By Carolyn Howard-Johnson
One of the biggest writing problems I see among people
in my mentoring program, and others who hire me to improve their writing, is
that they're afraid to write like they talk. Perhaps they fear “wordiness”, but
sometimes writing like you talk is less wordy.
For instance, they never use one-word sentences. Or fragments. Those, for sure,
are not wordy!
They refuse to start sentences with words such as "and" and
"but" because an elementary teacher way back when told them not to.
They try to sound important when they write. So they use long words in long
sentences that make up long paragraphs.
They remove all slang from their writing so it's clean and pure. And often,
boring.
Business coach Michael Angier agrees.
"Too many times, I see people who are good verbal communicators try to put
on a different air in their writing," he says. "It doesn't work. It's
much
better to be conversational."
Writing like you talk is one of thirteen tips Michael offers for writing
clearly and convincingly. It was one of the lead articles in an issue of Joan
Stewart’s free subscription newsletter,
The
Publicity Hound.
Lisa Cron’s book, Wired for Story (http://bit.ly/Wired4Story), shows us how
humans were storytellers long before they were writers and how the processes in
their lives wired us for story. Story and anecdote. It works for articles like
this. It works for novels—great novels. And you’ll see it appearing more and
more often as part of news stories. Another book I recommend is Tom Chiarella’s
Writing Dialogue (http://bit.ly/Chiarella)
published by Writer’s Digest. You may find it inexpensively on Amazon’s New and
Used feature.
In the newest book in my multi award-winning
HowToDoItFrugally Series of books for writing, How to Get Great Book Reviews Frugally
and Ethically, I remind authors that the best blurbs and endorsements
come from people who compliment their books and their style in off-the-cuff
conversations. When asked to write a blurb or endorsement, the same people may
use language that is stiff, official—and unconvincing. I tell them to ask their
contacts (or reader) if they can use what their reader just said to them rather
than having them back up and make it into a brittle, lifeless twig.
And in the second edition of my
Great Little
Last-Minute Editing Tips, to be released September 1 and now in pre-sale
mode on Amazon, I talk about how fear of breaking grammar rules (that often, by
the way, aren’t really “rules” at all!) leads to unnatural dialogue. This
little book also contains some of the word trippers I see most frequently in my
clients’ work, and
that is where there is no room wiggle room for making
the wrong choice.
Readers probably spent many years reading staid
textbooks. They may now prefer to learn what they need quickly. When authors
make their point with stories (and do it colloquially), they find their readers
more easily bond to them. It’s about connection. Think loyalty.
Have you ever wondered why many are turning to the Web
for information even at the risk of fake news and unprofessional advice. They
are in a hurry. They’re after easily absorbed information (retention). You can
provide both. Sure. Watch for wordiness. But don’t skip the story your readers’
brains crave. They’ll love you for it.
About the Author
Carolyn
Howard-Johnson writes fiction, poetry; and the #HowToDoItFrugally Series of
books for writers including the award-winning third edition of, The
Frugal Book Promoter: How to get nearly free publicity on your own or by
partnering with your publisher; The multi
award-winning second edition of The Frugal Editor; . and the second edition of The
Great First Impression Book Proposal. The newest in the
series is the second edition of her
Great Little Last Minute Editing Tips for Writers. Her blog TheNewBookReview.blogspot.com, lets authors recycle their favorite reviews
absolutely free. Find submission guidelines in a tab at the top of the home
page.
Thank you, Carolyn! If you ever get a chance to meet her in person, do it.
Now, what do you think, readers?
