How You Can Communicate Effectively With Your Readers… Part Deux

By Beth Ann Erickson

Queen Bee of Filbert Publishing :)

Last time we talked about the importance of writing conversationally… speaking the language of your reader. (You can find the April 15 issue of Writing Etc. here: http://filbertpublishing.com)

Today we’re taking this concept one step further.

When you’re speaking with another person, they have the benefit of watching your nonverbal communication as you verbalize your message. You wave your arms, roll your eyes, intone your voice… all these nonverbal cues further the message you’re trying to convey.

Unfortunately, written words don’t convey nonverbal cues very easily.

That’s why we must write conversationally while using absolutely every tool we can find to make up for the lack of nonverbal communication.

Here are a couple of these tools:

First, as a writer, you must "word paint" what you're seeing in your mind and create as similar a picture in your reader's mind as possible. This means that you must choose ultra-specific words… particularly verbs. Of course, using a few passive verbs (such as is/was/had/etc.) is inevitable. However, whenever possible, eliminate them and replace them with a vibrant/active/visual verb. This means that a sentence such as "You are greeted" can easily transform to "Larry greets (active verb) you the minute you step in the door".

Second, you must also use ultra-specific language whenever possible.

Again, the reason I say this is because unlike speaking, your reader isn't able to watch nonverbal cues as you speak. Readers cannot hear your tone of voice. They cannot observe gestures. This means that EVERY word you choose MUST carry its weight and move your message forward.

Here's an example of what I’m talking about. What do you visualize when you read this sentence?

“I drive a car.”

Weak sentence, eh? We've probably got two very different pictures in our mind. Here’s a better sentence:

I drive a red car.

Closer but I'd venture to guess that our pictures are still very different.

How’s this?

I drive a cherry red 2005 Porsche 911 Turbo S. Coupe with an incredible 3.6 L. Turbo engine.

OK. Now we're probably "seeing" the same car PLUS you can infer a number of my personality traits based on this car I choose to drive.

How would your opinion change if I told you I really drive an earth friendly three-cylinder Geo Metro hatch back?

I don’t drive either of these cars, but by now I’m sure you’re able to see how word choice can influence your reader’s opinion of your message.

I digress, so let’s get back on track.

You’ve probably heard the writer’s mantra, “show, don't tell".

This sentence puzzled me for far to long. It’s actually a very easy concept to understand.

Suppose you came across this line... "The food is cold."

This sentence doesn’t draw any “word picture”. In fact, at this point, you're probably not even sure if "cold food" is a good or bad thing.

Here's a better phrase: Light dances on little ice crystals as the waiter carries your own little slice of heaven.

Or perhaps instead of saying, "The food is hot," write "Fragrant steam drifts

upwards as..." well, I’m sure you get the drift here.

So yes. Write conversationally… but choose ultra specific words.

This means you tighten your verbs. Replace the passive verbs that need replacing with vibrant, active verbs. You won't get rid of every passive verb, and that's fine. However, you must do everything you can to make your reader see, taste, smell, hear, and feel this world you’re creating.

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Paint a vivid word picture and watch your writing career soar.

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