Desolie – your writing sharpener
For some time, I’ve been trying to find a way to easily share the bare bones of the writing strategy I use when I write and when I teach it.
Here’s one attempt – and I really don’t know how well it will work.
Your feedback will always be appreciated. (with apologies to my talented designer friends).
Readers faced with pages of text broken only by paragraph spaces will probably feel overwhelmed and stop reading. As a nonfiction writer, you have information that you need to share with your readers. So it makes sense to make it as easy as possible for them to continue reading and to understand what you are saying.
Headings serve multiple purposes in helping your readers by
As a technical writer, your aim is to lead your readers to reach the same conclusion that you have. Headings provide a context for your readers – both writer and readers begin at the same place and continue along the same path, guided by the headings.
Readers need headings
Your readers understand the details better if they have been given an overview first. Remember, it’s the headings that provide the overview.
Readers will retain those details longer when they know in advance the nature of the information they are going to receive.
The heading level indicates the degree of detail being discussed.
Advantages for readers
Advantages for the writer
If your headings feed into an automatically generated table of contents, make sure your final task before publishing is to update the table of contents.
PS If, for whatever reason, you can’t include headings, you can use them to help you structure your writing – then delete them during the reviewing process.
Headings help both the writing and reading processes.
When writing nonfiction, it’s essential that you give your readers top priority. You want them to understand your message as easily as possible. Often, they will stop reading if it’s all too hard.
So here are some questions for you to consider to increase the reader-friendliness of your writing.
When you’ve written your document, put it aside for a period, then come back to it using your reader’s eyes, rather than your writer’s eyes.
Review it yourself, ask a trusted colleague or ‘outsider’ to look it over, or ask a professional editor to give it that final polish.
Remember – you write for your readers, so do all that you can to make it as easy as possible for them to read and understand what you have written.
What causes you to stop reading a blog, article, report, etc?
You’ll find more tips to sharpen your writing at www.perfectpages.net.au
‘Setting my teeth on edge’ – so it’s not just something to say when you hear fingernails scraping on a blackboard, or a child’s first tentative attempt to play a musical instrument.
It’s for real … and my, it is painful!
A recent visit to the dentist revealed that I’ve been expressing my stress by grinding my teeth while I sleep. The resulting sensitivity in my teeth and the muscle soreness have not been pleasant.
So now I need to de-stress!
However, it got me thinking about how many phrases we use that are related to our anatomy. So I searched out a delightful little book I’d been given a couple of years ago. Red herrings and white elephants by Albert Jack with illustrations by Ama Page gives the origins of some of the phrases we use every day. A quick scan of the index revealed about 25 – and that didn’t include some that even I know would cause a few blushes or raise the eyebrows.
Just a couple that I found interesting –
Our language is so rich and we take it for granted, using expressions that are centuries old without giving them a thought.
Enjoy trying out words and phrases that are perhaps out of your usual repertoire, and add a new dimension to your writing.
Remember to visit my website for other tips to sharpen your writing.
And I’m always around to help you solve your writing dilemmas – I love what I do!
What’s your favourite saying, and how do you use such expressions in your writing?
A few months ago I travelled to South-East Queensland’s Gold Coast to address the Gold Coast Writers’ monthly meeting. I’d chosen my topic Know the rules so you can break the rules, searched out examples to illustrate to my points, completed my notes and slides …
But then it hit me!
I was going to talk to real, live writers: face to face, no hiding behind a computer or a telephone! Now that was just plain scary!! (Excuse the exclamation marks – I usually advocate minimum use of such powerful punctuation – but I was really, really nervous.)
Why was I in such fear and trembling?
Most of my work as an editor happens in my office, just me and my computer. Even communication with authors is mostly by email, especially when I’m subcontracting. Occasionally I meet with or phone a writer, but it’s mostly solo work.
I’m sure my nervousness was quite obvious to the audience, but by focusing on what I was saying and some friendly and encouraging faces (thank you, Pam), I soon got into my stride. I spoke about how creative writers can deliberately break the rules of grammar to great effect, but understanding the theory is essential.
