule applies to social media. Sure, most today are in a video-bingeing frenzy, but there are still plenty who enjoy reading. The kicker, if your writing seems like you are narrating an art film, you'll lose them in every single first sentence.

Consider captions. Even one line can be captivating if it has the right tone. That is the proof of how vastly different creative writing can make an experience.

Take Nick Miller from New Girl—his personality is so naturally enjoyable and raw that you definitely want to hang out with him at least once more, if not to be his friend. That's how creative content should feel – something that makes the reader come back and read again.

So yes, whether it's a 1000-word blog or a 10-word caption, the goal is the same: write like a human, not a robot (I got this line from a robot, and yes, I know how ironic it is).