The art of making every word count

In this blog I am going to offer tips on how to make wordcount limits your friend. I’ll explain why organisers impose wordcounts and how to take advantage of them.

Wordcounts count

All written award entries come with a maximum wordcount limit. Typically, the wordcount limit is for each question, but I have seen organisers impose a total wordcount so that you are free to use as many or as few words across each question, as long as the total number of words used for your submission does not exceed a certain amount.

There are some good reasons why organisers use wordcounts limits:

·         It encourages entrants to stick to the point.

·         It puts all entrants on a level playing field, because everyone has the same restriction.

·         For all the above reasons, it also helps judges because it limits the time they spend reading each entry.

Here are my top tips for making word count work for you:

1. Size up the word count – Look at the word count limit and compare that to paragraphs of text you have in a word document. Roughly, how many paragraphs is it?

2. Plot your story – If you have, say, eight paragraphs to answer a question, then you know that leaves you with a paragraph for the introduction and summary, and six paragraphs for the meat of the answer. Visualise how you could tell that story within those six paragraphs.

3. Vanquish the blank page – Nothing is harder than starting with a blank page. So, as quickly as you can, fill it with content. If you’re an experienced writer, then you may prefer to copy and paste content from other sources as you start to add in the evidence for your answers. I prefer to start by writing in bullet point style whilst including as many facts as you can.

4. Maintain the flow – Try and draft your story in one sitting. When you need to insert a point that you don’t have to hand, leave a message for yourself telling you to . That will allow you to continue the draft process when you are focussed.

5. Prioritise – As your answer comes together, identify the most important points you need to cover and prioritize them. This will give your writing direction and help you avoid tangents.

6. Iterate - As you draft your answer, ask yourself with each paragraph: Does this add value? If it doesn’t, cut it out.

7. Use clear headings – If your word count is more than 500 words, then break your answer into sections with clear headings. This will help you stay organized and make it easier to trim down or expand sections as needed. Using bullet points for key information is another way to convey details concisely.

8. Use the direct voice – Direct voice keeps your writing sharp and to the point. For example, instead of saying “The project was successfully completed by the team,” say “The team successfully completed the project.”

9. Create a list for spare answers – Here’s a useful tip. If you find yourself loving a paragraph but realising it won’t work where it is, remove it and paste it at the bottom of your answer in a section headline “SPARE” so that you can use it somewhere if/when you spot the opportunity.

10. When less is more – When it comes to award entries, it is easy to get caught up in trying to include everything. However less is often more. Focus on the most impactful achievements, the clearest examples of success, and the strongest data to support your claims.

11. Refine - After writing your first draft, edit it with a critical eye. Look for areas where you can tighten sentences without losing meaning. Cut out repetitive phrases or information that doesn’t directly support your main points. This step is crucial to ensuring your entry remains strong while staying within the word limit.

12. Find some wordcount tools -  Microsoft Word and Google Docs offer built-in word count features, making it easy to monitor your progress. And online tools such as Grammarly can help you refine your writing, whilst implementing correct spelling and ensuring that it is concise and clear.