How Can We Add Some Zest to Our Writing?

I’m a language coach who loves having real conversations with people, whether in English or German.

Look back at my old school reports and you’ll see phrases like “Christine is rather talkative” or “Christine is too talkative.”

My parents weren’t happy.

Little did they know that talking would turn out to be one of my greatest strengths. 

I always thought I wasn’t good at writing. But over time, I’ve developed a passion for the writing process.

Today, I write my “Sparks of English” blog posts five times a week, and I regularly write on Instagram and LinkedIn.

I’m not trying to be a professional writer; I just enjoy the creative process—and hope that my texts can help others improve their English in some way.

I started writing about two years ago. I began by trying to capture all the different voices in my head, and I followed tips that I picked up along the way. 

Questions like “How can I make my writing more conversational?” and “How can I add some zest to my writing?” have guided my progress.

Some of the guidelines I’ve been trying to follow (the emphasis is on “trying”!):

• Keep sentences short and sweet. Long, rambling sentences can be boring!
• Avoid the passive voice. It’s like trying to talk with a mouthful of marshmallows.
• Use simple, everyday words that everyone will understand. 
• Sprinkle in the personal “you” more often. It feels more intimate.
• Add a question now and then. They keep people interested. Did you know?
• Use contractions—they make writing seem more natural and inviting.
• Add interjections like “Oh! or “Wow!” to add a touch of excitement.
• Sprinkle in filler words like “you know” or “like” to make a text sound more natural. (Sorry, Mark Twain!)
• Elongate those vowels to emphasise important points—it’s fuuuuun!

Now, I’d love to know—do you have any other tips I can add to my list?