Section 1.1: Crafting Compelling Titles and Subtitles

Titles and subtitles are your first opportunity to make an impression on potential readers. As an Editor at Midform, I often find that writers need to refine these elements before publication. Common pitfalls include titles that are excessively long, improperly formatted, or vague about the content. Remember, your title and subtitle serve as an invitation to your audience, much like first impressions in social interactions.

To assess your title's effectiveness, you can utilize CapitalizeMyTitle.com, which helps you format titles according to various style guides. A personal tip: capitalize verbs like "Is," even if it feels tempting to omit them.

A well-crafted title conveys the essence of your story, while a subtitle elaborates on what the reader can expect, acting as a meaningful teaser. Ensure that your content aligns with the promises made in these introductory elements.

Section 1.2: Utilizing Lists for Clarity

Lists are an effective way to present information clearly, yet they are often overlooked. Here’s how to create them effortlessly:

• Bulleted Lists: Start a new line, type a dash (-) or an asterisk (*), and press Space. After typing your first point, hitting Enter will generate the next bullet.
• Numbered Lists: To create a numbered list, begin a new line with (1.) followed by Space. Each subsequent point will automatically number itself.

Section 1.3: The Importance of Tags

Choosing relevant tags is vital for increasing your story's visibility. The first tag you select appears with your story, while the remaining four are background tags. Ensure that your primary tag is the most relevant to your content. Avoid using the publication's name as your first tag unless specifically instructed; if your story is published, it will be visible to those following that publication.

When entering tags, suggestions will appear, along with the count of stories associated with each tag. The higher the number, the greater the potential reach for your piece. For example, Bikash Burnwal's recent article on effective tagging strategies can be a valuable reference.

Section 1.4: Understanding Dashes

While both the em-dash (—) and en-dash (–) may look similar, they serve different purposes:

• The em-dash is longer and can replace commas or parentheses in sentences.
• The en-dash is shorter and is typically used for date and number ranges, as well as in complex compound adjectives.

I personally favor the em-dash for its versatility. On Medium, you can create one by typing a regular dash twice.

Section 1.5: The Vital Role of Proofreading

Never underestimate the power of proofreading. I emphasize this point for a reason—proofread your work multiple times before publication. Utilize tools like the free version of Grammarly to catch spelling and grammar errors. It's advisable to take breaks between proofreading sessions to refresh your perspective, allowing you to spot mistakes you might otherwise overlook.

I find great joy in assisting new writers on their journey to improvement; everyone has a unique story to share.