169. In conversation with Adrian Hinchcliffe - The Africa Tech Authors & Speakers Forum

I had a wonderful chat with Adrian Hinchcliffe (Group Editor: ITWeb)

 

Join “The Africa Tech Authors & Speakers Forum” here:

https://forms.gle/9i71dKWxAPdjRCfA8

 

The main points from our conversation:

• Find Your Own Voice & Passion: Writing isn’t about using complex language—it’s about telling a compelling story. Develop your unique voice and ensure your writing is engaging, not just technically accurate.
• Plan Your Structure Before Writing: Before starting an article, outline the key points you want to cover. Whether it’s news writing (fact-based and concise) or feature writing (storytelling and analytical), structuring your content improves clarity and impact.
• Overcome Writer’s Block & Perfectionism: The blank page can be intimidating. One method to break through is to "vomit words onto paper" (first drafts should be messy) and refine later. Tools like voice transcription or changing font colours to avoid over-editing can help.
• Know Your Audience & Publication: Before pitching an article, research the publication's audience, writing style, and content preferences. Whether approaching an editor or a journalist, showing awareness of their readership increases your chances of acceptance.
• Write Concisely & Edit Ruthlessly: Attention spans are short. Publications often have strict word limits (e.g., 600 words for a short article, 2000 for a feature). Be prepared to edit down your work, focusing only on the most impactful points.