We teach seven nonprofit writing styles and the hardest one to describe and master, I think, is lifestyle writing.
But it seems like it should be easy. It’s conversational — we all have conversations. It feels lighter, even when dealing with heavy topics — so we don’t need to be subject matter experts.
And yet, it’s really hard to do well.
Think briefly about all the lousy, boring, lackluster content on social media, and you’ll see what I mean. Whether you’re imagining something overly wordy or too professional, we all have our own examples.
But with a little focus and practice, you can master lifestyle writing, along with the other seven nonprofit writing styles.
What is Lifestyle Writing?
Lifestyle writing is highly engaging casual or informal content. Think about your favorite consumer magazines or your favorite social media channels.
Why is This Style Important to Nonprofits?
If you want “regular people” — not just other professionals in your field or journalists — to read your content, you must add lifestyle writing to your repertoire. You must write like a human, not a robot using a thesaurus.
This writing style is what drives interaction with your content. If you want people commenting and sharing, then write lifestyle content.
Again, consider consumer magazines and the headlines on the covers or home pages. Those titles are what we call microcontent, but the promises those headlines deliver are typically written in a lifestyle writing format.
The format of these pieces of content — how the sentences and paragraphs are actually organized and delivered — is often the key to success with this writing style.
What Does It Look Like?
Typically, it has a hook that draws the reader in and that hook is the basis for how the article is constructed.
Listicles — content presented wholly in the list form — are the most classic form of lifestyle writing.
- 7 Ways to . . .
- How to . . . in Five Easy Steps
- 10 Pictures You Have to See
Here are many other formats that you will easily recognize:
- How-to Articles
- Advice Columns
- Reviews or Recommendations
- Top Trends
- Myths v. Truths
- Contrarian Views on Conventional Wisdom
- First Person Accounts
We’ll share more examples, tips, and advice on improving your lifestyle writing soon.