After I’d spoken, the questions started. I’d prepared further explanations and examples for question time, but I was surprised and delighted when all the questions were about the editing process. These talented people recognised that editing differs from writing, and to some extent, was a bit of an unknown.
So what topics were raised?
What should I expect from an editor?
How do I know I’m getting value for money from my editor?
What reference books should I use to help with grammar and punctuation?*
How do editors decide how much I pay?
But the topic that prompted a lively discussion revolved around the use of Australian English. Some wondered if it really mattered, while others spoke passionately about their pride in being an Australian writer and in our unique language.
Our Australian spelling and punctuation set us apart from other versions of English, and the time of cringing at everything ‘Aussie’ is long past. We did agree that sometimes we need to comply with the requirements for submissions to international journals and publications.
But Australian authors use Australian English.
I trust that you, too, embrace our pride in our way of doing things – or the way things are done in your country.
BTW, what were the rules I talked about?
Misplaced phrases or words can be misleading, embarrassing or humorous. (Born two weeks ago, zookeepers feared Shuffles would not survive such a difficult start to life.)
Collective nouns are singular. (A pod of dolphins is swimming along the coastline.)
Pleonasms (tautologies) can be distracting. (new innovations, past history, future plans)
Not sure about those rules? Leave a question or comment and I’ll help you understand them, or go across to Perfect Pages to find out how I can give you the confidence that your writing is crisp, clear and sharp.
* For Australian writers, I recommend an Australian dictionary (such as Macquarie, Oxford Australian, Collins Australian), and Style Manual for authors, editors and printers, 6th edition, revised by Snooks & Co, John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd, 2002.
Why do I encourage writers to focus on their readers, rather than how expertly they write?
Written communication to a large extent is one dimensional. All the reader has is what’s in front of them.
But when we talk to people, there are auditory and visual clues that help us convey our message.
Listeners ‘read’ our facial expressions and watch our body language to improve their understanding of what we’re saying. They can see the twinkle in my eye when I make a facetious comment – they know not to take me seriously.
But if I were to write that comment, can I be sure it will not be taken as an insult?
Listeners can hear the inflections and changing tones in my voice.
A question is recognised by the rising inflection at the end of the sentence.
In its written form, it would appear as’ Do you want me to do that?’ The question mark tells readers that a question is being asked.
If I wanted to emphasise me, I’d say that word a little more firmly or loudly; but how do I make that distinction when I write?
I could use bold, hoping that the reader will notice that the word is bold and that they know what it suggests.
Perhaps the greatest advantage oral communication has over writing is the opportunity for feedback.
Listeners can ask questions, make comments, paraphrase back to me – and it happens immediately.
Both parties can complete the conversation feeling fairly confident that the message has been understood.
Unfortunately, we don’t necessarily have that same level of confidence when writing. Yes, our readers can contact us with their questions or comments, but that doesn’t happen very often in today’s fast-paced life.
So how can we by-pass those potential hurdles?
Putting together all the elements that I’ve written about both here and in earlier posts will help you produce writing that your readers will want to read right though to the conclusion.
Have you found any other techniques to help you focus on making reading a pleasure for your readers?
Remember, I can help you become a better writer than you ever thought you could be: contact me through my website.
You will be confident that your writing is clear, engaging and sharp.
It seems to me that everyone in business is being told to write… write articles, blogs, ebooks… anything and everything.
Yes, it’s a great way to raise your profile and increase awareness of your product or service.
BUT you want your writing to attract customers, not send them away.
Here’s my first comment about what readers want:
Your readers’ first impression of your writing is visual. They won’t be too inclined to read if all they see is big chunks of text.
Consider using headings, consistent paragraph spacing, lists, bullet points, indents…
These all create lots of white space that will encourage your reader to feel this will be easy to read,
rather than putting it into the ‘do later’ basket.
Take a wander through my blogs – you’ll find more tips to help you write with your readers as your top priority.
What have been your experiences with documents that have been too hard to read?
Contact me for help to sharpen your writing, and to have the confidence your writing is clear, engaging and sharp.
