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Why is it important for 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 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 your eye when you make a facetious comment - they know not to take you seriously. But if you were to write that comment, can you be sure it will not be taken as an insult? Listeners can hear the inflections and changing tones in your 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? If I wanted to emphasise me, I'd say that word a little more firmly or loudly... but how do you make that distinction when you write? You 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 you... 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, readers can contact you 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? Know your message. Be sure you know exactly what you want your readers to know, understand or do by the time they've finished reading. It's the same technique marketing mentors teach us: your call to action, your 30-second spiel, your summary. Try out versions until you're sure you know your message is saying exactly what you want it to say. Know your readers. Have a mental picture of your reader, give her a name, understand what sort of writing she'll relate to, understand what she'd like to know. Decide what language style (formal, informal, chatty, serious, light-hearted) will be most appropriate. How many specialised terms or abbreviations can you use, will you need to explain them, how? Could a graphic (table, illustration, graph, photo) be used instead of a chunk of text? You'll certainly gain focus and clarity when you answer these question (and any others that help you understand your reader) before you begin to plan your writing. Review your writing before you publish. When you've finished writing, put it to one side for as long as possible, then come back to it with fresh eyes. You'll see what you have written, not what you meant to write. Read out loud - hearing what you've written will alert you to mistakes or clumsy constructions. And if you need to take a breath before you reach the end of a sentence, it would probably benefit from being turned into two shorter sentences. If possible, print out your document - reading it in a format often lets mistakes jump out at you. Have a trusted colleague (preferably someone who's not particularly familiar with the subject) review and comment. As you write, try to keep your reader at the front of your mind. As you review, try to step into your reader's shoes and read your article through their eyes. Your readers will thank you for your focus on them and for making your article clear, engaging and sharp. Desolie Page is an accredited editor (Institute of Professional Editors Australia) and owner of Perfect Pages. I give you the confidence that your technical and business writing is clear, engaging and sharp. When you need help with editing, proofreading, or copywriting, contact me to find out how I can help. I work with you to understand your audience, and use clear, precise language to get your message across. I've developed and present workshops for business and technical writers, an excellent way to sharpen your writing. All aspects of my work focus on the use of plain English and on ways to increase the readability of your document (including formatting) so that your readers will enjoy reading what you've written while clearly understanding your message. I'm always delighted when my clients tell me how much they've learnt from my input into their writing. buy essay papers online
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