What ‘The Avengers’ can teach you about writing

Believe it or not, we can all learn a few things from “The Avengers.” With Marvel Comics’ premier supergroup hitting American movie theaters on May 4, those lessons are front and center. Here are a few nuggets of professional advice courtesy of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes.

Captain America: Live up to your principles. Not just anybody could have earned the right to become the world’s first super-soldier. Steve Rogers is defined by his convictions as much as his abilities. The same is true of a good communicator: Your credibility is as fundamental as your verbal acuity. Whatever you’re writing—be it a press release, blog post, or company newsletter—write it honestly.

Iron Man: Never stop improving your tools. Tony Stark’s powers don’t come from gamma rays, nor from the bite of a chunk of radioactive iron; they come from his ingenuity. Like any knowledge worker, he constantly refines his skills to maintain a competitive advantage. In “Iron Man 2,” Stark must upgrade his armor to survive both the technology’s deficiencies and the adversaries trying to one-up him.