Writing guides
Small moves, better writing.
Short, practical guides on the techniques Coach Pen teaches — the kind of thing you can use on your very next paragraph.
How to open a story so the marker keeps reading
Markers read hundreds of scripts. The opening line decides whether yours stands out. Five hooks that work — and the one that almost never does.
Read→Show, don't tell: the one habit that lifts your writing
"She was nervous" tells. A bitten lip and a glance at the door shows. The simplest upgrade you can make to any piece — with a quick test for spotting telling.
Read→The fastest way to lift your IELTS Task 2 band
Most candidates lose marks not on grammar but on Task Response — not fully answering the question. Here's how to address every part of the prompt, every time.
Read→Strong verbs make your writing move
"Walked slowly" is two words doing one weak job. "Trudged" is one word doing it better. Why the verb is the most powerful word in your sentence.
Read→Plan a persuasive piece in three minutes
Most weak persuasive writing isn't a vocabulary problem — it's a planning problem. A simple structure you can sketch before the clock really starts.
Read→Vary your sentences for rhythm
When every sentence is the same length, writing drones. A short one. Then a longer, winding one. That contrast is rhythm — and it's learnable.
Read→Beat the blank page: how to find ideas fast
Staring at a prompt with nothing to say? The problem is rarely a lack of ideas — it's reaching for the perfect one first. Here's how to unstick yourself.
Read→The punctuation that makes you look in control
Markers read punctuation as a signal of confidence. A well-placed colon or dash says "I meant that." Three marks worth using on purpose.
Read→Match your voice to your reader
The same idea sounds wrong in the wrong register. Writing for a marker isn't writing for a friend. How to tune formality without sounding stiff.
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