Get Better Understood - Five Good Writing Reflexes
Up close and personal, everybody understands you, right? You say the words, make the gestures, and everybody's cool.
But how about when you're not face-to-face? When you're not on the phone, not texting, not on Facebook and have to put something down on paper? Gee, does it really matter how you write something? Sure it does.
How about that job application, customer complaint response, or new business proposition? Here's some easy steps to get you started: 1.
List what you want to say first, just simple points in one or two words each.
When we're talking in conversation, we jump around all over the place.
Do that on paper and it looks like waffle - or worse, that you don't know what you're talking about.
2.
Put your list of points in order, so that when you think about them there's a logical sequence.
Readers can't hear your voice, so their attention wanders easily.
Help them stay focused and relevant.
3.
Write one thing about each of your points, a single sentence if you can, or otherwise a single thought.
You need to focus as much as your reader and one thing at a time helps you stay on subject.
4.
Put your single sentences together so they read sensibly.
Have a short beginning to start things and a short end to close everything off.
Make sure each sentence is complete, in conversation we often leave things up in the air.
5.
Read your whole piece out loud to yourself.
If it sounds stupid, it probably is.
Go back and fix it.
Same thing if it feels clumsy to read, out loud you'll instinctively find a more comfortable way of saying it.
Use that and your words will feel better.
Not rocket science is it? But worth trying when there's a lot riding on the outcome.
Which there usually is if it has to be in writing anyway - your next sale, your promotion, possibly your whole future.
And if you really find it difficult to do - get help.
You probably have other talents to get where you are, but don't let written stuff escape from you if it's not right.
In conversation, you can talk round it if it's wrong.
On a piece of paper, you're stuck with what's there.
Let's hope this helps.
But how about when you're not face-to-face? When you're not on the phone, not texting, not on Facebook and have to put something down on paper? Gee, does it really matter how you write something? Sure it does.
How about that job application, customer complaint response, or new business proposition? Here's some easy steps to get you started: 1.
List what you want to say first, just simple points in one or two words each.
When we're talking in conversation, we jump around all over the place.
Do that on paper and it looks like waffle - or worse, that you don't know what you're talking about.
2.
Put your list of points in order, so that when you think about them there's a logical sequence.
Readers can't hear your voice, so their attention wanders easily.
Help them stay focused and relevant.
3.
Write one thing about each of your points, a single sentence if you can, or otherwise a single thought.
You need to focus as much as your reader and one thing at a time helps you stay on subject.
4.
Put your single sentences together so they read sensibly.
Have a short beginning to start things and a short end to close everything off.
Make sure each sentence is complete, in conversation we often leave things up in the air.
5.
Read your whole piece out loud to yourself.
If it sounds stupid, it probably is.
Go back and fix it.
Same thing if it feels clumsy to read, out loud you'll instinctively find a more comfortable way of saying it.
Use that and your words will feel better.
Not rocket science is it? But worth trying when there's a lot riding on the outcome.
Which there usually is if it has to be in writing anyway - your next sale, your promotion, possibly your whole future.
And if you really find it difficult to do - get help.
You probably have other talents to get where you are, but don't let written stuff escape from you if it's not right.
In conversation, you can talk round it if it's wrong.
On a piece of paper, you're stuck with what's there.
Let's hope this helps.
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